Anita Bullock-Morley + Associates

Thank you for another wonderful weekend of connection, learning, and play as we explored our March KindTreeKids Social Weekend topic: IMPULSIVITY! 
📘 What We Did

Our Story: We read Impulsive Ninja, which follows a ninja who often acts before thinking — blurting out, rushing ahead, grabbing things quickly, or reacting without considering what might happen next. The book reminds us that impulsivity is very normal for growing brains. What matters is learning how to pause so we can make choices that are safe, kind, and thoughtful.

We learned that the ninja’s superpower is the 10‑Second Pause — a simple tool that helps the brain slow down long enough to think about consequences before acting.

We practiced asking ourselves three questions during a pause:

“Is this safe?”

“Is this kind?”

“What might happen next?”

Our 1:1 Activity: Each child created their own Pause Tool — a pipe cleaner with 10 beads attached to a cardstock “pause button” page. When they feel rushed, upset, or ready to react fast, they can slide each bead slowly from one side to the other while counting to 10. When the beads reach the end, their brain is calmer and they can choose the action that feels right.

This tool gives them a concrete way to practice slowing down and building self‑control. We are so grateful to share and learn about these important life skills with your children!

This beautiful group of humans on this beautiful weekend learned and diacussed inclusion and diversity (and a little self love)! Our story was called and our take home message included these points:

Know your own stripes

Love your own stripes

Recognize others stripes

Embrace and love all stripes

Without your stripes, you would not be YOU 

Without their stripes, they would not be THEM. Sometimes its a package deal!

Honor and respect all stripes (even the things that are hard for them/us)

If we cant identify and love *all* of our own stripes, then how on Earth can we love the whole person in others?

What a wonderful weekend we had as we learned about managing frustrations. I think it's pretty profound to read over these lists generated by kids ages 11 and under (!!!) in terms of what anger looks and feels like on the inside and outside. And then to really shine, they shared the ways in which they can find their calm. I have always said, awareness is the first and most important step and these kids are showing sophisticated awareness. Even if they arent finding those tools in the moment, I want us to reflect on our current adult lives and remember that we *also* don't always access the tools in the moment. It's a journey. And they're working hard to build awareness to catch the "flames" before it grows into a big 🔥! We can imagine that we are firefighters and use our tools as the 💧 to help keep the anger (flames) managed. May we all access our inner firefighters 🚒!!!