I began performing the heart of the “Peace Begins with You and Me” concerts when I was asked to perform at the University of Oklahoma after the bombing. Earlier that day, I visited the area that had been bombed and saw hundreds of teddy bears lined up on fences and words of “We’ll remember you […]
I can still remember what it felt like to be bullied, and I also remember coming home and teasing my sister so that I could regain the power that I had lost at school. I don’t know the exact reasons why I was bullied. I was from a poor family of a minority religion, with […]
Valentine’s Day and every day is our time for teaching children that it is important to be their own best friend, and to know on the deepest of levels that there is no standard “Barbie and Ken” way to look, to talk or to be. The better we feel about ourselves in terms of self-acceptance, […]
Music can help get a child back on track before it is too late. It can revive self-esteem, self-belief, feelings of inclusion and worthiness. I should know. I was one of those children that was lost, and got back on track because of threshold moments in music. I wasn’t the best student in some subjects, […]
Cheryl Melody “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me” is a saying that is simply not true. Name calling, stereotyping, prejudice, put downs…it all hurts. Unkind words create wounds that may not be seen visually, but the words contain negative vibrations resonating within us, deep and lasting. I […]
It is important to help children hear, see, feel and know the difference between positive power words and negative power words by having children first build a foundation of awareness and knowledge about the differences in the FEELING SENSE of the words themselves. A meaningful activity is to ask children to come up with positive […]
Teaching children to get into someone’s shoes, feelings and situations is key to igniting the quality of empathy. The more we can use teaching moments to point out ways to empathize with others, the less bullying and by-stander silence there will be in our homes, schools and neighborhoods. Helping a child become more sensitive is […]
My definition of “peace” is non-political. When I teach children about “being and living peace,” my intention is to help children self-actualize a heightened consciousness about the powerful effect of their words, actions and thoughts with themselves and with one another. Becoming sensitive to the fact that everyone has feelings can create an environment that […]
“Respect” in my generation often meant being unseen, unheard, and stifling hurt or angry feelings. Montessori schools have a unique and positive approach towards respectful communication and conflict-resolution that begins in early childhood. The Peace Rose is integrated into every day classroom life of conflict and resolution. Children who are experiencing conflict are encouraged to face one […]
It can be challenging to guide children into understanding how to define and integrate the character-building value of KINDNESS. Kindness is one of those broad general words like “nice.” Through the creative arts, family and teacher role modeling as well as choices in specific school curriculum, we can teach the true meaning of kindness. We can […]
