Discussion Groups
Date: Tuesdays & Thursdays, July 4, 6, 11 and 13
Time: 12:30 – 1:30 pm
Location: Hybrid – Family Care Office, 215 Huron St, 6th floor and on Zoom
In this Mindful Parenting series, we apply mindfulness principles to the experience of parenting as a way to build a strong parent-child relationship and increase the well-being of both parent and child. Parents explore the Mindful Parenting framework and its key elements: awareness of self and child; presence and patience; non-judgemental attitude; compassion and acceptance; and embracing mistakes as opportunities.
Each session includes a guided meditation, which participants are encouraged to practice at home between sessions. Group discussion and sharing of experiences will take place every week, and a variety of tools and techniques for implementing mindful parenting at home will be explored.
** For participants who attend the full series, there will be a 1.5-hour, in-person mindfulness session for their children. This session will be tailored specifically to the ages of the children attending and will practice some of the techniques explored during the series.
Facilitator: Mari Rossi has been facilitating mindfulness and yoga programs for parents and children for 15 years, and has led the Family Care Office Mindful Parenting programs since 2013. Mari has a degree in Psychology, with a specialization in Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health from the University of Toronto, and is currently a PhD student in the Women and Gender Studies Institute at U of T. Between her academic pursuits and mindfulness teaching, Mari finds time for her most important work: parenting her two kids, aged 11 and 13.
Registration required. University of Toronto students, staff, postdoctoral fellows and faculty are welcome. Partners and family members (including chosen family members) who are co-caregivers with U of T students, staff, postdoctoral fellows and faculty are also welcome to attend. If you have any access needs to ensure your full participation in this event, please contact the Family Care Office and we will try our best to work with you and make appropriate arrangements.
Email family.care@utoronto.ca to register. Please indicate whether you will be participating in person or online.