problem-solving and innovation, as does joining a science or Lego club. “It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money
to try new things,” stresses D’Aloia. “Go to local school concerts, plays and art exhib- its. Look for public art in your area. Local libraries oſt en off er great activities for kids.”
Mindful Investments Instilling mindfulness in children can be both fruitful and far-reaching. “Origami— the Japanese art of paper folding without cuts or glue—is a quintessential hobby for centeredness. T e act of folding paper is so engrossing that one is very present and in the moment,” says Kathleen Sheridan, origami master and founder of Origami and You, in St. Paul, Minnesota. “Origami stimulates both sides of the brain and helps to build self-esteem. Most of all, it’s fun, portable and inexpensive.” Fostering imagination and using
the written word through journaling or storytelling nourishes a child’s inner world. “Creating a short story requires divergent thinking; young writers use their imagina- tions to generate unique ideas for charac- ters, settings, plots and confl icts. We help them think deeply, write authentically and respect the perspectives of others, while learning to create and share their own stories and experiences,” explains Kimberly O’Connor, young writers program direc- tor at Lighthouse Writers Workshops, in Denver, Colorado. “Expressing the
exact shape of an iris or the sound of a cricket, for example, re- quires intense curiosity and attention, two qualities that can serve children and teens indefi nitely,” she explains. Such skills can help students anywhere—in the classroom, on the sports fi eld and later, when they begin to search for and fi nd jobs. According to Stanford University
research published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, learning an instrument helps to improve children’s reading skills, especially those struggling with dyslexia and other learning challeng- es. Researchers at the German Institute for Economic Research revealed that learning music amplifi es cognitive and non-cog- nitive skills twice as much as engaging in
November 2018 33
sports, dance or theater arts. T e Wellbeing Project, in Great Brit-
ain, has inspired activities such as sewing to benefi t well-being. According to re- search published in the Journal of Public Health, quilting boosts cognitive ability, emotional equilibrium and creativity. Introducing life skills and hobbies that
nourish self ood can be one of our greatest giſt s to the next generation. D’Aloia re- marks,
“Helping our children to express
who they are, rather than who we expect them to be, is the most powerful thing we can do.”
Marlaina Donato is a multimedia artist and freelance writer who authors books related to the fi elds of alternative health and spirituality. Con- nect at
MarlainaDonato.com.
Kletr/
Shutterstock.com
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