Book Review: 'Sitting still like a frog: mindfulness exercises for kids (and their parents)' By Eline Snel.

Mindfulness is about being present; it focuses on breathing, relaxing, paying attention. In this sense, mindfulness is becoming a powerful tool to support mental health. This book discusses a variety of ways that mindfulness benefits kids and their parents, as well as providing short and easy activities to help parents guide and assist children.  

Author, Eline Snel, is a therapist that has spent the last 20 years working on mindfulness programs for kids. Snel also draws upon personal experiences raising her own children, and how mindfulness worked for her situation. In this way, the book is very open and sharing, providing personal experiences that support the exercises.

The book explains what mindfulness is in an easy to understand tone. The strategies provided will help kids to learn to be more calm and focused, fall asleep, manage anger and other difficult feelings, and become more aware of what’s going on around them. There is a CD in the book that will help to complete the exercises.  

Reserve a copy here.

Book Review—Trust Your Melody by Lana Mayes

When I started reading ‘Trust Your Melody’, I felt as though I was riding the roller coaster with Lana - I cried when she cried, I swelled with pride every moment she did and shed a tear when Thomas was born safely after a horrendous pregnancy.

There is so much emotion in Lana’s words which I recognise from my own story, that I just know how helpful this book would be to other mums. Reading about her struggles with breastfeeding was like re-living my own journey as a new mum with no how-to handbook. I only wish I had this book when I was a new mum!

As mums we put so much pressure on ourselves. That is particularly why I love the messages at the end of each chapter. They're a wonderful reminder that we need to pat ourselves on the back a little more often!
 Lana is an amazing writer and her book is full of heart which is probably why I can't put it down. I wanted to congratulate Lana - your story is powerful and I truly wish you every success. I know that other readers will feel as uplifted as I did afterwards.

I can't wait to read the next instalment in what has been an incredible journey so far.

Iliana Stillitano (Guest Reviewer)

Book Review—Tricky Teens by Andrew Fuller

The well-known psychologist Andrew Fuller who is an honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne and has acted as the scientific consultant for ABC TV on the science of teenage brains, provides advice on how to parent through the ups and downs of the teenage years.

He is also the author of Tricky Kids which is also in our catalogue. Tricky Teens main focus is on giving parents the guidance to create and nurture open and solid relations with their teens. The book is divided into 4 sections-

1.    Neurochemistry and habit

2.    Overcoming common problems

3.    Changing patterns

4.    Essential conversations

The book includes a six week plan to help break negative behaviour patterns and replace them with new ones.

I found the book to be a thorough read. I especially liked the chapter on sexuality and romance as it lists a number of personality types for teens to avoid. 
Anne