ResilientKids

“Training students in mindfulness demonstrates benefits including improvements in working memory attention, academic skills, social skills, emotional regulation, and self-esteem, as well as self-reported improvements in mood, decreases in anxiety, stress, and fatigue.” – John Mikleton, Mindful Magazine

ResilientKids is a Rhode Island based youth program aimed at serving elementary, middle, and high school students to reduce stress, facilitate learning and provide opportunities for personal growth. I had heard about ResilientKids previously but did not know what kind of work they did, or that it was a local program. Vanessa Weiner, the founder of ResilientKids, recognized the need for students to have positive opportunities to deal with stress, and that providing students with the tools and strategies needed to do so has a positive impact on students' emotional well being and academic success. From reading their website and watching their videos, I saw that ResilientKids is very hands-on, and has different methods and skills for various learners. For example, doing yoga and breathng exercises allows for physical learners to get up and move. Visual learners also benefit from a glitter jar that gets shaken up, and gives students a visual cue to relax themselves as the glitter settles.

What I took away from learning about ResilientKids is that they do not just come in and work with the students. They provide students with a toolbox to self-regulate and manage their own behaviors. Instead of being told to calm down, they are shown ways to calm themselves down if they are feeling anxious or upset. The students are learning skills that they can use throughout all areas of their lives.