Hello Gardeners! When was the last time you took inventory of your 'toolbox'? For those of you who are new to our page we are talking about the various tools you rely on to help you overcome challenges and "PULL YOUR WEEDS"! Today, we have 3 grounding techniques that are easy to remember and a wonderful addition to any toolbox! D I S T R A C T I O N Sometimes you just need to disrupt your thoughts! Playing a game (like I-spy) is a simple way to redirect - it gets you observing your surroundings and while taking focus and attention away from your pattern of thought! O B S E R V E The simple act of observing your surroundings helps bring you back to the present moment! Observation requires awareness and the ability to be present. If you want to read up on some activities that practice observation, click here! B R E A T H E We've said it before and we'll say it again! BREATHE! Deep breathing is one of the best ways to relieve stress. Check out some of our other posts for breathing techniques: Petal Breathing Belly Breathing Mindful Breathing Visualizations Create a Flower Breather If you are still looking for more tools to add to your families toolbox - no problem! Check out our post about Building Up Your Toolbox! A Friendly reminder: Finding the right tools/skills for you and your kids takes time. Be gentle with yourself and use the ones that feel the most natural...'gardening' takes time, patience and endurance.

Feeling 'left out' is one of the most uncomfortable yet normal encounters that kids and adults (of all ages) experience. Feelings of exclusion can cause one to feel angry, sad, jealous, depressed and can evoke an adaptive response that roots in our primal instinct of belonging. As clinical psychologist Sophie Mort, DClinPsy, said, “Social connection has been integral to the survival of our species. Being included in a group meant sharing resources, and being protected. " If feelings like these get threatened it is important to address them early on in efforts to help kids avoid feeling isolated and alone. Not feeling included can happen pretty regularly to young kids. Getting them to talk about what they are experiencing helps validate their feelings and encourages conversations on how to help them feel better....turning weeds into seeds. Today we have come up with 10 Healthy Ways to help your kids (or yourself) to get back in there when you are feeling left out! Pull Your Weeds- The more you can get your child to open up and verbally communicate about what they feeling helps you to validate their emotions as well as encourages them to identify negative thoughts and feelings. (In most cases, the sooner you see a weed, the easier it is to pull it out!) Put Yourself In Their Shoes- Letting young kids know you have been there before and have experienced the same feelings helps them to not feel so alone and also highlights feelings of empathy. Control The Things You Can-Discussing the things that are controllable in a certain situation helps a child understand they have choices. While you can't control what others do, you can control how you respond (not react) to them. 4. You Do You-To put it simply children need to know how truly special they are and what makes them unique is what makes our world a brighter place. Staying true to yourself even when times are tough is an act of bravery. 5. Look For New Adventures-Sometimes you just need a change of scenery. Helping your child select new activities that they are interested in can open up new relationships and new opportunities. 6. Lead By Example-Staying calm and grounded when kids open up about these situations is extremely important. Young children look to us to gauge how they should feel. If you get upset over the encounter, this can cause deeper feelings of hurt and isolation. 7. Positive Distractions-Redirecting your thoughts after talking about uncomfortable feelings can be very helpful. Reading, dancing, exercising, doing crafts, playing with your pets or snuggling up on the couch to watch movies are all positive ways to get your mind back to a calmer space. 8. Deep Roots- Consider seeking outside help if you feel your child is really struggling. Sometimes situations might be more deeply rooted than what a child can communicate. Therapy from a certified professional can be extremely important and beneficial to all. 9. Random Acts of Kindness- Doing something nice for somebody else can help you to take your mind off yourself and focus on doing something positive for someone. The emotional benefits of random acts of kindness can help you get out of the weeds and back to your flowers. 10, Choose To Feel Joy To Create Blossoms So Bright-Reminding ourselves and our kids that while we can't always control our emotions, we can choose how we want to respond to them. The more we can turn our 'weeds into seeds' (talking about negative feeling and emotions to come up with positive solutions) the more our 'flowers' (our joy) will continue to shine....You are a gardener!

