Anyone else feeling a little upside down these days? On days when I find that I just can't seem to make heads or tails of a situation I love to flip through my poetry books I had when I was younger. As a child I loved poems, especially ones that were written by Shel Silverstein. His silly subjects, playful words and joyful rhythm of his writing was (and still is) like music to my ears. I recently flipped through my copy of 'Falling Up" and came across a beautiful inscription written by my mother that got me thinking....Even though the last few months we may have felt like we were falling down, maybe we were actually 'falling up'. (Click Here For More Info About You Are a Gardener®) Getting back on your feet and looking up can often be harder than the actual fall itself. Sometimes it takes getting turned upside down to learn which way you see is the right side up. It is in the 'fall' that moments of greatness and strength can really shine. Falling down can be scary, but 'falling up' might just get us moving forward in the direction we were meant to go and help us to look at things from a different perspective. Looking at uncomfortable situations from different points of view helps us to better see the roots of where the problem is stemming from. Shining light on new perspectives can lead to positive and beneficial solutions. And that gardeners is what turning 'weeds into seeds' is all about. Keep your feet on the ground, your head to the sky and if you have to look down, don't worry...you just might fall up! Onward and Upward,, Shanna "When I was a little kid I used to think the dedication page in A Light In The Attic was for me because I had never met anyone else with my name. ~Shanna For more information about Shel Silverstein or to download free and fun resources for your classroom visit: http://www.shelsilverstein.com/learning/ Pull your weeds, plant your seeds and enjoy the flowers along the way...You are a gardener.

Hello Gardeners! Today, our very own Gardener Anna gives us a quick into/refresher on what it means to be a 'gardener'! Getting young kids to talk about big feelings/emotions and turn them into positive solutions is what our programs are all about (turning weeds into seeds). Scroll down to watch the video and read some facts about Gardener Anna! FUN FACTS ABOUT GARDENER ANNA: She came up the idea to make the Hello Gardeners® video series when she was only 8 years old! She always wears a headband with a flower on it in every episode (except for 2-see if you can guess which episodes). Anna is extremely passionate about spreading seeds. One of her biggest dreams is to go on an official Gardening Tour and connect with kids across the country. Helping kids feel comfortable to talk about big emotions and feelings is something Anna can appreciate on a personal level. She loves animals, baking, singing and acting! #PullYourWeeds

Hello Gardeners! Being able to recognize what you are feeling and why you are feeling it can be sometimes be a challenge. Having the ability to stop and figure out what you need in a particular moment is something that takes being honest with yourself, patience and trial & error. To find out what works best for you, is to try out various coping strategies. For example, when you find yourself stressed and have some 'weeds' popping up, try taking a walk, doing a quick breathing technique, or playing a game with a friend or family member. Keep track of what works to help you take your mind off your 'weeds' (your negative thoughts) and focus on your 'flowers' (your positive thoughts) but also take note of what doesn't help! Sometimes, we just need some alternate activities to disrupt those weeds from growing. That's why today in this #PullYourWeeds Blog post we are making "Self-Regulation Flower Pinwheels" which is 'positive distraction' tool to help you get out of the weeds and focus on your flowers! This flower themed pinwheel can help when you or your children are feeling sad, scared overwhelmed, or mad. Just spin the wheel and see what calming or relieving action you can take to help you try and redirect your thoughts. It's also a wonderful way to introduce new coping strategies at home or in the classroom! What you'll need: Cut a small circle out of one of the paper plates, a slightly larger circle from the second, and cut flower petals from the third. From the scraps cut out a very small circle, poke two holes in the center, and thread through your twist tie. Poke one hole in the center of each of your paper plates. Paint the plate with the petals like you would a flower and the two other plates colors of your choice. Attach all three layers - small circle, larger circle, circle with petals - by poking the twist tie strands through and securing. Then, cut out a square on the small circle and write "I feel..." above the cut out. On the second layer, write some of the difficult feelings you experience - stress, anxiety, sadness, frustration, impatience, etc. Then on the outer layer, write some enjoyable activities or techniques that help disrupt negative feelings and emotions - take a walk, read a book, listen to music, drink cold water, do a craft, talk to someone you trust, 5 minutes of deep breathing, take a bath, play a game... When you feel some of those difficult feelings coming on, spin your wheel of petals and give that coping strategy a try! Did you do this activity with you students or with you kids? Send us pictures of your pinwheels! This craft is a wonderful example of how to incorporate SEL art projects into your classroom and at home. Thanks for reading along and remember gardeners.... #PullYourWeeds!

