THEY'RE WORKING WITH KIDS FOUR YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER. THE GOAL IS TO INSTILL THESE VALUES YOUNGSO AS THEY GET OLDER, PROPERLY DEALING WITH STRESS BECOMES SECOND NATURE. "IF YOU LOOK AT THE WAY KIDS ARE GROWING UP THESE DAYS, IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD THAN THE WORLD WE INHERITED WHEN WE GREW UP. IT'S FASTER, IT'S MORE COMPLEX, IT'S CHANGING." AND TO COMBAT THOSE CHANGESGOELITZ AND HIS TEAM AT THE HEART MATH INSTITUTE DEVELOPED THE 100 THOUSAND COHERENT KIDS INITIATIVE. TEACHING KIDS HOW TO MANAGE THEIR STRESS. "THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE HEART HEALTH, WHAT IS THE HEART? GOOD SLEEP, GOOD DIET, A LOT OF EXERCISE, BUT ALSO VERY IMPORTANTLY EMOTIONAL HEALTH." EMOTIONAL HEALTH TO THE WARD FAMILY IS EVERYTHING..AYDEN IS JUST NINE YEARS OLD AND HE SAYS HE FEELS A LOT OF PRESSURE DURING CLASS. "IT'S ALL THE TESTS AND BEING GOOD ENOUGH." "I THINK IF I LOOK INTO THE FUTURE, THE SCHOOL'S TEACHING THEM HOW TO DO MATH AND ENGLISH AND READING AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TEACHING THEM HOW TO BE HAPPY AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THE STRESS THAT'S IN THE WORLD TODAY AND THE CHAOS AND THE CHANGE." CHILDREN TAKING THE COURSE WORK AT THEIR OWN PACELEARNING THROUGH FUN ACTIVITIES. ALSO PRACTICING BREATHING TECHNIQUES. "IT'S JUST ABOUT GETTING IN YOUR HEART AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, AND WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN THERE, REALIZING IT AND TRYING TO GET BACK IN. AND THE TECHNIQUES ARE AS SIMPLE AS ANY TECHNIQUE CAN BE." AYDEN SAYS IT HELPS WHEN HE'S NERVOUS ABOUT A TEST. "I ASKED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM, AND I TAKE A BREATHER AND DON'T ACTUALLY GO THE BATHROOM." "IT FEELS VERY SATISFYING BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE REACHING KIDS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE REACHED. WE'RE GIVING THEM SOME UNIQUE SKILLSETS AND IDEAS THAT ARE SO VITAL FOR THEIR WELLBEING." NOT ONLY HAS THE PROGRAM BEEN LAUNCHED HERE ON THE CENTRAL COAST..... IT'S ALSO BEING USED IN PLACES LIKE ENGLAND AND SOUTH AFRICA. THE BEST PART IS IT'S FREE AND AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR EVERYONE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SIGN UP FOR THE PROGRAM, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION AT KSBW DOT COM.

100,000 Coherent Kids Initiative teaches importance of physical, emotional and mental health

Goal is to teach kids to properly deal with stress

Updated: 10:51 PM PST Mar 1, 2020

The HeartMath Institute in Boulder Creek has launched the 100,000 Coherent Kids Initiative. An online educational program that works with children, teaching them the importance of physical, emotional and mental health. Working with kids 4 years of age and older, the goal is to instill these values young so as they get older, properly dealing with stress becomes second nature."That includes things like heart health, what is the heart? Good sleep, good diet, a lot of exercise but also, very importantly, emotional health," explained Jeff Goelitz, director of education at the HeartMath Institute. "If you look at the way kids are growing up these days, it's a different world than the world we inherited when we grew up. It's faster, it's more complex and it's changing."Emotional health to the Ward family is everything. 9-year-old Ayden Ward said he feels a lot of pressure during class."It's all the tests and (feeling) good enough," said Ayden."I think if I look into the future, the school's teaching them how to do math and English and reading and everything else, but there's not a lot of teaching them how to be happy and how to deal with the stress that's in the world today," said Ayden's father, Owen Ward. "They know some of (these ideas) already, but they're resistant to (my wife and I) trying to teach them. But you put it onto their iPad in an engaging way where there are characters and exercises, and they just seem more open to it."Children take the coursework at their own pace, learning through fun activities and breathing techniques. "It's about getting in your heart as much as you can. When you're not in there, realizing it and trying to get back in. The techniques are as simple as any technique can be," said Ward.Ayden said these techniques help him when he's nervous about a test."I ask to go to the bathroom, and I take a breather. I don't actually go the bathroom," said Ayden."It feels very satisfying because we know we're reaching kids where they need to be reached," said Goelitz. "We're giving them some unique skillsets and ideas that are so vital for their wellbeing."Not only has the program been launched on the Central Coast, it's also being used in places like England and South Africa. It's also free online and available for everyone. For more information on how to sign up, you can visit the HeartMath Institute's website.

The HeartMath Institute in Boulder Creek has launched the 100,000 Coherent Kids Initiative. An online educational program that works with children, teaching them the importance of physical, emotional and mental health. Working with kids 4 years of age and older, the goal is to instill these values young so as they get older, properly dealing with stress becomes second nature.

"That includes things like heart health, what is the heart? Good sleep, good diet, a lot of exercise but also, very importantly, emotional health," explained Jeff Goelitz, director of education at the HeartMath Institute. "If you look at the way kids are growing up these days, it's a different world than the world we inherited when we grew up. It's faster, it's more complex and it's changing."

Emotional health to the Ward family is everything. 9-year-old Ayden Ward said he feels a lot of pressure during class.

"It's all the tests and (feeling) good enough," said Ayden.

"I think if I look into the future, the school's teaching them how to do math and English and reading and everything else, but there's not a lot of teaching them how to be happy and how to deal with the stress that's in the world today," said Ayden's father, Owen Ward. "They know some of (these ideas) already, but they're resistant to (my wife and I) trying to teach them. But you put it onto their iPad in an engaging way where there are characters and exercises, and they just seem more open to it."

Children take the coursework at their own pace, learning through fun activities and breathing techniques.

"It's about getting in your heart as much as you can. When you're not in there, realizing it and trying to get back in. The techniques are as simple as any technique can be," said Ward.

Ayden said these techniques help him when he's nervous about a test.

"I ask to go to the bathroom, and I take a breather. I don't actually go the bathroom," said Ayden.

"It feels very satisfying because we know we're reaching kids where they need to be reached," said Goelitz. "We're giving them some unique skillsets and ideas that are so vital for their wellbeing."

Not only has the program been launched on the Central Coast, it's also being used in places like England and South Africa. It's also free online and available for everyone. For more information on how to sign up, you can visit the HeartMath Institute's website.

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100,000 Coherent Kids Initiative teaches importance of physical, emotional and mental health - KSBW Monterey