We talk a lot about mindfulness on our platform, and in short the definition of mindfulness is living in the present moment. When a gardener practices this process, it helps him/her to focus more on their flowers instead of their weeds. When you are living in the moment and focusing on being present, you can not anticipate about things that will happen in the future or ponder over what has happened in the past. To put it simply the more a gardener practices mindfulness the more their gardens will grow healthy and strong...more flowers and seeds and less weeds! But, sometimes it’s hard to slow down and focus on the present moment. That’s why we love this “in the moment” exercise for gardeners of any age. This simple activity can be done anytime anywhere to help induce mindfulness and inner peace. The 5,4,3,2,1 method can be very helpful if a child is feeling stressed or unfocused, and it only takes a couple of minutes. Scroll all the way down to watch Gardener Shanna's video on how this exercise works. 5 THINGS YOU SEE-Take a look at your surroundings and take note of 5 things you see and what they make you think about. 4 THINGS YOU FEEL-Walk around and touch 4 different objects. Pay attention to how they feel in your hand and the words that come to mind. 3 THINGS YOU HEAR-Close your eyes and listen for 3 different sounds and what those noises make you think about. 2 THINGS YOU SMELL-Find 2 things in your surroundings to breathe in smell. Pay close attention to breathing in and out. 1 THING YOU TASTE-Put something (safe/edible) in your mouth and focus on what the flavor/taste is. PRESS PLAY TO WATCH GARDENER SHANNA'S VIDEO ON THE 5,4,3,2,1 EXERCISE PRESS PLAY NOW Hey Gardeners... Did you try out the 5,4,3,2,1 Grounding Exercise? If so, then you just earned yourself the 5,4,3,2,1 Gardening Tool Badge! Congratulations!!! Empowering children with 'gardening tools' to help enhance their social and emotional well-being is at the very root of all our programs. For more mindfulness exercises on the #PullYourWeeds Blog -CLICK HERE!

Last week our Gardener Anna roared her way into the role of the Cowardly Lion in her school's performance of the Wizard Of Oz. We were extremely proud of her courage to take on such a magnificent role. Just as the Cowardly Lion was seeking courage, we know how important it is to help young gardeners explore new tools/skills to help them find their own courage and embrace their inner confidence. "You have plenty of courage, I am sure. All you need is confidence in yourself. There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger. The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid, and that kind of courage you have in plenty." ~Frank Baum, 'The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz' Confidence is a feeling that comes from believing we have the skills/talent/tools to succeed at something; while courage is a choice we make to proceed, despite our fear of not knowing the outcome. One could say, without courage, we may never develop the confidence. Empowering young children with tools to help them find their courage sets them up for making healthy and positive choices when they encounter fear or overcoming challenging obstacles. Courage helps you take the first step onto that yellow brick road and your confidence is what gets you to Oz! Scroll down for some helpful tips of how to teach young kids about courage & get a peek at Gardener Anna's solo! “Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the “ape” in apricot? What have they got that I ain’t got?” ~The Lion, The Wizard Of Oz Helpful Tips To Teach Young Gardeners About Courage -Read age appropriate books about courageous and confident characters. -Talk about real life figures that demonstrate courage and confidence. -Help a child overcome a small fear like riding a bike. -Explain that courage is not a feeling, it is a choice and most people who do courageous acts do not feel confident at first. -Highlight, appreciate and recognize when a child is brave, even for something small, like trying a new food. -Help your child write down a list of their fears, sometimes just acknowledging what you are afraid helps you find the courage to overcome it. #FollowTheYellowBrickRoad

We recently came across a dicey statistic that inspired us to get back to basics and swap out some screen time with some good, old fashioned fun. According to The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, "on average, children ages 8-12 in the United States spend 4-6 hours a day watching or using screens". Today we are rolling out some simple dice games for gardeners of all ages to enjoy! Playing games with dice promotes a healthy social & emotional development for gardeners of all ages. It helps to develop positive relationships with others while playing games, encourages listening skills, it introduces kids to the wonders of probability, it puts math skills to use and promotes patience. Scroll down for 3 of our favorite Dice Games for kids! Keep Growing (3 Dice) Roll all dice and keep the highest number rolled. Roll the rest of the dice and repeat by setting aside the highest dice. Roll the remaining die, and add up your total. Keep Score! Double The Fun (2 Dice) Each gardener takes turns in rolling both dice and trying to roll doubles. If the dice are not doubles, the gardener does not get a score. If the dice are doubles, Keep Scores: (Double 1s, 2s, 4s, and 5s = 10 points)( Double 6s = 25 points) (Double 3s = 0 points, plus lose a turn) The winner gets to 50 first! 6 to Roll (Each Gardener Gets 1 Dice) Each gardener takes a dice and start to roll. When a gardener rolls a 1, they then have to roll a 2, then a 3, then a 4, then a 5, then a 6. The first gardener to roll from 1 to 6 wins! Fun Fact For Kids About Dice: Dice are known to be one of the oldest kind of games and very popular during Roman times. There are records of dice being played over 5,000 years ago and dice have even been found in Egyptian tombs! If you and your kids are looking for some other classic ways to entertain a modern child check out some of our favorites: Click Here to Learn How to Make the World's Longest Hopscotch & Click Here to Learn How to Make Color Scented Bubbles Thank you to our very dear friend Gardener Laurie for inspiring this post!!!!

