Month: December 2023

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New Year Dream Board

Activities to celebrate the last year and bring in the New Year.

It is an exciting time of year when we have the opportunity to ponder the last year and think about all the wonderful things we want to achieve this year.

Here are some ideas and activities you might like to try with all the family or class.

1 New Year Hopes and Dreams

Ask everyone to write down all their hopes and dreams and wishes for 2024. You might like to put them away with the xmas decorations and bring them out and read them next Christmas Eve or New Years Eve. If you are in school, you could hand them to the next form teacher to read out to the children at the end of the Winter term.

2 Make a Dream board.

Vision boards are made by sticking pictures and words on a paper or cardboard. Each word or picture represents that person’s goals for that year. Get everyone a big piece of paper or card and ask them to make a vision board or picture for 2012.  They can cut out pictures and words from magazines and newspapers. Encourage children to add things that don’t require money such as love, friendship, happiness. You could make a vision board for the whole class or family.

3  Happy Parcel

Make some cards with some questions written on each one.  Here are some suggestions.

What was your proudest moment in 2023

What was your happiness moment in 2023

What was your greatest achievement in 2023

Who helped you the most in 2023

What is your greatest memory from 2023

Wrap up a pass the parcel and put the cards in between each layer.

4  Quiet Reflections

Spend a few moments together reflecting on the last year and having some fantastic positive thoughts and dreams for the new year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

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💜Congratulations to our featured coach – Hollie Cooke 💜

Area: Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

” I have been a coach for 2 years, my first community classes took place in September of 2021. 

Having worked with children and young people in a variety of settings, including in a school for over ten years I was looking for a change, something that would give me a good work/life balance, that enabled me to support children and young people and that would promote a healthy wellbeing. When I came across Relax Kids via a Google search it instantly felt right! 

When my pregnant best friend found about that I was taking the Relax Kids training, and that their was an option to train to work with babies too, I didn’t really have an option to do anything but both lots of training. 

I run four Baby Mindful classes, and two Relax Kids classes in the community each week. I also run Relax Kids classes in schools and am regularly invited to run additional classes with other groups such as Brownies and Cubs. During the longer school holidays I enjoy putting on Relax Kids Family Workshops which are always well attended. 

I love the flexibility and variety of being a coach. I have worked with babies as young as one week old, and children up to eighteen years. I have run classes in person and online, done some 1:1 sessions and even spent the day outside in a tent with 100 girl guides. I can plan my community classes around our local term dates, and book in additional sessions at times that work for my family. Every day is different and everyday is wonderful! 

The special moments are when parents or children share stories about how the classes have helped them…. When child who has been desperate to do the scary jump at the soft play tells you that they calmed their ‘meerkat’ and went for it, a parent shares how anxious they had been at the thought of attending a session but says they instantly felt at home when they did, or a teacher comments on the positive changes they have seen in a pupil following the session. These moments are priceless!

I have changed so much as an individual since becoming a Relax Kids coach. My confidence and adaptability has grown no end, and I am regularly doing things that would have had me cowering at the thought a few years ago. I enjoy going to work every single day and am so grateful that I am able to have such a positive impact on the lives of others.”

https://www.facebook.com/rkhollie
@rkdoncasterhollie

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New Year Activities

Activities after you have packed away those Christmas decorations!

It’s time to pack away those Christmas decorations, hoover up the pine needles and make New Years resolutions.

It is an exciting time of year when we have the opportunity to ponder the last year and think about all the wonderful things we want to achieve this year.

Here are some ideas and activities you might like to try with all the family or class.

1 Ask everyone to write down all their hopes and dreams and wishes for 2024. You might like to put them away with the xmas decorations and bring them out and read them next Christmas Eve or New Years Eve. If you are in school, you could hand them to the next form teacher to read out to the children at the end of the Winter term.

2 Make a vision board. Vision boards are made by sticking pictures and words on a paper or cardboard. Each word or picture represents that person’s goals for that year. Get everyone a big piece of paper or card and ask them to make a vision board or picture for 2024. They can cut out pictures and words from magazines and newspapers. Encourage children to add things that don’t require money such as love, friendship, happiness. You could make a vision board for the whole class or family.

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My Favourite Christmas Things

What do you love about Christmas?

What are your favourite Xmas activities? Here are some of ours – let us know what you love about Christmas in the comments section below!

1 Making homemade presents

2 Giving homemade presents

3 Smelling vanilla and cinnamon candles

4 Watching the lights on the tree twinkle

5 Listening to Christmas carols on the radio

6 Making Christmas cards

7 Opening stockings in bed

8 Roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings

9 Sitting by the fire wearing snuggly PJs listening to https://relaxkids.com/product/princesses/ 

10 Relaxing and dreaming of a white Christmas

What are your favourite Christmas things?

