【From Heart to Classroom: SEED Mindful Teacher Training 💚】

Dr. Eliza Lau, the program developer of SEED, shares: “Adults seem to understand many things about the world, yet often the one thing they struggle to understand is their own heart. Only when we understand our hearts can we truly comprehend the world.” This profound insight embodies the core value of the SEEDprogram.

SEED originated from the “Kindness Curriculum” developed by the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which has been proven to effectively enhance the social and emotional skills of preschool children. In 2019, inspired by this curriculum, Ms. Poman Lo, founder of the Bodhi Love Foundation, began exploring ways to introduce mindfulness education into kindergartens in Hong Kong.

In 2021, the program was officially launched in Hong Kong. We designed an eight-week MindfulnessTrainingCourse for kindergarten teachers, covering mindfulness breathing techniques, sound practice tools, teaching applications of picture books and mindfulness songs, as well as strategies for guiding children in sharing positive behaviors. The program also emphasizes classroom management strategies and emotional awareness, facilitating experience-sharing through teacher training workshops. Dr. Eliza specifically noted: “Mindfulness is a process of understanding the mind; teaching mindfulness is also a journey of personal growth. For kindergarten teachers, mindfulness not only helps address emotional challenges at work but also significantly benefits personal life and relationships.”

Controller (Education Services) Mr. Ivan Ho at 仁愛堂 Yan Oi Tong praised the program: “We chose SEED because its heart-centered philosophy is sustainable, starting with self-care and naturally extending to altruistic actions. After participating in the training, teachers see improvements in their positive thinking and behavior.” Mr. Ho further described his experience collaborating with the SEED team as characterized by “compassion,” “carefulness,” and “concern.”

Since its launch in 2021, the SEED program has benefited 17 kindergartens and over 200 teachers. We sincerely look forward to collaborating with more educators to help children grow healthily through mindfulness education, allowing the seeds of compassion to sprout in their hearts.