Just like all plants have a life cycle, so does the foundation of You Are a Gardener™ . The roots of all our programs encourage children to identify, communicate and manage uncomfortable emotions, feelings and thoughts, through a positive and empowering process using the power of the words flowers, weeds and seeds.
Let's take a look at each of the different phases of the You Are a Gardener® "Garden Cycle":
✺ Pull Your Weeds: A lot can occur in a day that can make a child feel sad, scared, frustrated, mad...identifying these feelings and emotions and talking about them with someone they trust is what #PullYourWeeds® is all about. Getting young 'gardeners' to recognize the importance of talking frequently about negative feelings, thoughts and challenging emotions is one of the most powerful tools gardeners have. Keeping that line of communication open is key especially for children.
✺ Plant Your Seeds: Your seeds are what you learn about yourself and others when you "pull your weeds" and use your gardening tools. The positive approach to manage these negative feelings, thoughts and emotions can be very empowering. It is through helpful conversations and activities that we can provide children with all sorts of tools and skills to help them proceed confidently and calmly.
✺ Gardening Tools: Gardening tools are the healthy activities and exercises we use to help us manage our stress and challenging emotions. As gardeners we need a lot of 'gardening tools' to help keep our gardens growing healthy and strong. Some frequent gardening tools we use are: breathing exercises, music, arts & crafts, cooking, mindfulness techniques, taking a walk, getting fresh air, reading a book...)
✺ Enjoy The Flowers Along The Way: As gardeners we work hard to get our flowers to grow and these positive feelings, thoughts and emotions inspire us to keep us moving forward and growing. These 'feel good' experiences are worthy of gratitude and appreciation. Flowers can also operate as a positive distraction for gardeners when they are struggling with a weed. By getting a child to think about and describe a happy thought, memory or experience can help them get to a calmer state.
The flow of the You Are a Gardener® "Garden Cycle" encourages one to evolve and grow by learning from each stage of the process. Most of the programs we create at You Are a Gardener® are for children but the message is truly ageless. Keep pulling your weeds, planting your seeds and enjoying the flowers along the way...you are a gardener.
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In this quick 2 minute video, Shanna Truffini highlights the roots and foundation of her You Are a Gardener® children’s book and her #PullYourWeeds® Programs for children ages 4-11.
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