How often do we hear, "I can't wait for the weekend, TGIF, or it's FriYay"...why do we have to wait until the week is over to put the 'yay' in the day? Teaching young kids to find the joy in every single day shows them that you don't have to wait for the weekends to be happy, have fun and enjoy today. In this #PullYourWeeds blog post we have put together our TOP 10 ways to help you and your family find the 'Yay' in everyday, with the added bonus of nurturing your kids social and emotional learning (SEL) skills. Scroll Down To Read Our Top 10 Ways To Add Some Yay To Your Day! #1 Have A Costume Party Let's face it, we all love to play dress up every now and then, but did you know there are a lot of social and emotional benefits too! Dressing up in costumes requires one to use their imagination, it encourages role play and helps gain confidence. (Click Photo- Paper Flower Chains) #2 Do Some Crafts Art projects are not only fun but they encourage kids to be creative. When doing arts & crafts together it helps keep everyone on the same task and appreciate each other's artistic difference. #3 Play A Board Game It's all fun and games with the added bonus of practicing self-control, sportsmanship, and positive decision making. (Click Photo- Spring Bake Off) #4 Have A Bake Off Who doesn't love a baking championship? Baking has been found to have therapeutic values which helps to ease stress and anxiety. It is a creative and meditative process that stimulates the senses with rewarding/tasty results. #5 Do A Scavenger Hunt Eye spy a tons of fun, responsible decision making, positive problem solving skills and teamwork building! (Click Photo For Recipe) #6 Make Breakfast For Dinner Kids love an unexpected twist when it comes to mealtime. Making breakfast for dinner is not only fun, but there are so many nutritious breakfast recipes that are super to easy to make. #7 Set Up A Picnic Picnics can be a great way to promote healthy eating habits, enjoy the outdoors, and spend some time together. Plus, making the food and packing the basket gets everyone involved and builds excitement. If you are looking for a fun, kid friendly snack...CLICK HERE! #8 Have A Dance Party "I feel better when I'm dancing"...literally dancing is one of the purest forms of expressing joy and happiness. It is also a fun and unexpected workout! Be sure to make sure everyone's musical taste are included! (Click The Photo To Start Watching) #9 Do A Midweek Movie Night Surprise your kids with a family approved flick, cozy blankets and popcorn! The brain chemicals released when snuggling are linked to health benefits for parents and children alike! #10 Watch Camp Hello Gardeners® If you are looking for some fun, positive screen time for you and your kids to enjoy, turn on an episode or four of Camp Hello Gardener® and bonus points for doing all the activities featured in each session! To help you and your kids put a little ‘yay’ into everyday we made a printer friendly version of our ’Make Everyday A Yay Day’ checklist for you to hang on the fridge, on a corkboard or save in your files! Happy Day, Shanna <> Your feedback helps us grow! Send us your photos, share your stories or submit some fun ideas to flowers@youareagardener.com Camp Hello Gardeners® will help put the Yay in everyday! Click the Photo To WATCH NOW! Featuring Gardener Anna, Gardener Aidan & Gardener Shanna

Hello Gardeners! Since the Spring, many of us have been trying to adjust our mindsets and lifestyles to make real and lasting changes in the way we process stress and manage our emotions. Our very own Gardener Devin (one of the members of our Gardening Team), works with young gardeners who have very unique 'weeds'. Lately with the lack of schedules and not being in school. these gardeners had lots of extra energy built up. In efforts to help the kids Gardener Devin works with, she and her colleagues went in search of something fun, engaging, active and calming for the kids to enjoy! It was then that the Jaime, from Cosmic Kids Yoga, swooped in and saved the day! 🌈 Meet, Jaime 🌈 Check out the Cosmic Kids App here! Jaime is a Certified Yoga Instructor, who teaches yoga to kids in a kid-friendly, fun way. Every class follows a different movie, book, video game theme - Trolls, Mario, Moana, Harry Potter - you name it! She takes traditional yoga poses, but give them fun names. Cosmic Kids offers classes ranging from 5 minutes to 30 minutes - perfect for any schedule. Oh, yeah! Did I forget to mention that all of these videos are free on Cosmic Kids' Youtube channel? Cosmic Kids also provides guided meditations to help your little ones zen out and focus on the breath. These are awesome for a calm-down corner or for settling down before bedtime! Cosmic Kids Yoga is #PullYourWeedsApproved because: ✓ Like us, it uses kid-friendly language to familiarize kids with resources for managing mental wellness ✓ Introduces mindfulness in a fun, engaging way ✓ It's just another resource to add to your toolbox! Be sure to follow @cosmickidsyoga, visit Cosmic Kids website, or take a class for yourself on Cosmic Kids' Youtube page!