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We are so close to announcing something pretty major that we have been working on over the last couple of months! To give you a few hints-this project is rooted in creating a convenient, easy, organic and a 'one-click' SEL service for teachers, families and educators. Stay tuned to our 'Weeds to Seeds' Newsletter and social media @youareagardener for the more details! Not on our list? Email us at flowers@youareagardener.com Now more than ever children need the support and tools to help them navigate stress and big emotions. Our children's book, SEL Programs and #PullYourWeeds® Blog are here as a resource to use at your convenience. If you would like create a custom SEL program for your school, family or group, please email us at flowers@youareagardener.com

By incorporating the You Are a Gardener® mindset in your classroom on a daily/ weekly basis is where the real benefits of the program take root! Today we are sharing one of our favorite 'gardening tools' to use in the classroom. Choosing a 'Gardener of the Week' is a wonderful way to make each child in your class feel extra-special. Gardeners of all ages love being recognized & appreciated by their peers. This is a wonderful social and emotional exercise that helps build self-confidence, encourages inclusivity and celebrates individuality! Scroll down for tips to infuse this into your weekly routine and download a free printable for your 'Gardener of the Week'! Gardener Of The Week: -Have your Gardener of the Week (GOTW) fill out this worksheet & present it to the class at the beginning of their week. Then hang this sheet on a bulletin board for the entire week -Have each student write something positive about the GOTW, read it out loud to the class and put it on the bulletin board with the GOTW sheet. (Try writing them on our origami tulips-Learn how by clicking here) -Have your GOTW bring something special in from home and have them present it in front of the class. -Have your GOTW bring in their favorite book to read with the class. << CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO DOWNLOAD THIS FREE PRINTABLE FOR THE GARDENER OF THE WEEK OR CLICK HERE! >> Did you use this 'gardening tool' in your classroom? We would love to hear your feedback! Send us an email to: flowers@youareagardener.com

Today is Tuesday 2/22/22 and today we experience the only sextuple number code date we will ever see in our lifetime! Here are some ways you can celebrate this remarkable day: Write down 2️⃣2️⃣ things you love about yourself. Take 2️⃣2️⃣ deep breaths. Take a 2️⃣2️⃣ minute walk. Spend 2️⃣2️⃣ minutes on a vision board. Journal for 2️⃣2️⃣ minutes. Write down 2️⃣2️⃣ of your goals and dreams. Give someone you love 2️⃣2️⃣ hugs. Happy 2’s Day Gardeners! 2️⃣2️⃣2️⃣2️⃣2️⃣ 🦊 🎉

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process in which 'gardeners' of all ages cultivate skills/tools to effectively identify, communicate and manage emotions to find a peaceful and positive path forward. This integral part of human development empowers one with responsible decision making, empathy awareness, strong communication skills, self-compassion, self-confidence, inclusivity and so much more. In times of stress and uncertainty a gardener can never have enough SEL skills/tools (aka gardening tools). As SEL Advocates we recognize that positive, uplifting and empowering content for kids is needed now more than ever...especially after the last 2 years! Our #PullYourWeeds® Workshops are a wonderful way to brighten up your classroom and home. All of our workshops can be done in-person or online and are customizable to fit your needs and convenience. According to research a consistent approach to SEL at home and in the classroom cultivates the following: academic success, fewer behavioral problems, positive social relationships, stronger problem solving skills and overall feeling of self-confidence. The lifetime benefits of SEL are immeasurable. The You Are a Gardener® Platform & Our SEL Programs Are Rooted In: ✔︎Children embracing & understanding that they have the power to control the way they feel. ✔︎Empowering children with growth mindset tools and mindfulness activities. ✔︎Self-empowerment, self-compassion and confidence building. ✔︎Keeping the lines of communication open between children and trusted sources. ✔︎Strengthening and building positive conflict/resolution skills. ✔︎Encouraging empathy and responsible decision making. The beautiful thing about 'gardening' and our SEL programs, is that anybody, anywhere, can start at anytime! Increasing our ability and awareness to 'grow through' life's challenges with a positive disposition is at the very root of the You Are a Gardener® mindset. The You Are a Gardener® platform and our #PullYourWeeds® SEL programs for schools and for home make educating and empowering children with strong SEL roots easy, organic and fun! The more 'gardening tools' children have in their 'emotional toolbox' the more prepared they will be when they encounter uncomfortable feelings and big emotions. NOW IS THE TIME TO START PLANTING YOUR SEL SEEDS FOR SPRING- FOR YOUR SCHOOL OR FAMILY- BOOK A DEMO TODAY! Get on our schedule today by sending us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com