If the earth is what we all have in common, let’s empower this younger generation with the skills and tools to make our world a brighter place. Onward! 💚 🌎🌸 Teaching young kids how to identify, communicate and manage big feelings and emotions and turn them into positive solutions can help make the future a brighter place for this younger generation. Emotional education is needed now more than ever and raising emotionally empowered kids just might be the change we need! You Are a Gardener®, Hello Gardeners® and the #PullYourWeeds® Blog are here as resources to help keep kids active, engaged and constantly communicating! We would love to hear from you and your thoughts on what we can add to our resources and tools to help keep things joyful and bright . Send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com #HappyEarthDay#PullYourWeeds#PlantNewSeeds#YouAreAGardener .

On our quest to mix in new and nutritional meals that are both kid and family approved we recently tried some different farro recipes. For those of you who have never tried farro (like us) it is a healthy substitute to rice or pasta with it's chewy and satisfying texture, it is also very filling like a pasta. This ancient grain is packed with tons of nutritional value as it's high in protein, fiber, iron, zinc and magnesium. Eating healthy doesn't just play a key role in your physical health, it can also affect your emotional well-being, too. After a little mixing and matching we came up with a fresh and flavorful Spiced Chickpea Farro Salad...with the added bonus that it is packed with 3 power ingredients that support major heart and brain benefits! Farro-Is exceptionally high in protein for a grain and supplies more than 10 different vitamins and minerals. Chickpeas-Are an excellent protein replacement when you want to skip the meat and they are loaded with vitamins and minerals like iron which plays an important role for boosting metabolism and producing energy. Tahini- Is a healthy fat that contains more protein than milk and most nuts. It is also rich source of B vitamins that boost energy and brain function. Scroll down to see how to make this fresh, filling and flavorful farro salad with spiced chickpeas and a citrus tahini dressing! Here is the recipe for the base of the farro salad: Here is the recipe for the spiced chickpeas to add to the farro salad: Here is the recipe for the Citrus Tahini dressing for the farro dish: Cooking Note: This recipe can be served immediately but the flavor gets deeper if it sits for at least an hour in the fridge. The salad can last up to 2-3 days in the fridge and can be made ahead of time. Getting your kids involved in the kitchen is a fun and hands on way to teach them about nutrition. Most kids know the value of fruits and vegetables and introducing them to new ingredients like farro is a wonderful and tasty way to appreciate healthy foods. Keeping mealtime a fun and engaging experience provides kids with a healthy foundation for future eating habits. Enjoy! Shanna

A seed was planted a couple of years ago all the way across in the pond in England when my mom was visiting some dear friends. She connected with our longtime friend's niece, Caroline and learned that she was a 4th grade teacher. She told her all bout my book and programs I was creating that were helping kids, families and teachers. Needless to say when my mother returned home, we sent Caroline a copy of my book. Just this past Friday I received the most unexpected, wonderful email from Caroline. In her first week back at school with her students, she introduced them to my children's book, You Are a Gardener® and the vocabulary of the program. "When you are a patient with a seed, it will sprout when you least expect it and bloom at just the right time." Shanna Truffini "Hi Shanna, I just wanted to share with you (permission sought from my head teacher) the work our class has done this week on the premise of your book.   We have spent the week using your book in guided readings to discuss emotions and feelings. The children were asked to write poems, here are a selection, I hope you can manage to read them. The children are in year 4, which is 8/9 year olds. Thanks again for gifting me the book, it’s been invaluable this week. Lots of love Caroline xx" The children were asked to write poems, here are a selection, I hope you can manage to read them. The children are in year 4, which is 8/9 year olds. It's encouraging to see that the language of flowers, weeds and seeds is now transcontinental. The application is universal thanks to Caroline and her year 4 class. You are gardeners! Cheers, Shanna If you would like to learn more about introducing the You Are a Gardener® Program into your classroom and expand on your current Social Emotional Learning (SEL) systems, please send an email to flowers@youareagardener.com.

It’s officially fall 🍂 and to celebrate we have just made all episodes of Camp Hello Gardeners® available as a FREE resource for kids, families and educators to enjoy! Camp Hello Gardeners® is a series of pre-recorded 30 minute videos featuring crafts, mindfulness activities, kid-friendly workouts, fun recipes, inspirational stories and so much more! Each video session comes with its own activity sheet for you and your gardeners to follow along with, as well as the materials needed for each session (most are common household items). CLICK THE PHOTO TO WATCH CAMP HELLO GARDENERS NOW The root of Camp Hello Gardeners® stemmed from the hit YouTube series, Hello Gardeners® with Gardener Anna and Gardener Aidan. In efforts to empower kids with tools, skills and vocabulary to identify, manage and navigate big emotions, these video session feature multiple skills and activities for kids to learn how to take control of the way they feel! Watch Now!

