Resilient Kids

Before watching the video and reading the Resilient Kids website, I did not really know much about what the organization did. I basically only knew that it was an organization focused around yoga and mindfulness. But after learning the details of the organization and program, I think that this organization really has the right kind of idea. Listening to the kids talk about how this type of program has helped them in not only their academics, but all around was really cool to hear. I think that this type of program is really innovative and extremely creative. Best of all it seems to be effective, which is awesome!

They made a lot of good points in the video. The point that really stuck out to me the most was when they were talking about how kids are constantly bombarded with images, and information from everywhere-tv, the internet, video games, etc. There are lights and flashes coming from every direction and their minds must be going crazy and hyper-aware all of the time. It can be extremely difficult to come down from that kind of stimulation. I think that it is often difficult for teachers or youth workers to get their students to calm down and focus on the task at hand, and proceeding without achieving this focus is simply fruitless. The yoga and mindfullness sessions seem to really help with that, and I think it is an awesome program!

I think that Resilient Kids sounds like a really great program and that these types of programs should be more widely offered and available to kids everywhere! I think it would meet with great success!

Nakkula Ch 1

A recurring theme throughout this chapter was the idea of co-authorship-that an individual's personality, thoughts, ideas, thinking process is not only shaped by their inner self but also by their environment and the people they are surrounded by. Often preconceived ideas can affect how we interpret others' behavior and then in turn affect our own actions, such as in the example with Ms. Petersen and Antwon. It can be difficult to put aside these preconceived notions, but it is important to try.

 I think this is a really important concept for youth development and for youth workers because we have to keep in mind that every thing we do, or do not do, is affecting the youth around us. Every word that we say or action that we take has a positive or negative impact on the youth that we are working with. This in turn helps to shape that youth into the person they are to become by influencing their thinking and behavior.