Teaching Kids to Pause, Cope, and Connect

“The perfect resource to teach students the skills they need to pause in the midst of frustration, to calm in the midst of chaos, and to connect with each other. This book is a must-have for every teacher.”—Sarah Newman, AMFT, educator and founder of Mindful Kids

“Mark Purcell and Kellen Glinder both have long histories of service to children, adolescents, and families, along with extensive work in training and supervising mental health providers. In their new book, Teaching Kids to Pause, Cope, and Connect, they bring their compassionate expertise to help children address and cope with the intense and unique emotional challenges that kids face today that previous generations did not. In particular, the section on self-acceptance is timely and crucial for today’s teens. In a world that promotes sterile, anonymous, and digital interactions, this book provides excellent strategies to help children connect, develop emotional confidence, and deal with their unique challenges.”—Thomas J. Harbin, Ph.D., author of Beyond Anger: A Guide for Men and The Anger Management Workbook for Teen Boys

“Teaching Kids to Pause, Cope, and Connect brings together the perspectives of a psychologist and a pediatrician to teach about the power of mindfulness to enhance mental health, cultivate emotional resilience, and build empathy and communication skills among elementary school children. Most importantly, throughout this process the authors highlight the role of the body, so often devalued in traditional education, by helping students investigate their inherent body-mind connection. Children learn to pay attention to ‘body signals,’ which empowers them to make wise choices based on their newfound awareness. Establishing such body-mind skills at a young age provides an invaluable foundation for youth to build upon in adolescence and into adulthood. With accessible lesson plans and step-by-step guidance, this book lays the groundwork for teachers to effectively implement the material. If you care about supporting the well-being of children from the inside out, read this book!”—Susan Bauer, MFA, RSDE/T, founder of Embodiment in Education™ and author of The Embodied Teen: A Somatic Curriculum for Teaching Body-Mind Awareness, Kinesthetic Intelligence, and Social and Emotional Skills

“Highly recommended.”—Library Bookwatch