Let's face it, our kids are stressed. On a daily basis, children encounter multiple uncomfortable feelings, thoughts and emotions (aka weeds). From feeling overwhelmed with school work, being afraid of the dark, feeling left out with their friends, hearing a story on the news that scares them, to worrying about their loved ones dying...the list goes on. Just like real weeds in a garden, when you don't pay attention to them, things can get out of control and fast. This emoji chart shows what can happen if a gardener lets his/her weeds go unattended. It starts with one negative feeling, thought or emotion, and as more weeds pop up, a gardener can go from feeling uncomfortable, to stressed, to anxious or even depressed. Introducing the You Are a Gardener® vocabulary to young kids is a wonderful way to help them understand how important it is to identify negative emotions (weeds) and to verbalize how they make them feel. When gardeners talk about their 'weeds' with someone they trust, it opens up positive conversations about what occurred that caused them to feel stressed and helps them to move forward in a positive direction (aka pulling your weeds). When a young gardener encounters a weed, they may not have an opportunity right way to talk to someone about it or maybe they have talked about it, but don't physically feel better yet. This is where the 'seeds' come in. Think of your seeds as an emotional toolbox full of positive distractions to help shift your thoughts and feelings from a negative to a positive. The more tools a gardener has, the more prepared he/she can be the next time they encounter a stressful situation. Some of our favorite gardening tools are: ✿Journal Writing ✿ Singing along to your favorite song ✿ Having a dance party ✿ Taking a walk ✿ Drinking a glass of cold water ✿ Making a craft ✿ Baking something ✿ Reading a book ✿ Snuggling someone you love You reap what you sow. The more frequently you use the You Are a Gardener® vocabulary and the more tools you continue to explore, the brighter your garden will be. Gardening on a daily basis can be a lot of work and consistency is key. That's why all the programs we create can be used at home or in school. Stay tuned to the #PullYourWeeds Blog for new crafts, activities, videos and inspirational stories all rooted in empowering young gardeners with tools to help their gardens grow healthy and strong! #TheFutureIsFlowers

We are so grateful for all the opportunities we were presented with this year that inspired us to grow our programs and connect with gardener friends from all across the country! From in-school programs in early 2020 to creating Camp Hello Gardeners®, virtual book readings, creating new crafts, recipes & tools for our #PullYourWeeds blog, Zoom interviews and growing stronger roots for all of our programs. We can't wait to see where it all 'grows' in 2021! Here are some of our favorite moments from 2020! Happy New Year 🎉 - Visiting St. Catherine of Sienna School in Cedar Grove and presenting the you Are a Gardener SEL program to their teachers and students! -Making the sweetest episode ever of Hello Gardeners with Anne from Rebel Daughter Cookies and our very own Gardener Kelsey. -It was so much fun spreading seeds all the way in Utah on the Stress Nanny podcast with Lindsay Miller. -Being safe at home this Spring inspired so many fun crafts, recipes and tools to add to our #PullYourWeeds Blog. -Not being able to film Hello Gardeners this spring inspired us to create Camp Hello Gardeners with our videographer and creative side kick, Kelsey Jordan. We connected with so many talented friends and our extremely grateful for all of their contributions. -Virtual connections opened our doors to many opportunities such as being a guest speaker for the women's group BIG of Morristown. -It was so fun to be back 'virtually' on the iHeart radio series Passage to Profits . -It was so good to reconnect with Maria Falzo and be interviewed on HipNJ. -We are extremely grateful for Gardener Devin and all the fun and creative content she creates for the #PullYourWeeds Blog. #PullYourWeeds® | You Are a Gardener®

As 2020 comes to a close we hope you are taking some time to reflect on all that you accomplished this year. Acknowledging successes no matter how big or how small helps us continue to achieve and strive for our goals. So, before your mind launches into a new year, pause and celebrate the major strides you made in 2020. Talk about some serious gardening! Watch Gardener Anna's video as she encourages gardeners to make a list of the highlights from 2020 and she also shares some of her own! (Press Play To Watch Gardener Anna's 2020 Highlights Video) Making a list of all your accomplishments in a year is a wonderful exercise for gardeners of any age. Here are some ways to make it fun... ❀ Scroll through photos you have taken over the year and create a 2020 highlights album. This can also help you come up with your list. ❀ Create a video of your or your child reading the 2020 highlight list. This is one year worth really documenting. ❀ Save this list in a very special place to be read and enjoyed over the years. ❀ Make a bonus list of things you would like to accomplish in 2021! Wishing all our gardener friends a bright and Happy New Year! Thank you for all the seeds you helped us plant in 2020! We can't wait to see what grows...

