Hello Gardeners! With little glimpses of warm weather on the horizon, we are reminded that Spring is just around the corner. Spring is the season of rebirth and new beginnings - therefore the perfect time to plant some new seeds and reflect on the Winter's weeds and flowers. Winter can be tough on our gardens - the days are shorter, we spend less time in the sun, and have the tendency to hibernate a little. Looking back on how you dealt with the darkness and how you tried to shine light on your flowers can be a wonderful exercise of gratitude and self-regulation. One way that Devin from the Gardening Team, deals with the winter is with her indoor garden! She really enjoys starting seeds early so that by spring she is ahead of the game. Need seed starter cups? Use old K-cups! They are the perfect size and it's a great way to reuse single-use plastic! Another gardener told us he enjoys taking long, hot baths in the winter. It helps keep him warm and relaxed! Want to make your own luxurious #BathBombs, check out this Hello Gardeners episode featuring Leah from Homemade Happiness by Leah! For us, a sign that Spring is around the corner is seeing little whispers of green start sprouting all over the place. We thought this would be the perfect time to share our easy #SeedBombCraft, so you can help spread seeds of Spring! Here's what you'll need: A few sheets of paper A packet of seeds Water First, tear up your paper into small pieces - the smaller the pieces the easier for the paper to break down into pulp! Place all of your small pieces into a bowl of water and let them soak for a few hours. **Teachers: you may want to break this craft up into two halves of the day so your paper can soak!** Using wire mesh or a colander, strain your paper pulp. Take a small handful and create a little pit for the seeds. Once your seeds are secured in the middle, squeeze your hand letting all the excess water out. THAT'S IT! You have your seed bombs! Plant these in a window garden to watch them grow from your classroom or take a walk with your students and let them throw their seed bombs wherever they'd like to see flowers! ***UPDATE*** Our seed bombs are starting to sprout! No matter how you stay sunny during the cold months, you can always find helpful and fund activities to keep you feeling BRIGHT! That's all for today, gardeners - and don't forget to #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! We strive to make this blog a resource for families & educators to learn practical applications in emotional management for kids, but we can't forget the importance of making time for the #FlowerMoments. Sometimes the best way to remind your gardener of his or her flowers, is to turn a normal Sunday morning or weeknight into a special memory. To help you make your flower moment, here is an easy, no-stress recipe for #FlowerPancakes! No squeeze bottles or special tools required! For this recipe, we relied on the classic Bisquick™ pancake mix to make our batter. Next, separate the mix into 4 bowls and add about 6 drops of food coloring to each bowl. Feel free to adjust the amount of food coloring to suit your preference, but remember the color will slightly brown when cooked! Use a small spoon to create the different shapes - for the inner circle, a small dollop seems to work best and for the petals, use a bit more batter and kind of smear it to create more of a petal shape. For the stems, make as thin a line as you can! Now for the fun part - assemble! Mix and match your colors, create entire gardens, have fun, and enjoy your delicious flowers. We can often get wrapped up in the little stuff, especially when trying to incorporate equal parts fun, learning, and creativity all into one perfect activity. The most important thing to remember is to just show up and be there - it doesn't always matter what your are doing, just that you are doing something together! Send us your #FlowerMoments by tagging us @youareagardener or emailing flowers@youareagardener.com! We can't wait to hear from you! And as always, don't forget to #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! Welcome back to the #PullYourWeeds blog! As you know the #SELatHome segment of the blog is dedicated to providing parents, guardians, babysitters, nannies, after school care professionals, and the like, SEL activities to do in the home! Today, we are talking #SensoryPlay, why it's beneficial, and how to incorporate it into life at home! Our senses help us explore the world - that why you see babies grabbing things, putting things in their mouths, experimenting with the different sounds their mouths make. And while sensory play can be extremely beneficial for gardeners who are easily overwhelmed and have trouble navigating stimuli that comes at them, sensory play can benefit gardeners of all ages and backgrounds. Bath time is the perfect time to incorporate some sensory play into your day. Allow your gardener to play with toys with different textures and colors - think sponges, rings, figurines, etc. Add a bath fizzer or essential oils to create a calming aroma. Invest in an essential oil diffuser and some essential oils. Not only are diffusers a great way to keep your home smelling fresh, but can make movie time or a simple craft, a multi-sensory experience. Try calming scents like eucalyptus and lavender before bed, to help your gardener settle down, and use scents like grapefruit and orange in the morning to help energize for the day! Sensory bottles can be a lot of different things - but typically include water and oil or water and glue. The point of sensory bottles for kids to visually explore the contents of the bottle by shaking and turning it. These bottles usually include glitter, color, sometimes beads, and work best when made in clear plastic or clear glass bottles. Here's what you'll need: 1 airtight container (plastic or glass) Vegetable oil or another cheap oil Water Glitter of varying sizes Food coloring or liquid watercolor Super glue First, you'll need equal parts oil and water, so depending on the size of your container you can adjust the amounts as needed. Add your oil, glitter, and a little bit of the coloring to the jar and mix. Then add your water and stir. Before gluing the lid, test your sensory bottle to make sure it looks the way you want it! Then have fun watching the swirling glitter settle and mix! Thanks for stopping by today gardeners, always remember to #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! We know that listening to certain music encourages relaxation and helps us develop close listening skills, while playing music helps us collaborate, communicate, and gain confidence with our peers. Today on the blog, we are taking a deeper dive into some of those benefits and providing you with some easy ways to incorporate music + sound into your classroom! You can learn a lot about a person by listening to their favorite song or hearing a song that makes them sad. For many music lovers, we associate the "big life moments" with songs that take us back to specific moments and emotions - good and bad. Ask your students to pick a favorite song. Encourage them to look up the lyrics (if they don't already know them) and listen to the musical arrangements closely. Create a #ClassroomPlaylist and have each student speak a little about why the song they chose is their favorite. This activity helps: ✓ Practice public speaking ✓ Encourage an emotional response to art ✓ Develop confidence in personal taste Participating in group music is such a great way to get kids collaborating, listening to one another, and practicing impulse control. We have a fun #FlowerTambourine craft that your students can use in our special version of "Red Light, Green Light'! Here's what you'll need: 2 paper plates Paint Paintbrushes Beans, popcorn kernels, beads (anything that makes noise!) A stapler Have your students paint flowers on both of their paper plates - have them decorate the extra space however they like! Once dry, staple the edges of the 2 plates together, leaving about a quarter of the circle unstapled. Place a handful of beans inside and finish stapling the plates together. This is such a great craft if you are running low on supplies and there are so many ways to alter this craft to better fit your students! You can add bells to the edges using a hole punch and some string, you can add a strap to one side of the tambourine for an easy grip - the sky is the limit! Once your students have their #FlowerTambourines, play this special version of #RedLightGreenLight to practice impulse control, while having fun! It's simple, have one of your students stand at the front of the class, when he or she says, "Green Light!" have your students play their instruments as loud as they can, but when the student says, "Red Light!" the room has to immediately come to complete silence. This activity helps: ✓ Practice following directions ✓ Develop impulse control ✓ Encourage self-expression through sound Group drumming helps students find rhythm together, listen, and follow patterns, while feeling a sense of calm & stability through the steady beat. Have your students sit in a circle and start with a simple pattern - such as PAT - PAT - REST. Then, without speaking, have the students send and receive patterns to with their classmates. For example, while the rest of the class continues the PAT - PAT - REST pattern, find a student in the circle, make eye contact with him or her, and once you have his or her attention, demonstrate the pattern you would like them to repeat - PAT - REST - CLAP. After they repeat your pattern, the sender returns to the original pattern and the receiver will find a new person in the circle and come up with their own pattern. You move around the circle until everyone has sent and received a pattern. It may take a few tries for everyone to understand, but this activity is a great way to quiet down the classroom and get everyone focused. This activity helps: ✓ Practice following patterns ✓ Aid focus and observation ✓ Develop non-verbal communication Thanks for tuning in today, gardeners - we hope that your classrooms get musical this week! And as always, remember to #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! Our author, #ShannaTruffini, recently sat down with podcaster and coaching professional Lindsay Miller, a.k.a. The Stress Nanny. The Stress Nanny's aim is simple - to help families stress less. Lindsay explores tools that help modern families manage stress and interviews like-minded people from organizations and businesses who work toward the same goal. We were so excited to speak with her and want to invite you to listen by clicking the image below. Or you can search "The Stress Nanny" in Apple Podcasts! Lindsay Miller has a background in child development, is certified in Yoga Health Coaching and is a Registered Yoga Teacher. She has dedicated her career to helping children and adults stress less using a mindfulness-based approach. Meeting and speaking with people like Lindsay is such a great reminder that there are so many wonderful forces out there working to make this world a friendlier, more supportive place. We at You Are A Gardener™ are motivated now more than ever to continue to spread seeds of positivity as far as we possibly can! Please go check out The Stress Nanny's online programs, blog, and podcast! You can also find her on Instagram 👇 👇 👇 Always remember that there is a whole network of people, organizations, and support to help you #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! Have you ever owner an item that is really special to you? Sometimes just having that special thing around gives you the extra motivational