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! It's been a minute since we've shared a #WeedsToSeeds story. Today's story was found via BBC News and is about a teenager who started reading to a former librarian who stopped reading due to vision problems onset by Lupus. When we dug a little further, we found the organization that this teenager volunteered for called Reading Friends which is part of the Reading Agency. Reading Friends is based in the UK and their mission is to "tackle life’s big challenges through the proven power of reading." Simply put, they provide readers to people who are no longer able to read. The impact of this simple mission has far bigger benefits than anyone could have imagined. Many of the people who require readers suffer from dementia or diseases that have compromised their vision and in turn experience depression and loneliness. The beauty of this organization is that it addresses multiple issues simultaneously: it re-introduces literature and reading to those who can no longer read, it provides connection and communication to those who are deprived of it, and it benefits the readers' in countless ways socially and emotionally. The Reading Agency has developed their programming to include not just older people, but kids, teens, adults with dementia, and inmates, and have created a fun sense of community around reading again! We love that such a simple mission has spread seeds of positivity and joy to over a million people! It doesn't matter how old you are, where you come from, what your life experience has been - we can all enjoy a good book. And what better way to enjoy a good book, than to enjoy it with good company? This #WeedsToSeeds story just goes to show you that it doesn't matter who you are, we all have weeds - and it takes talking with those who will listen and support us to help pull them out! Please go check out Reading Friends & the Reading Agency to see the amazing seeds they've spread in the UK. Here's a little gardening task for you - consider reading You Are A Gardener to someone you love this weekend! Always remember gardeners, no matter your age, your ability, or your background, #TheFutureIsBright!

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! 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! 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! 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! 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! 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!

