We are continuing to focus on the topics of Savoring and Perseverance this month! This past week for our Positive Education focus with the children, we had a blind taste test!
Some might ask, why a blind taste test on this topic? Well…the definition of Savoring is the practice of noticing and getting pleasure from life’s little moments, like the feel of sunshine on your back, or hopping into a bed that has fresh, clean sheets. It involves pausing to let our attention linger on what makes us feel good. It’s also an enjoyable form of attentional training that captures moments of good experiences to build positivity in real-time.
You can build savoring moments into your day as games or activities with your kids. Some simple examples are looking at the clouds and imagining what they could be appreciating the smell of food cooking in the kitchen, noticing sunsets, and stopping to smell the flowers on a walk.
So, how do you get a young child to savor their food specifically? Start with a blind taste test! Have your child close their eyes and taste different things such as salt, sugar, something sour, etc. The children can guess what it is that they are tasting and decide what kind of taste they enjoy the most!
During the blind taste test with the children, they had the opportunity to participate and take a guess at what they are eating. They will take a small, teeny-tiny bite and savor the taste. The teacher will ask questions such as “How does it feel in your mouth?” and then instruct them to take another tiny bite. “Is it crunchy or soft?” “Is it sweet?” “Is it salty?”
Some ways to help children to learn to stop and savor the moment or feeling:
- noticing the environment (looking at birds or flowers)
- enjoy physical sensations (savoring taste, smelling dinner, feeling warm water while taking bath, drinking cold water on a hot day)
- creating family time (watching a movie, cooking together, eating a meal, or going on a walk together)
- remembering happy times (a funny time, looking at photographs of happy memories)
- looking ahead (thinking about something good planned for the future such as a vacation)
Be sure to ask your child about their experience and try this at home as well! You might be surprised what you notice as an adult when you take the time to savor it.
