Teaching Mindfulness with SnuggleBuddies

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Mindfulness (a.k.a. focusing your awareness on the present moment and calmly acknowledging your feelings) is a term you hear a lot about lately, with good reason. Emotional intelligence has only recently been introduced to some schools and the resources for teaching about it are pretty slim. When I first read about the Generation Mindful Kickstarter campaign for their Time-In Tool Kit, I jumped on board immediately. I ordered 2 full packs including the Peacemakers cards, one for myself and one for a gift. You can read more about when we started using it as well as our favourite story books for mindfulness in a previous post HERE. 

This past weekend, GEN:M a company which creates tools and toys that build emotional intelligence through play and positive discipline, revealed their newest product. They are called SnuggleBuddies and they are super soft and snuggly plush toy. 

We have yet to try these cute stuffies in our house, but I can't wait to get my hands on them. We already use the Time-In Took Kit daily (read more or get your own Tool Kit HERE). It has been an invaluable resource as a parent of a strong willed and very emotional boy. When I am back in a classroom again, I know that this tool kit will be coming with me and I will most certainly be adding a few of the Snuggle Buddies to my class resources as well.  I've never met a child who doesn't like soft toys. They act as a comfort object and a confidant. Children can care for them and model behaviour for them and teach them. I have used soft toys in so many ways for both circle time  with 30 children or just the two of my own.

The following description is from their media release: 

SnuggleBuddies are the 7 animals featured in the Peace Makers collection, each one representing a different  theme:  red  bear  is  power,  orange  fox  is  joy,  yellow  lion  is   balance,  green  hummingbird  is  love,  blue  dolphin  is  peace,  indigo  owl  is  intuition,  and  violet   elephant  is  forgiveness.    

SnuggleBuddies  come  with  a  set  of  “storytellers”,  four  plush  mood  emojis  that  tuck  inside  a   pocket  on  the  back  of  each  plush.  These  emojis  represent  the  four  main  mood  groups  and  help   children  learn  to  recognize  emotions  in  themselves  and  others.  Children  and  adults  share  their   thoughts  and  feelings,  prompted  by  the  SnuggleBuddies  song  “When  did  I  feel  happy  today,  and   when  did  I  feel  sad?  When  did  I  feel  calm  and  when  did  I  feel  mad?” 

​Studies  show  that  the  simple  act  of  naming  and  sharing  one's  feelings  strengthens  a  person’s   emotional  intelligence,  growing  the  prefrontal  cortex  -­-­  an  area  of  the  brain  largely  credited  for   determining  a  person’s  self-­awareness,  social  awareness,  self  care,  and  social  skills,  including   things  like  self-­control,  empathy,  focus,  and  mindfulness,  among  others.  

If this sounds like something that you'd like to have in your house as a learning tool or even that you'd like to give as a gift (Christmas is fast approaching!) then follow this link to the newest Kickstarter campaign which closes in just 12 days (Sept. 28).
SnuggleBuddies are HERE.

To read more about the creator of GEN:M, Suzanne Tucker and the other available products, head to their main website HERE. 

I hope these tools help you with the little people in your life whether it is at home or  in your classroom!
Deb