Chalk and Chakras Interview
We were so excited to be interviewed by one of our product partners, Chalk and Chakras. They’re a beautiful company specializing in children’s yoga mats and mindfulness. During this challenging time of COVID-19, we had a brief chat about feelings.
C&C: Brighter Fun was conceptualised as a fun, interactive way to talk to kids about feelings. Why is it important to learn emotional intelligence when kids are young?
BF: When kids learn about feelings and emotions from a young age they increase their empathy - both for others as well as for themselves. As far as talking about and learning to identify various emotions - the stronger emotional vocabulary children develop, the more feelings they can feel. This leads to a richer, more connected life.
C&C: What has been the feedback that you hear from parents and kids since starting Brighter Fun a year ago?
BF: Parents really want more accessible tools and resources they can use quickly in the moment. We're working on a few books as well as a few new games to help in that regard.
Kids want to talk about their feelings, which is one reason they love our game Animal Chat. They also want more time together with the adults closest to them.
C&C: Besides the recommended 3 ways to play it, how else have you seen families / kids use it?
BF: We've seen some creative rooms decorated with the cards! We've also seen charades, plays, and class projects. We've even seen kids tape a favorite card on their pencil at school as a reminder throughout the day!
C&C: With the current Covid-19 situation, the world seems like a scarier place. Naturally, different kids might react differently. Some might be indifferent or happy to be away from school, while others are more anxious about the change. What are the feelings you're seeing in your kids? How do you talk to them about the situation?
BF: Recognizing the privileges we have as two parents who are able to work out of our home right now, and that we don't face all the myriad challenges such as homelessness, food scarcity, or job security, we nonetheless see a shift in feelings from our kids. Both feel unsettled by the sudden change in routine. Both feel afraid of the virus. Also, both feel happy to see more of mom and dad. It's really a roller coaster.
From Brad's side as Co-Director of an elementary school, he has children diagnosed with the virus, others whose parents have lost employment, and families facing challenges of food scarcity. Some of these larger traumatic events have lasting impressions on children's feelings and Brad's working with his team to help support every child as much as possible.
C&C: How can Brighter Fun's Animal Chat cards be used for kids to understand the situation and they or even how parents feel?
BF: Animal Chat is a really easy way for parents to just lay out a bunch of emotions, then ask their kids to pick a few they relate to. From that point, it's simple to have a discussion about why kids chose the cards they did, who they know that feels similarly, or what other emotions they might potentially like to feel.
C&C: What's your advice to parents on managing stress and how not to pass on their own anxieties? Or how can they explain how they feel to kids so it's less worrying for children?
BF: Parents can support kids through transparency of feelings. When you feel anxious about something, it is definitely ok to share that with your kids. Of course, one of our first instincts is to present only our "good sides" to our kids. That approach is not complete because kids see right through it! They know when something is up and they would love to learn more. You can also model how it is ok to feel the whole range of feelings. When you talk through it with your kids, you can also share what brings you hope and how you might help others with similar feelings.
C&C: How can we also share and spread positive feelings in these times?
BF: Serving others is a great way to spread positivity and help yourself feel better at the same time. With social distancing, this is a bit tricky, but there are lots of creative ways to serve! Write someone a letter, draw them a picture, give them a phone call, or plant a flower in their honor. Make a donation to your local healthcare centers or food banks. Every little bit helps.
C&C: Lastly, in these days of social isolation, what is your idea of having some Brighter Fun at home?
BF: Our best advice is to create some sort of daily routine, as best as possible, and to carve out time for creativity, free play, or other releases. We also recommend talking about your feelings over a meal. Perfect time to discuss the whole range of your day - the best parts, worst, and everywhere in between!