Last Monday, Aidan asked for a shoe box and wrapping paper for a project he was working on for our family. Moments later he returned with a "Family Pull Your Weeds Box". Aidan's inspiration to create this box was rooted in wanting to discuss a few of his own 'weeds' with our family. As the week went by, we all found ourselves dropping a note in the box and on Sunday night after dinner we had a family 'pull your weeds' session. This was such a wonderful exercise for all of us as it created a calm and open minded environment for us to discuss some things that occurred during the week that could have easily been overlooked. I highly recommend trying this out at home or in your classroom. Keeping the lines of communication open between children and adults is extremely important, especially during these times. Watch Gardener Aidan's quick video to see how a family 'Pull Your Weeds' Box is a wonderful addition to your home. Aidan's #PullYourWeeds box is very similar to a tool I share with schools when I am presenting my You Are a Gardener® Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program to elementary educators. A 'weeds to seeds' pot can be a very powerful tool to use in the classroom. When students encounter uncomfortable situations at school, it can be very disruptive for the child and class if not addressed. Creating a trusted space where students feel comfortable speaking openly and honestly with their teachers about their 'weeds' encourages open communication, empathy and a positive flow in the classroom. Scroll down to watch an episode of Hello Gardeners® to see how a 4th grade teacher uses it in her classroom. Keep pulling your weeds gardeners...the future is flowers! Shanna Watch one of my favorite episodes of Hello Gardeners® with our very own Gardener Kim, aka Ms. T. (a 4th grade teacher) as she and the gardeners show us how to make origami seed packets for students to use to discreetly communicate with their teachers when they need help 'pulling their weeds' in school. PRESS PLAY TO WATCH NOW > Plant your seeds, pull your weeds and enjoy the flowers along the way. You are a gardener.

Hello Gardeners! As joyful as this time of year is, it can also be a little overwhelming. With shopping, planning, decorating and keeping things festive... staying on the brighter side of things can sometimes be a challenge. Today we are dedicating our #PullYourWeeds post to stress-reducing, nerve-busting tips to help you get the most cheer out of this holiday season! # 1 L E T G O O F E X P E C T A T I O N S Holiday planning can be a lot of extra work. Looking ahead and taking the necessary steps to help you stay on track and organized can sometimes be overwhelming. If there is anything this year has taught us is take things one day at a time and don't get too far ahead of yourself. When you find yourself in a position where you feel like you are running thin, instead of asking yourself what should I be doing right now, try swapping the thought for what do I want to be doing right now. When we let ourselves off the hook from expectations and focus more on appreciation it can help keep the balance in our mental well-being. # 2 M A K E T I M E F O R Y O U Dedicating time for yourself helps you to bring your best to whatever priorities and challenges come your way. Be sure to carve out some special time that is just for you, even if you have to schedule it on your calendar. If you are looking for a craft or activity to help you relax and re-focus, be sure to take a look through our previous blog posts for some fun ideas! # E X P R E S S G R A T I T U D E Even during the toughest moments - we can always find ONE thing for which we are grateful. There's a famous quote by an unknown author that says, "Gratitude turns what we have into enough." This slight shift in perspective doesn't necessarily make the bad things seem not so bad, but they make the good things seem so much better! Check out our garden cycle for some more inspiration...click here! Practice this exercise with your family to create a Gratitude Garden! # 4 T R E A T Y O U R S E L F We've got a relaxing, luxurious, homemade mask for you to make with simple ingredients you can find in your pantry or at the grocery store! You will need: Raw honey (2 tbsp) Ground cinnamon (2 tsp) Lemon juice (1 wedge, squeezed) Raw honey is a wonderful anti-bacterial moisturizer, ground cinnamon acts as an exfoliant, and the lemon juice helps brighten skin and fight excess oil and acne**! *If you have sensitive skin or are unsure of your reactions to these ingredients, first test on small area of hand or arm **We are not dermatologists, but we have seen this mask work wonders from personal use! Your skin will thank you : ) # 5 P R A C T I C E M I N D F U L N E S S Taking even 5 minutes to do some deep breathing can really help regulate your stress levels and keep you present this holiday season! Find some guided meditations on Youtube or using a podcast app, download a mindfulness app, or try practicing mindfulness with the whole family using one of these techniques! We hope these tips will come in handy for you over the next month. We'd love to hear how you are keeping stress levels low this season! Let us know by emailing flowers@youareagardener.com. Thanks for reading along and remember, keep pulling your weeds! . . . @youareagardener | flowers@youareagardener.com | You Are A Gardener™