We thought we would kick this weekend off with a fox-themed craft! With minimal materials this delightful project is excellent for gardeners of all ages to work on those fine motor skills and craft with confidence. Arts & crafts are a playful way to help children cultivate their social and emotional skills! *Gardener Tip: If you are a teacher and are looking for some Spring bulletin board inspiration...these friendly little foxes would look adorable in the halls of your school! Scroll down for step-by step instructions for our Paper Plate Foxes Craft! Materials Needed: A paper plate Orange, black, and pink construction paper (OR orange, black, and pink coloring utensils) Glue Scissors -First, fold in both sides of the plate to make a triangle. Next, take a piece of your orange construction paper and cut out a triangle with a rounded base that fits on the rounded part of your plate. Cut out two small triangles for the ears of our fox! -Take a minute to make sure everything is glued down - the big orange triangle, the flaps of our paper plate, and the orange ears. Now take your black paper and cut out a circle for the nose and two smaller circles for the eyes. Cut out slightly smaller triangles with your pink paper to place on top of your orange ears. Then glue everything in place! -Then you are left with a perfect Foxie! Feel free to collect some flower petals and leaves to make Foxie a flower crown. This is the perfect activity for younger gardeners to practice some fine motor skills and if you choose to make the flower crown - it gets everyone outside! As always, please send us photos of how YOU made this craft, we love seeing them! We also want to hear which of our crafts on the #PullYourWeeds® Blog are your favorites, so let us know @youareagardener or at flowers@youareagardener.com.

I was recently gifted a 'Little Book of Big Thoughts' from my loving in-laws. Each day features a short, sweet and inspiring message. I came across one last month that I instantly adapted as my mini mantra for 2022 and today I want to share it with you! "If it is to be, it is up to me." (scroll down for a free inspirational PDF to use at home or in the classroom) When I present my #PullYourWeeds® Workshops to children, I always include a mini entrepreneurial message that we are all born with beautiful gifts that will make our world a brighter place. And, as gardeners it is important we pay attention to those things that bring us joy and make us feel complete. These gifts need room to grow bright and strong. So any time you want to make a difference, see something that needs to be changed, or want to make a major impact-these ten, tiny, two letter words can be HUGELY powerful...if it is to be, it is up to me. Plant those seeds, you are a gardener! (stay tuned to @youareagardener on Instagram for a daily dose of these messages) CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR OUR FREE PDF INSPIRATIONAL POSTER TO HANG AT HOME OR IN THE CLASSROOM Did you download this image and hang it up in your room or in your classroom? If so, send us your photos to flowers@youareagardener.com!

Today we are throwing it back to 2020 when Gardener Aidan taught us how to make our own journal or notebook on Session 3 of Camp Hello Gardeners®! All you need is construction paper, copy paper, scissors and a rubber band. Journaling is one of our favorite 'gardening tools' for our emotional toolkit*, as it helps us be present minded, connect with our feelings and express what we are 'growing through' at that particular moment. By writing our thoughts down on a frequent basis, it helps build confidence when it comes to expressing our feelings and thoughts and is extremely beneficial for our social and emotional development! Having our own journal provides a safe space for us to write about our thoughts and experiences and the perfect place to #PullYourWeeds! SCROLL DOWN TO WATCH GARDENER AIDAN;S STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO FROM A 2020 EPISODE OF CAMP HELLO GARDENERS® We love journaling at home and in the classroom...it is a wonderful SEL exercise! *Have you ever heard the expression emotional toolkit? These are the tools we use throughout our lives to help us manage stress and keep our emotions in check. As gardeners we needs lots of 'gardening tools' to keep our emotions rooted in a calm and confident state. At You Are a Gardener® we are always looking for new skills to help us communicate, re-focus and stay on a positive path. And we are always wanting to share these tools/skills with our community! Hey Gardeners... Did you make Gardener Aidan's DIY Journal? If so, then you just earned yourself the DIY Journal Gardening Tool Badge!!!! What are some of your favorite 'gardening tools' to use when you need to unwind and de-stress? Send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com!

According to elementary school counselors & teachers there are some common concerns for the social and emotional impact that is occurring in the classroom due to COVID. Now is the time to empower children with skills/tools to help them mange their stress and uncomfortable feelings. Our #PullYourWeeds® SEL Workshops & Assemblies for grades K-8 are a gentle, helpful and empowering approach to enriching the social and emotional values in your school. Our #PullYourWeeds® SEL Programs are a beautiful gift to give your school that will blossom with each & every student! Our workshops/assemblies can be performed in-person, virtually or via a set of pre-recorded videos for your school to use at your convenience. Email us to set up a demo to flowers@youareagardener.com . To learn more about our SEL workshops & assemblies Click Here!