Settling Practices

Included below are 4 short videos, each describing an important settling practice used within the Kindness Curriculum. These practices can be calming for children and adults and can prove especially powerful in emotionally stormy moments.

bell practice

The bell practice is used in every lesson of the Kindness Curriculum. It’s a way to pay attention “on the outside” (listening to the sound of a bell) and then to pay attention “on the inside” (feeling the breath at the belly). In school, we’re often told to pay attention without knowing exactly how. This practice shows us how to engage with our experience in two different, complementary ways, and it’s helpful for both kids and adults. The practice is short, yet powerful.

Mind Jar

In Lesson 11 of the Kindness Curriculum, children create a “mind jar” filled with water and glitter. (You’re invited to make a family mind jar in the second session below, “Awareness of Emotions.”) Whenever a child feels upset—angry, sad, or frustrated—they can shake the mind jar and watch glitter gradually settle, just as our minds and emotions gradually settle after feeling distressed.

The first video shows the mind jar at rest, and then being shaken and slowly settling. The second video shows a child interacting with the mind jar. You can watch either or both with your children. These are entryways to talk about difficult emotions.

caring for our emotions

As children or adults, when difficult emotions like anger, sadness, or frustration arise, we often resist or reject these feelings—perhaps because they are unpleasant or because we think we shouldn’t be feeling that way. What if we cared for those tough emotions instead, like we’d care for our child’s hurt feelings, or like a child might care for a favorite pet or stuffed animal? In Lesson 9 of the Kindness Curriculum, children learn to do just that (if you’re short on time, forward to minute 5 of the video, but be sure to return for the rest).

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