Ritenour School District continues to share resources to help students, staff and families better understand trauma and respond with trauma-informed instruction and wellness practices.

Mindfulness practices are ways children and adults can help regulate their own social and emotional responses and make better decisions to care for their own mental, physical and emotional needs.

Mindfulness is the practice of being focused on the present and can improve well-being with more relationship satisfaction, increased focus, greater cognitive flexibility and improved ability to process information and promote calm. As a result, mindfulness reduces stress, anxiety, negative thinking, emotional reactivity and depression for most people.

Below are online websites and apps that have been used and recommended by Ritenour and SSD educators, counselors and therapists. Many are free and appropriate for both children and adults:

Here are a few resources recommended by Ritenour educators:            

• Sounds True 
  Variety of online resources both free and paid. https://www.soundstrue.com/store/
• Sitting Still Like A Frog
  Short mindful meditation passages geared for children ages 5-18. https://www.shambhala.com/sittingstilllikeafrog/ 
• Yoga 4 Classrooms
  An online database of free and paid resources, mindfulness, and yoga practice cards: http://www.yoga4classrooms.com/about-yoga-4-classrooms 
• Annaka Harris
  Online mindful meditation audio passages, informational videos, and resources: https://annakaharris.com/mindfulness-for-children/
• Positive Psychology Program
  A background on mindfulness, activities to implement, and tips for teaching children: https://positivepsychologyprogram.com/mindfulness-for-children-kids-activities/
• Chopra
  Free 8-week program for kids to learn the art of mindfulness: https://chopra.com/free-programs/mindfulness-for-kids
  
• Lessons on Stress Management and Mindfulness for students
  Students can practice three different techniques:  1) deep breathing exercises, 2) progressive relaxation and visualization of their safe space, and 3) self-monitoring for factors that influence their energy and mood.  Some of the resources from the lesson are from the Student Success Skills curriculum.  http://studentsuccessskills.com/
• Smiling Mind (available on both Apple and Android systems) - This app is FREE and all of its content is free. This app has guided mindfulness meditations, and there are also mindfulness lesson plans organized by week for teachers who want some extra support introducing mindfulness and the tools to their students.
• Calm (available on both Apple and Android systems) - This app is FREE for educators. You can get all of the paid subscription content for FREE by filling out this short form (https://www.calm.com/schools). This app has music as well as guided mindfulness meditations of varying lengths.