Hello Gardeners! We've talked about The Power of Positive Visualization on the blog before - #VisionBoards help us visualize our goals, which makes us strive to achieve them just a little bit more. On the blog today, we are going to look at the benefits of creating vision boards and the benefits of sharing them with the ones you love! In their simplest form, vision boards are collages - images made up of other images - and when you hand select images that force some sort of positive response from you or represent something that is valuable to you, they hold space in our minds. In other words, when we attribute an image to a goal or a value, it remains clear and focused in our minds. Take a look at some of these awesome vision boards by @the_crunchyclassroomteacher and @maryhamermusic. The #SEL benefits of creating vision boards include, but are not limited to: 1. Increasing self-awareness in understanding one's emotions & values 2. Improving self-management in having the ability to set high goals and overcome obstacles 3. Fostering confidence in one's ability to complete tasks and accomplish goals And the benefits don't stop there! Once you've made a vision board, you then have the opportunity to share it with your loved ones. By sharing your aspirations, emotions, motivations, and values - you open yourself up to those around you. This allows your loved ones insight into your life and lets them know what you are striving to do! So go for it! Before you get rid of those old magazines, go through and find bits of beauty, inspiring text, or motivating images, grab some glue and scissors - and create vision boards with the whole family! Thanks for reading along with today's #SELatHome. We hope you are enjoying this segment of the blog and are filling up your home time with lots of fun and educational activities. Until next time and don't forget to #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! Whether you are stuck inside from a rainy day or housebound due to a snowstorm, there are a countless ways to have fun and expand your social and emotional skills. Let's look at a few ways to turn your boring day-in into an adventure! Pull out some hula hoops, cones, cardboard boxes, jump ropes - whatever you have - and create an indoor obstacle course. Maybe you imagine a room full of lava that you need to cross over or maybe you are weaving your way through a thick forest. Obstacle courses are a great way to flex your creative muscles and your imagination. Working on these skills helps you with your ability to problem solve and come up with creative solutions! Use painter's tape for endless activities! Whether you are making a race track for your cars, turning your kitchen into a hopscotch course, or creating a custom Twister board - you can always get creative with painter's tape - and leave no trace! Using materials to turn ideas into realities is a great way to work on executing your goals and being proactive. Pretend to be spies with this Hallway Laser Maze courtesy of It's Always Autumn! It not only helps kids work on awareness of their bodies and balance, but gets them up and moving! All you need is some tape and a roll of streamers! When in doubt - you can always reach for your art materials, a board game, tackle a home project with a parent or sibling, or maybe try cooking or baking something new! Next time you are stuck inside all day, give one of these activities a try! It's a great way to encourage creativity and imagination, while also decreasing screen time! Let us know how you spend you #DayIn in the comments below - and don't forget to #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! With a new year and a new decade upon us, there is no better time to reflect on the past year's accomplishments, upsets, friendships, and progress. When we reflect, it's easy to see the past through a self-depricating, judgmental lens. Here are some reminders to help your reflect in the most productive way! Reminder #1 Remember our blog post "Treat Yourself the Way YOU Want to be Treated!"? When you think back to some of the losses, the challenges, or the upsets - be gentle with yourself. Recognize that growth is a process and a major sign of growth is being okay with your mistakes and your challenges and having the ability to try again! We love this illustration & quote by @colormehapii! So true 🙌 🙌!! Reminder #2 Don't just stop on reflection - set new goals based on what you accomplished this year! For example, if last year you said, "I'd like to get more involved in my community" and then you accomplished that this year, take it a step further and say, "This year, I'd like to organize a community service group or I'd like to host a fundraiser!" Reminder #3 If you have a difficult time thinking about the past year's flowers, ask yourself: What were some of my favorite experiences from this year? Were there any times I felt really happy? What were the experiences that made me feel most proud? When did I feel the most loved? What am I grateful for at this very moment? Our author, #ShannaTruffini, shared this proud moment of #GardenerAnna co-presenting a #PullYourWeeds workshop to her 5th grade class! Reminder #4 Honor the important people in your life. This could be your mom or you dad, your siblings, your best friends, your godparents, your neighbors - next time you see them, give them a hug, a high-five, or a big thank you! It's important to remember that you didn't make it to this new year alone! Reminder #5 A new year is a great time to kick an old habit. In your new year intentions, think about any behavior you'd like to change - maybe biting your nails, committing to active listening, getting your homework completed a little earlier, pulling away from your devices (iPads, phones, TV). Kicking a bad habit is a wonderful way to practice being present and showing an awareness over your body! These reminders will not only help you close out the year, but they will start the new year with clarity, honesty, and motivation! And of course, alongside all of these reminders, never forget to #PullYourWeeds!

Hello Gardeners! If there is one thing we learn from living the #GardenerLifestyle it's that we can always help a gardener in need. There are people all across the world who need a boost, and YOU can spread seeds of positivity, hope, strength, joy, and so much more. There are so many programs that link you to #GardenersInNeed and we have compiled a short list for you! Spread seeds of positivity to hospitalized kids! Cards for Hospitalized Kids (CFHK) is an internationally recognized charitable organization that spreads hope, joy & magic to hospitalized kids across America through uplifting, handmade cards. Spread seeds of support to soldiers and veterans! Whether you want to volunteer for an organization like Backpacks For Life that helps homeless veterans, or you want to boost up those deployed with a care package, there are so many ways to send some love! Spread seeds and smiles at your local nursing home! Pack a bag with some board game or a couple puzzles, gather a group of friends to sing holiday tunes, or just go and listen to the stories of the residents. The people living in these facilities can always use a friendly face! Great job #GirlScouts! There are thousands of ways to volunteer, give back to your community, and spread seeds of positivity, hope, and support. Gather up some friends, team up with your family, or go at it solo and give one of these a try! Serve meals at a soup kitchen Play with pets at an animal rescue Clean up your local park Organize a food drive at your school Hand out bagged lunches to the homeless Host a bake sale and donate proceeds to a charity of your choice Donate your cold weather clothing to shelters What are your favorite ways to spread seeds? Let us know in the comments below 👇👇👇. Have a heart. Lend a hand. Make a difference.