Under the Rose Apple Tree
For Parents of Children in Middle Childhood
(age 6 to 10)

In this workshop, we will create a sacred space where parents can feel safe to share, learn, meditate, and be nourished. Our time together will offer a short pause from our daily routine to foster a connection to ourselves.
Our sessions aim to find a balance of head, heart, and habit in the parenting experience by offering useful insights from contemplative wisdom. We will explore weekly themes specific to those that arise in middle childhood.
Some examples of themes that could be covered by the course include:
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Finding a balance in the exposure children have to media
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Keeping our children safe, protected, and empowered
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Managing the virtual and non-virtual social life of a child
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Navigating transitions (ex. transitioning into primary school; between activities)
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Understanding and supporting the 9-year-old change
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Cultivating a sense of belonging in a social web
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Nurturing health, wellness, and empathy in your child and in yourself
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Creating family rituals and holding sacred family time
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Practicing active listening with our children
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Identifying and holding boundaries (redefining boundaries when appropriate too)
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Finding age-appropriate ways for children to contribute to the family system
Contemplative principles, developmental science, experiential art and meditation practices will be woven into our exploration of the above topics, providing resources to support our own inner development as parents. Some of these threads include exploring ideas such as love, joy, kindness, empathy, happiness, serenity, change, interconnectedness, and goodness.
Additionally, we will guide you in the practices of meditation and contemplation, focusing on the present moment and you as a witness to what arises in your body and mind. We will also offer simple mindfulness practices, self-regulation tools, and basic exercises that you can do with your children to provide an anchor in their experience with themselves and others.
We hope that you will join us in creating an island of nourishment for you on this path of parenthood.
If you have any queries, please contact us at admissions@abidingheart.education