Shift and Shine Technique^® for Ages 3-6

Parents: What do you care about? First model by telling your child who you care about. Now ask them who they care about? When you love or care for someone or something, where do you feel that love? Put your hand over your heart (center of the chest as a visible clue).

Parents: Tell your child: Shift means to move or change, such as going from sad to happy or moving from one place to another. Demonstrate the meaning of shift by shifting from one position on the floor to another.

Parents: Ask your child: Do you ever have a warm feeling in your heart when you feel love or care for someone? It’s kind of like the warmth from the sun. Have you ever felt the warmth of the sun on your skin? What does that feel like? When we feel love, appreciation or care for someone or something special, it’s like the warmth from the sun shining in our hearts.

Parents: Step 1:

Begin by putting your attention on the area of the area around your heart or the center of your chest. It helps to put your hand over your heart area. Model by putting hand over your heart.

Parents: Step 2:

Now pretend to breathe in and out of your heart. Take three slow breaths. Model the breathing.

Parents: Step 3:

Think of someone or something that makes you feel happy, like your mom or dad or maybe a special place that you visit, like a park. Feel that happy feeling in your heart and then shine that feeling to someone or something special. Let your child experience the feeling for a few seconds. The length of time will increase with each exercise.

Parents: Ask your child: Did you send your love to someone special? Thank you for sharing your heart felt feelings. We can get together soon to share more fun experiences about your heart.