Getting kids to eat first thing in the morning before school can sometimes be a challenge. We are always on the hunt to find easy breakfast ideas that are tasty, healthy and FAST! As breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it's important to establish healthy eating habits for children at a young age. Making smart breakfast choices and emphasizing the importance of refueling their bodies can help start kids on the right track for a healthy lifestyle. According to kidshealth.org, "It's important for kids to have breakfast every day, but what they eat in the morning is crucial too. Choosing breakfast foods that are rich in whole grains, fibers and protein while low in added sugar may boost kids' attention span, concentration, and memory — which they need to learn in school." That's why today on the #PullYourWeeds Blog we are sharing one of our favorite early morning recipes that will help your get family ready for a healthy day ahead! Scroll down for our very own Berry Breakfast Bowl Recipe 🍓 You Are a Gardener® Berry Breakfast Bowl Recipe: ❀ 1 1/2 C of frozen mixed berries ❀ 1 Yogurt Stick (Frozen) ❀ 1 C Coconut Milk (almond or oat works too) ❀ Drizzle of honey (optional) Mix in blender until you get a sorbet like consistency. (Sometimes you need to add more milk or frozen berries to get the texture just right.) Serves 2-3. We love to top ours with melted peanut or almond butter, coconut flakes and granola, but the beautiful thing about these breakfast bowls... you can get creative with the toppings! Our #PullYourWeeds® Blog is rooted in empowering young kids with lots of tools to help their gardens grow healthy and strong. Eating healthy and learning how to cook are wonderful additions to their toolbox. We would love to hear what some of your favorite breakfast ideas. Send us an email to flowers@youareagardener.com 🍽

Now through Sunday 12/6 enjoy 10% off a copy of You Are a Gardener® plus get 5 free, custom #PullYourWeeds pencils with your purchase. Enter code ONPOINT10 at checkout. Shanna Truffini’s children’s book You Are a Gardener™ uses gardening vocabulary to help kids identify strong emotions and turn them into empowering and positive solutions. The book is recommended for children ages 4-12 but the message is truly ageless. The beautiful illustrations in the book are timeless watercolors that all ages enjoy. Since the book was published in 2017 it made such a positive impact on the community that it rapidly flourished into a social and emotional learning (SEL) program created by the author that is used in elementary classrooms across the country!

Today our family celebrates rescuing our beautiful dog Diamond, only two years ago. They say dogs have a way of finding the people who need them and she found us at just the right time. There are so many reasons our family advocates for rescuing animals and Diamond is a beautiful example of how positively life changing it can be. The role she plays for each one of us in our family has been truly therapeutic. She is calming for Anna, a playmate for Aidan, loyal to Dan, a walking partner for me and the list goes on. According to healthline.com, "Interacting with a friendly pet can help many physical and mental issues. It can help reduce blood pressure and improve overall cardiovascular health. It can also release endorphins that produce a calming effect. This can help alleviate pain, reduce stress, and improve your overall psychological state." The responsibilities of owning a pet are definitely an increase in your day to day life but the rewards are immeasurable. The comfort and companionship a pet offers to home can really strengthen a family bond. We thought it would be fun to share a clip from our Camp Hello Gardeners video series where Gardener Anna shares our special story about how Diamond found our family. Press Play to watch now! To watch this entire episode of Camp Hello Gardeners featuring how to make your own picture frames, fun with number art, kid friendly snack recipes, the art of improv, special signs and more watch the video here: https://www.youareagardener.com/session-4 The gardeners love guessing games! Not only are the fun but they are good for learning and using your imagination. In this short video clip of Camp Hello Gardeners, Gardener Anna, Gardener Aidan and our mascot Gardener Diamond play a game of guess who is coming out of the tent. Watch now and play along. Press Play Now! We would love to see pictures of your pets! Send us your photos to flowers@youareagardeenr.com