Mindfulness-Based
Social Emotional Learning
for Children and Teens
A four-week In-person Program at Our Arboretum Office
Meets on Saturday Afternoons
January 21st - February 11th
Ages 6-9, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Ages 10-13, 1:20pm - 2:20pm
Ages 14-17, 2:40pm - 3:40pm
(Central Time)
Meets In-Person at The Austin Mindfulness Center
9501 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Suite 201, Austin, TX 78759
In a world where a child faces so many distractions, empower them with the skills to help them center their mind and body. Through the formation of small, age appropriate groups, our 4-week Mindfulness-Based Social Emotional Learning Program will help your child stay on the path to becoming a kind, responsible, and emotionally intelligent human being.
If you have any questions for the instructor, feel free to email him at claudio@austinmindfulness.org.
Program Overview
Mindfulness is knowing what is happening, as it’s happening, on the inside, and on the outside, with a kind, curious, attitude. With this foundational understanding of mindfulness, your child will explore how mindfulness can support and deepen their learning of the five core competencies of SEL. These competencies were selected for their ability to identify the skills necessary to thrive in all aspects of life, ranging from academic performance, to feeling more confident in social interactions, to working with and managing big emotions, to understanding the vital role of empathy and other prosocial behavior in your child’s life.
Nurturing these five core competencies within individual children through mindfulness-based social and emotional learning can improve their ability to live happy, fulfilling, and positive lives.
Each age group will consist of no more than five children.
The 5 Competencies of
Social Emotional Learning
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Self-Awareness: This is the ability to know what you are thinking and feeling in any given moment. With it, comes a true understanding of the connection between one’s thoughts, emotions, and behavior.
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Self-Management: The ability for self-control, self-regulation, and self-soothing in the face of strong emotions or life experiences. It is understanding how to navigate the vast space between a stimulus and a response.
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Social Awareness: It’s an understanding of the similarities and differences among communities. It is about showing empathy for others, and why it matters.
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Relationship Skills: It’s the ability to work cooperatively with others and learn how to solve interpersonal conflict. It is about exploring the secret powers of ‘generous listening’ and ‘kind speech.”
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Responsible Decision Making: It is about considering the wellbeing of self and others. It’s a deep understanding of how actions shape and determine consequences.
Curriculum Structure and Approach
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Teachings: Age-appropriate teachings from the fields of mindfulness, neuroscience, and social emotional learning.
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Experiential Learning: Not just talk, but real, tangible skills and techniques designed to give your child insight into his thoughts, emotions, and behavior.
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Discussion: A safe, supportive, space for your child to learn ‘generous listening’ and ‘kind speech.’
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Games and Play: Fun, engaging, dynamic. This is the spirit of the program. We don’t just sit and meditate, we learn about ourselves and our each other through games and play.
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Home Practice: It’s not ‘homework’. It’s ‘home-practice’. These are wonderful, pocket-size, practices to bring the teachings home so your child can share them with the world.
Who Should Attend?
Any parent whose child is curious about learning new things about themselves and the world around them is the perfect candidate for this program. For children ages 6-13, we ask for one parent to be present during the class. For teens, we usually ask the parent to wait in the lobby or parking lot.
Possible takeaways for your child:
Increased self-awareness; Increased self-regulation & coping skills; Increased ability to share their thoughts and feelings; Greater understanding of the connection between thoughts, actions, and consequences; Greater self-confidence; Increased ability for focus/concentration; Greater empathy and kindness; Improved academic performance.
Program Cost: $190 per child
Every student receives weekly teachings, access to useful and educational videos, and a set of guided meditations for home practice.
About the Instructor
Claudio Barrientos, LMSW
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Claudio’s path in the helping profession began in 2010 when he became a certified Mindfulness Instructor. Since that time, he has been on a mission to integrate his education in mindfulness with therapeutic interventions such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Claudio has worked with adolescents and adults in a DBT Intensive Outpatient Program, provided mental health services in Spanish to unaccompanied minors in the Office of Refugee Resettlement, and taught mindfulness to thousands of people across boardrooms, classrooms, and the general public.