What is something you do that makes you feel powerful? 

Kids who are struggling with academic and social tasks, or with the unpredictable nature of the school environment and life itself can often feel powerless. This can affect their sense of agency, their belief in themselves, and their ability to fully engage in activities they find meaningful and important. Feeling powerless can sometimes cause the beautiful power reserves that we all have inside of us to remain stagnant and untapped. 

So, the question of the week this week was, "What is something you do that makes you feel powerful?", and its purpose was to help people remember the strength within them.

The question was easy for some to answer and more difficult for others, but there were some pretty distinct themes and interesting observations that emerged…

Dr. Monica Jackman is an occupational therapist and mother of four. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Health Science degree from the University of Florida and a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Chatham University.  Monica has authored research papers and book chapters on topics including mindful engagement, the mindful engagement support model, occupational therapy in mental health, and teaching mindfulness to children, and has developed and implemented mindfulness-based training programs for caregivers, preschoolers, and school-aged children. She is the creator of the Mindful Engagement Support Model of Treatment,  the OpenMind Preschool and Kindergarten Program, co-author of the OpenMind Elementary and Middle School Program, and the author of the book Mindfulness for Preschool and Kindergarten, published by New Harbinger in August 2022. She has lectured nationally and internationally on mindfulness and social emotional learning interventions for children and adults. You can find her on Instagram at openmindwithdrmonica