Since 2005, The Hawn Foundation has been working with schools across the United States to promote children’s academic success through social and emotional learning.
At the core of the initiative is the MindUP programme, a social and emotional learning program for primary and secondary school children and is informed by current research in the fields of cognitive neuroscience, mindful education, social and emotional learning, positive psychology, and evidence-based teaching practices.
Some 220 + schools in the States and Canada and further afield now use the charitable foundation’s programme (including 7 schools in the UK)
Goldie Hawn also has a book 10 Mindful Minutes, due to be published in paperback March 1, which takes some of the learnings from the MindUP programme and creates a help guide for parents interested in bringing mindfulness, as a way of reducing stress and boosting happiness, into the lives of their children.
In case you missed Saturday’s Times Magazine front cover interview (Feb 25th) with Goldie, here’s the ABC News video from last October.
Wow – this is great. It’s exciting to see the other side of celebrity at work in the world. I like her comment ‘We know way too much about the brain to keep it in the dark’. Thank you James for being active in bringing it to light. And Goldie Hawn’s giggle … I remember it well. Definitely something to be grateful for :-) :-)
Yes, it is exciting and and I thought admirable when she mentioned she had been working with children in this way through her foundation for 10 years – quietly, gently behind the scenes; no movies, no limelight but rather committed service to others.
Thanks – another great link James, and most serendipitously Wiltshire Libraries have the book on order so I have reserved it!
Hi Sarah, if you are interested in exploring how mindfulness can be conveyed to children, a good place to start is with Susan Kaiser Greenland. She is one of the preeminent mindfulness educators of children and has written a great book called the The Mindful Child. Less likely to be in your library but well worth the £8 purchase price :)
Thanks. I’m involved in running social and emotional skills groups in a secondary school; we always include ‘relaxation’ or ‘breathing’ exercises, and I’m interested in developing this aspect. I had discovered The Mindful Child title so it’s interesting to see it gets your endorsement. You’re right, being a celebrity author does bump up your chances of being purchased by the Library Services! No Mindful Child book in Wiltshire Libraries or Bath/Bristol :(
Hi James,
Goldie is truly inspirational and I am so pleased to have found this blog. As a teacher and teacher trainer in the field, I agree that a great place to start is “The Mindful Child” and if anyone is looking for quick and easy tips for mindfulness/meditation with children our web site has lots of activities- all for free. With your permission James, I would love to make some links to our web site.
Blessings,
Kerrie
Hi Kerrie,
Welcome to Embrace and thank you for your comment, glad you enjoyed the Goldie post. Re: links, I will contact you direct to talk shop :)
Beautiful website and great blog post! I’ve been reading your website for about an hour now and learned SO much. TY :)