I got to spend a morning this summer (at a social distance) with the beautiful and talented Maria Falzo from HipNJ. It was actually their first day back in their Long Productions Studios since March and my second time back for an interview. I was so grateful to be on their lineup and to spread some seeds in my home state of NJ! Press Play to watch the video or Click Here to read the full write up on the HipNJ website. To see my interview I did last fall with Maria and her crew you can Click Here! Thank you Hip NJ for all the #LocalLove #NJLove #YouAreGardeners

For Aidan's summer reading his non-fiction book of choice was AC/DC An Unauthorized Rockography by Heather Miller. It was a real pleasure to read this book along with him, as it was extremely insightful to learn about the history of rock and the culture that inspired/created it. One particular passage in the book talks about how "after a decade of turmoil in the 1960s, the 70s brought with it a focus on personal pleasures...many people were simply tired of the stress of war and were anxious to feel good again." I am hopeful that our society is also at a similar point. Maybe we are also getting tired of all the stress and negative emotions surrounding us...and maybe, just maybe, it's our time to 'feel good again'. Children are constantly taking cues from their parents, teachers and authority figures. In times of stress and uncertainty, it is up to us to lead by example. If we want to feel joy then we need to create more joy. According to groovyhistory.com, the famous hit song Joy to the World by Three Dog Night was written by Hoyt Axton. He had originally wrote the song anticipating it to be on a television special to promote peace and harmony in the world, but he had only written the first verse and the chorus. When his TV opportunity did not manifest, he eventually sold his song to Three Dog Night, and they filled in the rest of the lyrics. The song came out in 1971 just as the country was starting to embrace a new 'feel good' attitude. The chorus was catchy and the words rang true. (photo courtesy of Joan Marie Photography) Fast forward to 2020...when our world could definitely use more joy. Let us fill this younger generation with hope, excitement, pride, peace, love and acceptance starting now. Joy starts with you and me. From the conversations we have with our families and friends, to what we choose to post on social media, to the energy we put out there with our everyday encounters, let joy be at the root of it all and let's make this our time to 'feel good again". Joy to you and me, Shanna P.S.-To share a little joy, we have just made all episodes of Camp Hello Gardeners® available as a FREE resource for kids, families and educators to enjoy! These 30 minute video sessions are great to use at home, in school, on a virtual classroom, in a local learning pod, after school, or even on a rainy day! Click Here & Let's Grow! CLICK HERE TO WATCH ALL SESSIONS OF CAMP HELLO GARDENERS® & PREVIOUS SEASONS OF HELLO GARDENERS®

With a couple of weeks of back-to-school 2020 under our belts, our kids deserve a big round of applause! Rising to new responsibilities takes a lot of courage (especially when it requires you to wear a mask). From in-school, to local learning pods, to google classrooms, the efforts these kids are making are remarkable! After being disconnected from their teachers and classmates for so long some kids are finding it a little hard to get back into the groove. Here are some of their common concerns and what we can do to help them make this school year rock! In-School Student Challenges: "There are a lot of new rules to remember." In efforts to keep kids safe, schools have had to implement tremendous amounts of safety precautions in a very short amount of time, and getting used to new protocols takes time. It is important that kids are aware of what is expected of them and equally as important to know how to be patient with themselves. These new rules are new for everyone. After a little bit of time and consistency they will become more routine than rule. "It's hard to read my teachers facial expressions." Regardless of if a person is wearing a mask or not, most emotions read from facial expressions happen above the nose. In most cases, you don't need to see someones mouth to gauge how they are feeling. This is also a wonderful opportunity to remind kids to use and trust their own 'moral compass'; to help guide them through what feels right and wrong in their everyday experiences. "I get a headache wearing my mask that long." Most schools have implemented mask breaks for students and teachers. It is helpful for children to take advantage of this time and take some deep breaths. Check out last week's post for an easy breathing exercises for kids to do anywhere, anytime! Click Here (Click Here For Our Favorite Kid Friendly Masks) Virtual Student Challenges: "I don't get to be with my friends." This has been one of the most common complaints from kids over the last few months. Their fun has literally been masked and their socialization has suffered. Try and get creative with your kids as far as their friends go. Take advantage of the nice weather and use your best judgements for your family. This too shall pass. "It's too much screen time." .....Says no kid ever..until now! The amount of time children have to spend on screen during remote learning sessions can vary anywhere from 4-8 hours. During their sessions set 30 minute timers to remind them to get up and move around for a few minutes. If the weather is nice, have them go outside for brain breaks to visually take in some natural scenery. There are also several anti-blue screen glasses out for kids right now that can be a big help. "My family seems stressed when I ask for help." It's easy to get overwhelmed during these times, especially if you are also trying to work from home. Try and take a few deep breaths to center yourself before helping and remind yourself this is temporary. If things become too consistently challenging, hiring a tutor can be a wonderful solution. Check out one of our favorite virtual tutors and regular guest gardener on Camp Hello Gardeners by Clicking Here! Wherever your kids are learning this season, encouraging them to 'pull their weeds' (talking about their concerns, fears and frustrations) is extremely important right now. Their social and emotional well being plays a very big role in their academic success. If you don't have a copy of our book yet Click Here Our gardening team is here to help provide you and your family with tools and resources to help keep those gardens rockin' & rollin' all school year long! Rock On!