push, a burst of courage, or the feeling of comfort and safety. These items come in all shapes and sizes - many of us have had an extra important stuffed animal or blanket, maybe a special necklace or a lucky tee shirt. It may seem silly, but these special items can be really valuable grounding tools to have in our toolbox. We put so much love and power into these items, that when we intentionally carry them with us, we can feel a little more confident and present! The nerves and the fear may not go away, but there is a sense of protection and support. Today on the blog, we have some fun activities to provide you, your students, or your kids with #GroundingObjects. Take a look! Decorate a rock! Rocks are perfect grounding items because they are pocket-sized and provide some sensory comfort when held in our hands. By spending time, energy, and care altering your rock, you put meaning and importance into it. Once you've finished decorating your rock, hold it in your hands - feel the support it provides and start to carry it with you in times of need. Left image courtesy of Arty Crafty Kids, right image courtesy of Paseando Hilos. Key chains are naturally portable, making them easy grounding objects. Gather some of your favorite beads or attach something small to a key ring. When you need to feel it's magic, take a few seconds to hold each bead, or to run your finger on it's surface. Doing this will help you slow down and come back to your body. Left image courtesy of Scissors and Thread, right image courtesy of Plaid. Carry that Mantra Card! Mantra cards often say exactly what you need to hear. Make one that is personal to you, decorate it in a way that will be visually pleasing and calming. Keep it somewhere safe and close! Right image courtesy of Lisa Congdon There are so many ways to find support in objects. While of course, we want to be able to gain confidence and find support in friends and family, it's important to be able to manage your own stress! With that being said, Grounding objects are a great way to work on gaining confidence, because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what the object is - it's YOU who is courageous, who faces the fear and the nerves, and who perseveres! Stay grounded gardeners and don't forget to #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! So often on the blog we talk about sharing feelings with friends, asking friends for help, and learning how to be a good friend. Today we are taking a few steps back and exploring answers to some important questions - What is a friend? What makes someone a good friend? How do you become a better friend? What is a friend? At the most basic level, a friend is someone we love. We can't really define a friend without simultaneously defining a "loved one". Friends/loved ones are people who give us support & respect, who listen, laugh, and cry with us, who accept and appreciate us, who are trusted with our secrets, and who help us reach our goals. What makes someone a good friend? A good friend is someone who works to do all of the things we mention above. It may not always be easy - things like jealousy, gossip, ego, and frustration can work to dismantle our friendships and put up walls in between us and our friend. Ultimately, a good friend is there to hold you hand, cheer you on, and help you out! How do you become a better friend? Reflect on your relationships and check in with yourself. Do you listen to them? Do you accept and appreciate this person? Do you trust them with your secrets? Do you help them reach their goals and celebrate their victories? Are you open with them? Honestly evaluate yourself as a friend - are there any areas that could use work? Where can you improve? A craft for your classroom: How do you get your students to understand the importance of looking out for their classmates? Tell them to think of your classroom as a school of fish. Fish swim in schools for protection. It's a lot easier for a predator to hunt a single fish, than it is for them to hunt 50 fish. In other words, we are stronger together than we are as individuals. Ask your students to create and decorate a fish that shows their personality. After everyone has finished decorating their fish, hang them up in a school-like formation and have everyone appreciate each other's fish. Here are some great tutorials for your #SchoolofFish craft: From left to right: Kid Friendly Things to Do Press Print Party I Heart Crafty Things We will leave you with this poem by #ShellSilverstein that reminds us that friendships are a balance of give and take - in other words, you cannot accept respect unless you show respect to your friend! Oh yeah, and don't forget to #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! Have you ever heard of the word procrastination? Procrastination is putting something off to avoid completing or making progress on a task. Some of us #procrastinate when we are studying for test, starting new projects, cleaning our rooms, and packing for a trip, etc. Whatever way you procrastinate, it usually stems from a feeling of fear, uncertainty, or disinterest in the task. Procrastination then manifests in the form of distractions - anything to help you avoid doing the thing you don't want to do. The problem with procrastination is that the more we do it, the deeper we dig ourselves into a hole. For example, the more you put off starting that project, the less time you have to work on it. That can lead to us feeling even more anxiety! So, the next time you catch yourself slipping into a procrastination hole, try some of these tips to help you climb your way out! Make an outline for the task that needs to be completed. On a piece of paper, write out what needs to be completed and how it needs to be completed. Create a calendar or timeline to help you manage your time. Make checklists to