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New Year Activities

Activities after you have packed away those Christmas decorations!

It’s time to pack away those Christmas decorations, hoover up the pine needles and make New Years resolutions.

It is an exciting time of year when we have the opportunity to ponder the last year and think about all the wonderful things we want to achieve this year.

Here are some ideas and activities you might like to try with all the family or class.

1 Ask everyone to write down all their hopes and dreams and wishes for 2024. You might like to put them away with the xmas decorations and bring them out and read them next Christmas Eve or New Years Eve. If you are in school, you could hand them to the next form teacher to read out to the children at the end of the Winter term.

2 Make a vision board. Vision boards are made by sticking pictures and words on a paper or cardboard. Each word or picture represents that person’s goals for that year. Get everyone a big piece of paper or card and ask them to make a vision board or picture for 2023. They can cut out pictures and words from magazines and newspapers. Encourage children to add things that don’t require money such as love, friendship, happiness. You could make a vision board for the whole class or family.

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Christmas Angels Game

Help fill everyone with Christmas Spirit!

Here is a lovely game to play during the run up to Christmas to help fill everyone with Christmas Spirit!

This game can be played at work, home, at school, amongst children or staff.  It is so much fun and creates a wonderful atmosphere of love and kindness.

Not only is is uplifting for all, it is motivational and a wonderful chance to help children and adults be creative. It also creates a great sense of community. It is simple to play.

Names go into a hat and each person picks a name out of the hat. For one week or month, they have to be especially kind, loving and generous to that person. They could leave gifts or sweets or fruit or kind notes or do special things for their chosen person. The https://relaxkids.com/product/star-stickers/  Relax Kids Star Stickers are great for sticking on personal notes.

It is important that it is kept a secret though. They can leave kind words, small gifts and treats, make pictures, cards, write poems, make secret cups of tea, but they must not reveal their identity.

At the end of the week or month, each angel confesses to his friend and they can share their experiences.

You could continue this and put names in the hat again and let everyone have another secret angel for the next month or week…

Give it a go!

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What Children want this Christmas

What children REALLY want!

Have you ever given a child a toy and noticed that they are more interested in playing with the box than the colourful gadget? In credit crunch times, it seems that we are all stepping back to basics and the best selling toys this year are set to be the same ones that adults used to enjoy in the 70s and 80s.

Classic toys like Monopoly, Meccano and Lego expected to be best sellers as they are creative, social and good for learning.

It is great that we are moving away from heavy commercialised gadgets and moving toward interaction, creativity and family fun.

I doubt that the https://relaxkids.com/store/product-category/cds/ will ever hit Xmas no 1, but if you are looking for some good old fashioned quality family time where you are all in the same room and focussed on the same thing (ie not individuals on playstations, mobiles and ipads), the Relax Kids CDs might just be the thing for you this Christmas.

My personal recommendation for quality family relaxation is https://relaxkids.com/product/quiet-spaces/ 

Here’s to peaceful Christmas preparations and a restful, creative Christmas full of family fun and interaction

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Help your child feel relaxed this Christmas

School tests, falling out with friends, arguments between parents, homework and being bullied all contribute.  Christmas can be particularly stressful.

In today’s world, children are increasingly showing signs of suffering from stress. School tests, falling out with friends, arguments between parents, homework and being bullied all contribute. Christmas can be particularly stressful.

Stress can affect sleep, make a child irritable, weepy, anxious and emotional, as well as cause headaches and muscle aches.

Consider introducing simple relaxation exercises into their routine. It’s a great way to spend quality time together, and you’ll be sowing seeds for the future: your child will learn how alleviate their own stress symptoms. Try not to over-extend your child with activities‚ allow time for daydreaming and doodling.

Consider limiting TV and video games, which can stimulate rather than relax. Plan at least one healthy meal a day, so that children don’t miss out on vital nutrients, while still enjoying Christmas treats. Try to stick to family routines, where children can’t spend quality time decorating the tree, baking cakes or writing cards. This helps them feel safe and secure. Often when routines are broken, stress results.  Check your own stress levels and plan ahead, so you don’t run around doing everything last minute. Laughter is a great way to beat stress, so find some joke books and play games that encourage plenty of family laughter.

Here is a relaxation exercise for the whole family:

Beautiful Balloon – Close your eyes, be very still and imagine that you are holding a big balloon. It is very light. It feels very smooth. The balloon is in your favourite colour. Now hold the bottom of your balloon, and feel the balloon gently rising into the sky. Each time you breathe in and out, you gently glide further and further into the warm summer sky. The deeper your breath is, the further you can travel. Enjoy this feeling of weightlessness. Enjoy the feeling of being completely free. Your body feels weightless and free and your mind feels totally free. Repeat to yourself quietly, I am light, I am light.

