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So many things are crammed
into our busy lives. We seldom consider the importance of stillness and
quietness. Learning to focus on ourselves in a peaceful way can greatly improve
how we feel about ourselves and how we function in daily life.
Educare Small School in
Kingston teaches these values. As a part of such a programme the whole school
stops every day at 1.00pm and teachers and children take part in Quiet Time. We
are inviting your school to join us by having your own Quiet Time. You can use
any space where the children and teachers can lie down; of course the whole
school does not have to be in the same room! Instructions below:
· Find a suitable area where everyone in your group can lie down on their backs with their knees bent and their feet flat on the ground (semi-supine).
· Before the children enter the room it is a good idea to dim the lights if possible and to have soothing music playing. We recommend “The Meditation” by Stephen Lewis. For details of availability see below.
· One adult should oversee settling the children down and should remain attentive throughout, helping them to focus on themselves.
· Ask everyone to lie on their backs with their knees bent, their feet flat on the ground and their hands resting gently on their tummies with fingertips together.
· Ask everyone to close their eyes and listen to the music. Below are some simple images that you might choose to give to children to help them to focus and to soften their bodies as they are lying down. Remember that they need to stay in the semi-supine position if possible and not let the legs flop around.
· When you judge that it is time to stop (see “Important Points” below) warn the children that “In a minute I am going to ask you to get up but do not move yet”.
· Ask them to stop first before moving and then take a deep breath. To breathe out and roll over on to their sides. (You can do the breathing with them to make it clearer).
·
Once on their sides ask them to now sit quietly on the floor. It is still
Quiet Time and they should still be quietly focusing on themselves.
Examples of Images:
· Your body feels very heavy on the ground.
· Let your body be soft on the floor, imagine that it is melting
·
Pretend that your body is made of chocolate. Now the hot sun is coming
out. Your body becomes very warm. The chocolate is getting very soft. Now the
chocolate is beginning to melt. It spreads out across the floor.
Important points.
·
The younger the child the shorter the Quiet Time. It’s OK if the
session only lasts for 5 or 10 minutes. Year One upwards should be able to
manage 15 minutes plus.
·
Very occasionally a child might feel threatened by lying down in
this way. In which case allow them to simply sit or kneel on the floor.
·
When talking to the children during Quiet Time speak slowly and
use a calm, quiet voice. If anyone needs to be reprimanded do so quietly and
firmly. At all costs avoid shouting or suddenly raising your voice.
·
Very few children will manage to close their eyes throughout. This
is OK.
·
Very few children will lie still. This is also OK so long as they
are quiet and not interfering with anyone else.
Information and Resources
Music:
“The Meditation” by Stephen Lewis is available from Stephen’s website: www.stephenlewishealer.com
Web:
More information on using the
Alexander Technique with children is available from the Education 2000 web site:
www.ed2k.org.uk. You can also link to Educare Small School from here or go
direct: www.educaresmallschool.org.uk
Books:
Two books to help you introduce the Alexander Technique to young children are:
“Primary Schoolchildren and the Alexander Technique” by Sue Merry. This is an A5 booklet containing ideas, games and a story.
Also “The Labyrinth of Gar” an adventure story and AT intro for children aged between 7 and 12 years, also by Sue Merry with illustrations by Amy Merry-Sloman and the children of Educare Small School.
The former is available from the Education 2000 online shop: www.ed2k.org.uk. The Labyrinth of Gar is currently available from Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk or www.amazon.com
Educare Small School:
Educare Small School is
located in Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey. More
information can be obtained via the web (above) or by calling the school. Tel:
020 8547 0144
The Alexander Technique:
General information on the
Alexander Technique is available via the Society of Teachers of the Alexander
Technique (STAT). Tel: 020 7284 3338 www.stat.org.uk