Back to Mind Explorers (Ages 7-12)
This game helps children develop cognitive flexibility and the ability to shift their attention between narrow and wide focus. By practicing zooming in and out of awareness, children learn to be more present and attentive to both the details and the bigger picture in any given situation. This skill can help them manage distractions, reduce stress, and improve their overall ability to navigate complex situations. Additionally, by regularly expanding their awareness to include everything in their experience, children can cultivate a greater sense of connection and appreciation for the world around them.
Hey there, young explorer! Today, we're going to play a game called "The Awareness Telescope." Just like a real telescope can zoom in on faraway objects and zoom out to see the big picture, we'll be using our minds to focus on small things and then expand our awareness to include everything around us. This game will help us practice being present and paying attention to both the details and the whole picture. Are you ready to give it a try?
1. Have the child sit comfortably and take a few deep breaths.
2. Ask the child to choose a specific task or object to focus on, such as wiggling their fingers, reading a sentence, or drawing a stick figure.
3. Encourage the child to zoom in their attention on this one thing, excluding everything else from their awareness.
4. After a few moments, ask the child to zoom out their awareness to include everything they’re experiencing through their five senses: sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and physical sensations.
5. Invite the child to also include everything they’re thinking and feeling in this expanded awareness.
6. Now, have the child zoom back in on the original task or object, narrowing their focus once again.
7. Repeat the process of zooming in and out several times, encouraging the child to switch between narrow and wide focus.
8. Challenge the child to practice zooming out to include everything at a moment’s notice, even something as simple as dropping a hat.
To further explore the concept of narrow and wide focus, consider introducing your child to the book “Zoom” by Istvan Banyai. This wordless picture book takes readers on a visual journey that starts with a close-up image and gradually zooms out, revealing a broader context with each turn of the page. The book encourages children to think about perspective, scale, and the interconnectedness of things in the world. By engaging with this creative and thought-provoking book, children can deepen their understanding of how shifting their focus can change their perception and experience of reality.
1. What type of book is “Zoom”?
a) A chapter book
b) A wordless picture book
c) A pop-up book
d) A coloring book
2. What happens as you progress through the pages of the book?
a) The images get smaller
b) The perspective zooms out
c) The story moves forward in time
d) New characters are introduced
3. What does the book encourage readers to do?
a) Read faster
b) Look closely at details
c) Guess the ending
d) Count the number of objects
4. How does each new page relate to the previous one?
a) It shows a completely different scene
b) It reveals the previous image is part of a larger picture
c) It introduces a new character
d) It shows the same scene at a different time of day
5. What skill does “Zoom” help develop in readers?
a) Reading speed
b) Color recognition
c) Visual perception
d) Vocabulary
6. What makes “Zoom” different from most other picture books?
a) It has no text
b) It’s in black and white
c) It’s interactive
d) It’s 3D
7. What concept does “Zoom” illustrate?
a) Time travel
b) Changing perspectives
c) Animal habitats
d) Family relationships
8. How might you describe the experience of reading “Zoom”?
a) Like solving a puzzle
b) Like watching a movie
c) Like listening to music
d) Like playing a video game
9. What might readers learn from “Zoom”?
a) Things aren’t always what they seem at first glance
b) Always judge a book by its cover
c) Bigger is always better
d) Details are unimportant
10. How does “Zoom” encourage imagination?
a) By providing detailed descriptions
b) By leaving gaps for the reader to fill in
c) By using bright colors
d) By including fantasy creatures
1. b) A wordless picture book
2. b) The perspective zooms out
3. b) Look closely at details
4. b) It reveals the previous image is part of a larger picture
5. c) Visual perception
6. a) It has no text
7. b) Changing perspectives
8. a) Like solving a puzzle
9. a) Things aren’t always what they seem at first glance
10. b) By leaving gaps for the reader to fill in
Verse 1:
Focus on your fingertips, watch them wiggle and wave
Now expand your view, see the room you’ve made
Listen to your breathing, then hear the world outside
Your mind’s a telescope, taking you on a ride
Pre-Chorus:
Zoom in, zoom out, like a lens so clear
Shifting your attention, far and near
Chorus:
We’re playing with awareness, zooming in and out
From the tiniest detail to the world all about
It’s the Awareness Telescope, a game so fun
Helping us see everything under the sun
Verse 2:
Read a single word, then see the whole page
Feel one toe, then your whole body engage
A stick figure drawing, now the entire scene
Switching perspectives, like you’ve never been
(Pre-Chorus)
(Chorus)
Bridge:
In a blink, expand your mind
To catch all you can find
Then zoom back in real quick
On something small and slick
(Chorus)
Outro:
Open your eyes, take it all in
The details, the big picture, where do you begin?
With your Awareness Telescope, you’ll always know
How to focus your mind, wherever you go
Remember, at QMAK, we don’t just teach; we empower. We don’t just inform; we inspire. We don’t just question; we act. Become a Gold Member, and let’s unlock your child’s full potential, one question at a time.