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10 tips for a Stress Free Christmas

1 Christmas Cards – Make a list of people you would like to send a Christmas card to. Don’t feel obliged to send cards to people who you feel you have to send to. This year, I made a list of all the people who are close and make me smile and I made each one a handmade card. You might like to save money and stress, by getting your children to make all your Christmas cards this year.

2 Shopping – Plan your shopping trips and make plenty of lists and go shopping before it gets too busy. Try to make shopping a pleasure instead of a chore and give yourself little treats on the way. Have an express manicure, coffee break or stop and listen to the Christmas buskers! ¬†Don’t forget to listen to some relaxation https://relaxkids.com/product/relax-and-de-stress/ to help keep you calm and refreshed before and after shopping.

3 On-line shopping -This is definitely the way forward! It is easy and quite stress free. It does lack the buzz and atmosphere though, so try to find the time to nip into town to get an injection of Christmassy spirit.

4 A perfect Christmas – There really is no such thing as a perfect Christmas and so many people stress unnecessarily by trying to create a Christmas that competes with Good Housekeeping magazine. Just Relax and do your best. Your family would much prefer you to be happy and relaxed than stressed and uptight trying to do everything perfectly.

5 Emergency Presents – Wrap up a few extra boxes of chocolates etc for any unexpected visitors. This will save any last minute panics! 6 Family Fun – Try to involve the children as much as possible and set aside times where they can help make gift tags or help cook gingerbread men. Although this may seem more stressful than getting on with it yourself, it will bring the real spirit of Christmas to your home.

7 Relaxation – Make sure you take time out to de-stress. Quiet reflection, meditation or going to church or your place of prayer, will give you vital chill time. You might like to try one of our fabulous https://relaxkids.com/store/product-category/cds/ 

8 Charity – Try to spend a few moments in thought, prayer or action for those you are less fortunate than yourself. For many people, Christmas is a fun family time, for others it is the loneliest time of the year. Doing something for others is a sure fast way to make you feel valued and content.

9 Take a break if it is all getting too much on Christmas day and go for a walk as you take time out for some quiet reflection.

10 Relaxing Kids at Christmas – The seasonal build up can be so exciting for children and make them hyper and over exhausted. Make sure the children get plenty of relaxing time during the run up to Christmas. Try and turn off the TV and listen to the https://relaxkids.com/store/product-category/cds/ together while you are snuggling round the fire or Xmas tree.

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Self Care advent calendar

Look after yourself in the run up to Christmas

Day 1

Today’s challenge

Simply sit and do nothing and relax.

Day 2

Today’s challenge

Go for a walk. Walk mindfully. Notice the sounds and sights as you breathe deeply.

Day 3

Today’s challenge

Have a soak in the bath or a shower. Enjoy the water on your skin. Enjoy the warmth.

Day 4

Today’s challenge

Write a gratitude list.

Day 5

Today’s challenge

Reflect on something positive that has happened in the last year. 

Day 6

Today’s challenge

Take out 5 mins to stretch. You can do it in your chair or even in bed.

Day 7

Today’s challenge

Give yourself a foot or hand massage with your favourite cream. Better still, get someone to do it for you.

Day 8

Today’s challenge

Enjoy an extra long hug with those you love. Feel the warmth and love between you.

Day 9

Today’s challenge

Choose a positive affirmation and repeat it 10 times

Day 10

Today’s challenge

Eat something you love. Eat it mindfully and enjoy every crumb.

Day 11

Today’s challenge

Listen to your favourite piece of music with your feet up.

Day 12

Today’s challenge

Have a mindful cup of tea. Enjoy the sensations of the tea in your mouth. Savour each drop.

Day 13

Today’s challenge

Hug a hot water bottle. Place it on your knees, your back or your feet. Feel the warmth on your body.

Day 14

Today’s challenge

Treat yourself to something delicious to eat and enjoy it guilt free.

Day 15

Today’s challenge

Light a candles and spend a few quiet moments remembering the ones that you love.

Day 16

Today’s challenge

Breathe deeply throughout the day. Notice the effect it has on your day.

Day 17

Today’s challenge

Look in the mirror and say something nice to yourself.

Day 18

Today’s challenge

Do something lovely for yourself. Paint your nails, read, write, paint.

Day 19

Today’s challenge

Smile as much as you can. Even if you don’t feel like it. Watch how it affects your mood.

Day 20

Today’s challenge

Take time out by the tree and remember a Happy Christmas moment as a child.

Day 21

Todays challenge

Sit for a few moments and send peace and love to those who need it. Feel grateful for your life.<

Day 22

Today’s challenge

Take time to notice and enjoy all the Christmas smells today.

Day 23

Today’s challenge

Dance to your favourite Christmas tunes on the radio.

Day 24

Today’s challenge

Keep stopping. Close your eyes for a moment and feel the Christmas joy and peace inside. Have a mindful Christmas.