With the sudden rise in families relocating and moving to new homes, we appreciate how periods of change like this can be challenging and emotional. Today on the #PullYOurWeeds Blog we have some tips to help you and your family say goodbye to your house with a joyful heart. Out with the Old: Young kids have a tendency to get attached to personal belongings and moving can be a big emotional shift. To help get them get excited for a new space, have them pick out old toys and clothing they no longer use to sell at a tag sale or to be donated. In exchange for giving up some of these belongings, have them pick out new bedding or some fun decorations for their new room. A little excitement goes a long way. Kids look up to us to gauge how they should feel. Encouraging them to imagine their new stuff in a new room helps to make a positive connection to a new home and detach from their current space. Looking for original & unique art? Click Here! Take A Tour: Before you move out have your family take a tour of your house and share their favorite memories from each room. If you have the opportunity to video document this moment.  This could be a very special virtual memory for you and your family to enjoy for years to come. Our videographer Kelsey can help you create a beautiful virtual tour with only your mobile phone! Click Here for contact info. Leave a Piece of You Behind: Kids always love the idea of a time capsule. They serve as a collection and representation of your life together in that space and time. It can be a small box with notes of your favorite memories or photos of your family in the house. This is a beautiful representation of honoring the roots you grew in your home. (Be sure to leave it as if nothing was buried there so it's nice and neat for the new owners. Garden beds make for a good spot or under a tree.) With Love: Leaving a special gift behind for the new owners is a wonderful act of kindness to show your kids. It symbolizes your love and respect for your home and recognizes your excitement for the new owners. Flowers and plants are bright and cheerful, or sometimes a care package of toilet paper, soap and paper towels can be fun too. Keep The Lines Open Moving can take a toll on a child's social and emotional well being. Sometimes the signs are subtle. Getting kids to open up and comfortably talk about how they feel is extremely important during these times. The You Are a Gardener® children's book is rooted in empowering kids with vocabulary and tools to help them identify, communicate and manage their emotions with positive results. Click Here to get signed copy today! Thank you to my longtime friend Kirk DeLaney (mom of our illustrator/videographer Kelsey & our head blogger Devin) who inspired this post. I am so excited for your new adventure...Onward! “The first step in getting somewhere is to decide you are not going to stay where you are.”~ Anonymous Quote

Hello Gardeners! This week we are introducing you to another member of the Gardening Team, crafter extraordinaire - Devin DeLaney. When the #PullYourWeeds blog launched, Devin came aboard to create crafts, breathing exercises, DIY tricks, classroom hacks, fun activities and more! Devin fills the blog with tons of resources for educators and families looking to embrace the 'gardening' lifestyle to share with their kids. Devin is a visual artist creating artwork through projects like Piece. and ifé jewelry, but her passion is helping kids explore their creativity through visual art and using art as a tool for mindfulness. She currently spreading seeds in an assisted living facility for kids doing activities! ☝️☝️These are some of Devin's favorite crafts and activities ☝️☝️ We've come such a long way since the early days of the blog - trying to make our own graphics, use our own images, and specify crafts so they are #PullYourWeedsApproved! You may remember Devin from the art episode of #HelloGardeners But most recently, you can find her in Session 4 of #CampHelloGardeners where she shows us how to make a custom picture frame with materials you can find around the house! * * Click here to sign up for Camp Hello Gardeners * * Thanks Gardener Devin for helping spread seeds of creativity! If you'd like to learn more about Devin, you can follow @ife_jewelry or @shopyourpiece on Instagram!