Connected Parents
Connected Parents
Good parenting is at the heart of healthy families, the flourishing of society and, yes, the sustainability of the planet no less.
This course is not claiming to make you the perfect parent. But… we will explore 4 pillars of flourishing families: Purpose, Attention, Empathy and Perspective.
Connect with a community of like-minded parents once a week for Mind With Heart’s experiential wellbeing sessions.
Time: WEDNESDAYS 2-3pm, UK
Spring course starts 03 March 2021, mini-retreat 10am-1pm Saturday 03 April
Summer course starts 28 April 2021, mini-retreat 10am-1pm Saturday 5 June
Autumn course starts 22 September 2021, mini-retreat 10am-1pm Saturday 30 October
Fees: £120/ £90 conc. per person for this 8 week course and optional half day retreat. Contact us to find out more.
Well-being starts from within
Our 8 week course explores how to
Cultivate PURPOSE - Reflect on our role in creating the conditions for a healthy family culture, and in prioritising family wellbeing
Cultivate ATTENTION - Reconnect with our own inner sanity and capacity for joyful living
Cultivate EMPATHY - Strengthen our good heart and our ability to hold a warm atmosphere even in challenging times; plus introduce fun tools for well-being to our children
Cultivate PERSPECTIVE - See through the habits that can often block connection and re-establish a vibrant and caring family dynamic
During each session we will practice mindfulness and emotional health exercises, share scientific research on well-being, and explore ways to bring more joyful love into our lives.
Follow-up emails will help you stay connected during the week, with guided audio exercises and links to helpful resources.
Who is the course for?
This course is for parents and carers - all those who care for children (3-18 years). No previous experience of mindfulness is required. We will explain what mindfulness and compassion are and share the research, but primarily this is an experiential course designed to give you practical tools for personal flourishing. You will be invited to reflect on and share your experience, should you choose - these contributions enrich the course for everyone.
What topics will we cover?
Investigating stress, well-being and their causes
How to establish a regular Mindfulness practice, & an ‘on-the-spot’ practice
Finding calm amidst the chaos
Changing our relationship to challenging thoughts and emotions
Cultivating self-care and emotional health
Empathy, healthy relationships and communicating with emotional intelligence
Sharing well-being tools with children
Recent scientific research
What do other people say about this course?
“magical – heart and mind fully engaged, a valuable experience both personally and professionally”
“enriching, joyful and informative … absolutely recommend it”
“… a rich, strong and safe pathway to the hearts of young people and adults”
“I was impressed by the lightness with which we confronted such deeply profound topics”
“I really appreciated the gentle way we were involved in the course contents”
"It gave me a sense of openness, freshness and acceptance”
“… a nourishing and stimulating experience”
“By training myself to be calm and thoughtful I can help others to be also”
“I can see how kindness and compassion improves our well-being”
“100% worth spending the time participating – it will benefit your health and relationships”
Instructor
David Rycroft is a senior trainer at Mind With Heart. He has been teaching mindfulness and connection exercises nationally and internationally for over 15 years. He taught art in a London secondary school for ten years before dedicating his time to developing and running programmes for young people’s emotional health.
Instructor
Fiona has been holding retreats, workshops and courses internationally for the past 15 years, sharing tools for well-being and connection with adults and children. Fiona supports school communities to flourish and thrive, using tools for emotional health such as mindfulness, empathy and compassion. She holds trainings with presence, humour, lightness, a sense of common humanity, and a deep empathic connection with others.
Week by week
WEEK 1: PURPOSE i - PRIORITISING WELLBEING
What kind of family to I wish to be part of?
Exploring wellbeing: what are the causes of stress and wellbeing?
Qualities of mind: Relaxation, Presence, Awareness, Kindness
Where are you on the warmth/accountability quadrant?
WEEK 2: ATTENTION i - CONNECTING WITH MY BODY
Introducing mindfulness
Connecting with the body: deepening discovering of physical sensations
Mindful mandarin
Running on autopilot, distraction and unhappiness
WEEK 3: ATTENTION ii - ARE WE ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH?
Connecting with feelings and impulses: can I experience challenging feelings and not react habitually?
The brain: three brains in one and neuroplasticity
Mindfulness of Sound and Mindful listening
WEEK 4: EMPATHY i - STRENGTHENING EMOTIONAL HEALTH
Identifying thoughts: who is the boss? me or my thoughts?
Recognising emotions [in ourselves and others]; Paul Ekman’s work
Mindfulness of sounds and thoughts
WEEK 5: PURPOSE ii - CREATING THE WORLD WE WISH FOR
What is my purpose in the family context?
Healthy habits of body, speech and mind
Nourishing and depleting activities
MINI RETREAT
A precious opportunity to go deeper
WEEK 6: EMPATHY ii - CONNECTING MORE INTELLIGENTLY AT HOME
Emotionally intelligent communication, deep listening
Guiding a mindfulness exercise for children
Mindful movement
WEEK 7: PERSPECTIVE i - WORKING WITH CHALLENGES
How to be when things fall apart, my on-the-spot practice
Looking after my family in tough times
Seeing others as Just Like Me
WEEK 8: PERSPECTIVE ii -THE BIGGER PICTURE
A plan for continuing
Revisiting the quadrant; Open yet firm
Generating kindness