Baraz James - Awakening Joy for Kids

Awakening Joy for Kids essentializes whats needed most in cultivating an authentic connection, offering a rare combination of heart practices with turnkey accessibility. This book is a sincere offering to parents and those of us honored to serve our youth.

Vinny Ferraro, Mindful Schools and Against the Stream

Chock full of easy and practical suggestions for finding joyand peace!as a teacher or parent, for helping children develop the skills they need for their own happiness. James Baraz is one the most important and inspirational happiness teachers alive today; if you have children or work with them, dont miss this terrific collaboration with master teacher Michele Lilyanna.

Christine Carter, PhD, Raising Happiness and The Sweet Spot, Senior Fellow, Greater Good Science Center

The lessons throughout Awakening Joy for Kids are timely as well as timeless. Knowing what brings true happiness, ease, and well-being is an important wisdom to be passed on to next generations. Awakening Joy for Kids has gifted parents and educators with a fun and accessible guide to teach our kids the social and emotion skills they need to live fuller, well-rounded lives.

Kate Munding, Founder of Heart-Mind Education, creating mindfulness training for teachers

Awakening Joy for Kids is the new go-to resource to help parents and teachers help children manage fears and worries and develop a deep inner wellspring of well-being. These lessons are fun, playful, practical, and easily adaptable for home and school. Well-organized and beautifully illustrated, Awakening Joy for Kids is kid-tested, reader friendly, and life-changing. Highly recommended.

Linda Graham, MFT, Bouncing Back

At once inspiring, practical, doable, and fun, Awakening Joy for Kids is for children and adults alike, making quality-of-life the highest priority. This book supports the development of the whole human being and is a much-needed addition to our curriculum for educating children in this world.

Robert Gonzales, PhD, Co-Founder of the Nonviolent Training Institute, Past President of the Board of Directors of the Center for Nonviolent Communication

Weaving together the discoveries of contemporary science with the real needs of children in classrooms and beyond, the authors have gifted adults everywhere a treasured resource. Central to the message is that all human beings have light, and we adults have a profoundly important role in ensuring we nurture an awakening of joy so that each child can grow and be all they were intended to be. I love this book!

Dr. Vanessa Lapointe, Discipline Without Damage

Fresh. Friendly. Fantastic. Finally. In this era of testing and achievement, Michele and James give delightfully practical form and direction to educators, parents, and all of us humans who care about equipping our children (and ourselves) to lead joyful, resilient lives. Simple and profound, Awakening Joy for Kids is an inoculation against the maladies of fear and hopelessness that come when we lose track of our inherent playfulness, creativity, and wisdom. An easy, accessible reference that I will generously recommend.

Ann McKnight, LMSW, ACSW, TEDx talk on Restorative Circles

International Praise

Grounded in ancient wisdom and robust contemporary science, Awakening Joy for Kids is a compendium of imaginative resources and practical activities that have clearly been tried and tested in homes and classrooms. Teachers, parents, and children themselves can have confidence that what is offered here has the power to transform individuals, families, and school communities.

Chris Cullen, Co-Founder of the UK Mindfulness in Schools Project and University of Oxford Mindfulness Centre

With the ever-increasing demands of daily life, we rarely just stop for a minute and be present in the here and now. Awakening Joy for Kids provides an easy to follow, step-by-step guide for bringing mindfulness to the lives of children and even adults. It encourages children to appreciate the small things in life and to cultivate the skills necessary to deal with everyday stressors. It fosters a sense of self-awareness, empowerment, and compassion; skills that form the core of emotionally intelligent, socially conscious children. Providing a synergy of real life experiences coupled with scientifically proven strategies, Awakening Joy for Kids is nothing short of amazing! A great resource for parents, teachers, and anyone looking to bring mindfulness practices into their lives.

Amanda Fernandes, Caribbean Regional Director, Project Happiness, Trinidad

What a gem of a resource, offering an incredible weaving of contemplative wisdom and neuroscience into fun, easy-to-do, children-tested activities. These nourishing activities will equip our children with the much needed qualities of resilience, empathy, compassion and happiness.

Diana Robertson, Pause, Breathe, Smile Facilitator, New Zealands national Mindfulness in Schools Program

This book is a wonderful treasure trove for all adults who live or work with children! It will not only bring joy but also harmony, well-being, mindfulness, and compassion into families and help give them a solid ground to cope with the challenges of the life they will grow into.

Lienhard Valentin, Founder/Director of Germanys Growing with Children Program

A treasure-trove of ideas to appeal to all styles of learner, this resource will help parents and teachers support children everywhere to enjoy being who they are and let their natural joy shine through. In an environment of increased anxiety and mental unrest in children, this is a much-needed offering.

Kellie Edwards, Psychologist, Mindfulness4Mothers Radio and Blog, Australia

Parallax Press
P.O. Box 7355
Berkeley, California 94707
parallax.org

Parallax Press is the publishing division of Unified Buddhist Church, Inc.
Copyright 2016 by James Baraz and Michele Lilyanna
All rights reserved

Cover design by Gopa & Ted2, Inc.
Art and photography by Michele Lilyanna
Michele Lilyanna photo Keith Shaw
James Baraz photo Kathleen Harrison
Photos on Thinkstock
Photos on Peter Francis
Photo on Keith Shaw

Authors note: Most of the stories are conveyed as they actually happened, but some stories or quotes are composites of different peoples experiences. Unless permission was specifically granted, all names have been changed. Photos taken are taken with permission and staged outside of school instructional hours.

Michele Lilyanna: www.happinessandjoylessons.com
James Baraz: www.awakeningjoy.info/teacher.html

eISBN: 978-1-941529-29-4

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request

v3.1

To my children, Adam and Tony, my grandchildren Jordan, Sydney, and Taylor and all the children of the world. May they be truly happy and share their love well! And to all teachers who love bringing out the best in their students. In doing so you contribute immeasurably in adding more goodness and joy to this world.

James Baraz

To my sons, Kieran and Jaden, you make my heart shine bright. To children everywhere, thank you for the pure light you are and the portals you open. May this offering nurture you and adults around the world.

Michele Lilyanna