keep yourself on track. It's easier to tackle a big project when it's all laid out in front of you! Eliminate the distractions Procrastination feeds on distraction. Avoid working near a TV or a loud conversation. If you need to listen to music, try something instrumental - find a place where you can focus. What does your procrastination look like? Let us know in the comments! Prioritize Figure out what is the most important, timely thing and tackle that first. Sometime we subconsciously distract ourselves with small things that are unimportant and then we are out of time! Keep yourself on schedule by prioritizing. Reward yourself for small goals It's easy to forget you are making progress when you don't recognize it! Reward yourself for the little accomplishments. Maybe 30 minutes of focused study equals 10 minutes of free time, or finishing homework on time means movie night! Ask for help If you are feeling overwhelmed, ask a friend or family member for help! It may just take an outside person to help you take a step back and come up with a plan. If you are really having trouble staying focused and completing tasks, talk to your school's #GuidanceCounselor about time management. Guidance counselors are there to help YOU succeed! If you ever need a quick and effective way to calm down and come back to your body, try this #BreathingTechnique: 8 seconds may seem like too long for an exhale, but try to just relax your lungs. Instead of pushing air out, just let your breath slowly release. You will almost immediately feel your muscles relax and heart rate slow. Thanks for reading along, Gardeners! We love hearing from you all, so don't hesitate to reach out with weeds, seeds, or flowers! Just email flowers@youareagardener.com or tag @youareagardener to reach us. And don't forget to #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! When we talk about the core 5 #SEL competencies, we are talking about self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness. If we think about skills that help strengthen all of those areas, observation plays a crucial but subtle role. Observation requires awareness and the ability to notice one's surroundings - essentially, people who are being observant are also practicing being present. And when you have that kind of awareness of yourself and of others, you tend to naturally exercise your self-awareness, self-management, and your social awareness skills. Although observation is done frequently in school, there is so much to notice outside the confines of a classroom, therefore making it the perfect #SELatHome activity. Here is a list of fun and engaging activities to help boost your observation skills! #1 People watching Many of us do this naturally, but people watching is a great way to practice observing your surroundings and becoming aware of how other people communicate and move through the world. Take for example, kids playing on a playground - if you watch and listen closely, you will observe how they engage and manage conflict with one another, the friendship dynamics, and how they are feeling. #2 I-spy I'm sure you've played a version of this game before! Whether you are waiting at the doctor's office, on a long car ride with your family, or spending a day outside, I-spy is a great way to pass the time while gaining awareness and taking an interest in your surroundings. #3 Card games There are lots of card games that rely on a player's ability to notice changes in the game or their opponents. A game like Spoons (also known as Tongues, Donkey, or Pig), is a silly and fast-paced game that requires players to focus not only on the passing of cards, but on the collection of spoons in the center that players sneakily steal during the game. #4 Try some at-home science experiments Science is all about observation and tracking changes, notable features, and other characteristics. Try setting up some experiments at home and watch what happens! Here our some of our favorite at-home experiments: Plant Studies Experiment Refrigerator Crystals And this small-scale water cycle experiment: So go ahead and give it a try! We can all use a little awareness, so these activities are perfect to do with the whole family. Do you have an observational activity you love? Tag us @youareagardener or email flowers@youareagardener.com to share. Thanks for reading along today, gardeners, and don't forget to #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! Welcome back to #PullYourWeeds! Often on this blog, we offer you tips and tools to help manage your gardens so more flowers can grow. If you regularly read our blog, you'll notice that a tip we often suggest is to take a moment to breathe. Deep breathing not only forces your mind and body to slow down, but actually helps regulate your body's response to stress. What makes deep breathing such a great tip is that you can do this anywhere, anytime - therefore it's perfect for those unpredictable moments. There are also SO many ways to practice deep breathing. Here are some of our favorites! Try Belly Breathing (a.k.a. Diaphragmatic Breathing) Lie flat on your back and place one hand on your stomach and the other hand on your chest. Take a deep breath through the nose, directing that air to your belly. Allow your belly to inflate, and try to not let your chest rise. Exhale by pushing on your belly slowly, and repeat! Belly breathing helps decrease the overactive sympathetic nervous system (our stress response), which in turn can help us avoid stress-related conditions like sleep disorders, digestive disorders, and heart conditions to name a few. Practice Deep Breathing With a Visual Aid Sometimes in order to slow down, you need a little assistance. Try using a visual aid like this relaxing GIF to help regulate your breathing. Try Alternate Nostril Breathing We borrowed this one from Jonathan Van Ness - make you hand into a fist except for your thumb and your pinky. Place your thumb on one nostril and breathe in through the other, hold and move your pinky to the other nostril and exhale. Repeat at least 3 times! Draw Your Breath Before your sit to take some deep breaths, grab a pencil or paint brush and try to trace your breath. Maybe your breath translates into a circle, a line, a square. This is a fun way to slow down and be mindful of your body! The results are really beautiful and can be a great visual reminder to breathe. Wherever your are reading this, right at this very moment, take 3 deep, focused breaths. You won't regret it! And always remember, gardeners, to #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! Have you ever heard the quote by Asa Don Brown, “Children are sponges, soaking up every verbal and nonverbal interaction.” As educators, parents, and guardians, this is something we need to internalize. Everything we do in front of kids gets absorbed. How we manage conflict, how we incorporate diversity in the classroom & at home, how we navigate difficult situations - ALL of that is being observed and integrated into their narrative of tolerance, openness, and respect. How do we teach tolerance and respect? | TALK ABOUT OUR DIFFERENCES | If we ignore our differences and pretend they don't exist, how do we expect kids to embrace them? We all come in different shapes, sizes, colors, and abilities - let's celebrate that! Here is a wonderfully simple activity in celebrating diversity: Bring in a bunch of different fruit - a red apple, a ripe banana, a bright orange, a plump cantaloupe - and set all the fruit out on a table for the kids to look at and explore. Ask them to list out the differences of all of the fruit. Colors, textures, shapes, smells, etc. After you list out all of the possible differences, ask them what the fruits have in common. Point out the big similarity in that they are all fruit! | EXPOSE STUDENTS TO A VARIETY OF CULTURES | There are so many ways to incorporate cultural events into your classroom. Have your students explore their backgrounds and bring in pictures or items that are important to their family's background. This is a great way for kids to explore their heritage and for students to gain a curiosity rather than a fear of people who are different than themselves. | CORRECT CULTURALLY INSENSITIVE LANGUAGE | If you ever hear your students say something offensive or insensitive - remember that they probably are just repeating something they heard somewhere else. Explain how those words are harmful and why they should not be repeated. | INCORPORATE DIVERSITY INTO YOUR LESSON PLANS | Think about the movies, books, and public figures you show or discuss in class. When students see people of all backgrounds contributing to their education, they make space for those that look, speak, or live differently from them in their minds. Below are some ideas: Teaching tolerance doesn't need to be overthought or uncomfortable - it's just about exposure and openness. Allow yourself to be educated in cultures with which you are unfamiliar, and be up front that you are learning too! Allowing students to witness your curiosity and acceptance sets a powerful example. Do you have a craft or activity aimed at #TeachingTolerance? Let us know about it in the comments below or tag us @youareagardener! Thanks for reading along with us today and don't forget to #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! While winter brings snow days, sledding, hot cocoa, and snuggling up by the fire, sometimes it can also bring isolation, fatigue, and in some cases depression. Whether you call it #TheWinterBlues or #SeasonalDepression, we have some suggestions to help you stay healthy during winter - take a look! | Surround yourself with people | Winter can make us feel like staying in and isolating ourselves. Try to break away from that pull! While hibernation can be rejuvenating, make plans with friends and engage with the outside world. Just being in a place other than your home can be energizing! Winter is a great for dedicating time for family!  👉👉👉 | Get some sun | Sun exposure is the easiest way for us to get Vitamin D. Vitamin D helps to regulate the immune system and release neurotransmitters (dopamine, serotonin - aka, the stuff that makes you feel motivated and happy). Even though it's cold outside, take a 15 minute walk or invest in a sun lamp. | Stick to a schedule | The dark, winter months can encourage sleepiness, procrastination, and inactivity. If you catch yourself falling off your usual schedule, create a calendar or set reminders on your phone to help keep you on track! | Focus on eating clean | Instead of immediately going for the quickest, easiest, or most comforting option, take a minute and ask yourself, "how is this going to make me feel?" Try to keep your pantry balanced with guilt-free + enjoyable foods! Need an easy, guilt-free snack? Pop 1/3 cup of popcorn kernels in a brown paper bag for 2 - 3 minutes or until popping has stopped. Top with a little olive oil and salt and you have a delicious, healthy snack! | Make art | Paint the scene outside of your window or try drawing your self-portrait. When you stop and observe the beauty around you, it helps boost your mood and bring you back to the present moment! | Ask for help | If you are ever unsure of how to deal with the complicated emotions that come with the change of the seasons, ask someone you trust for help! You are not alone, you can always reach out to us at flowers@youareagardener.com! Did you catch the most recent episode of #HelloGardeners? Rewatch your favorite episodes or catch up with season two by checking out our YouTube page! Be sure to like and subscribe to stay up to date on all the activities in the greenhouse. As always, don't forget to #PullYourWeeds!