--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Rather than simply training our…" description: "\"“Rather than simply training our children’s minds to absorb and regurgitate facts so that they can do well on standardized tests, mindfulness has the p..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d0/patricia-a-jennings-17210_children_rather-than-simply-training-our-children_3038110.jpg" --- # Rather than simply training our children’s minds to absorb… ![“Rather than simply training our children’s minds to absorb and regurgitate facts so that they can do well on standardized tests, mindfulness has the potential to promote other valuable cognitive skills, such as creative thinking, perspective-taking, and innovative problem-solving.” quote by Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d0/patricia-a-jennings-17210_children_rather-than-simply-training-our-children_3038110.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d0/patricia-a-jennings-17210_children_rather-than-simply-training-our-children_3038110.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d0/patricia-a-jennings-17210_children_rather-than-simply-training-our-children_3038110.jpg) > ““Rather than simply training our children’s minds to absorb and regurgitate facts so that they can do well on standardized tests, mindfulness has the potential to promote other valuable cognitive skills, such as creative thinking, perspective-taking, and innovative problem-solving.”” [Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mindfulness can develop creativity, empathy, and problem‑solving beyond rote learning. **In simple terms:** Mindfulness boosts thinking skills. Key Takeaway Teach mindfulness. Themes education mindfulness creativity Mood inspirational optimistic Type educational policy When to use this quote - classroom - training programs - curriculum design Key Concepts cognitive development innovative thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can schools integrate mindfulness? - What outcomes matter most? A Different Perspective Implementation can be costly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Creative thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-thinking/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Mindfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindfulness/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Standardized Tests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standardized-tests/) ## Related quotes > [The cognitive skills that underpin resilience, then, seem like they can indeed be learned over time, creating resilience where there was none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-konnikova/the-cognitive-skills-that-underpin-resilience-then-seem-like-they-can/) [Maria Konnikova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-konnikova/) > [We often say that someone has exceptional political or social savvy, but what specific cognitive skills allow these people to handle interpersonal situations so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-menkes/we-often-say-that-someone-has-exceptional-political-or-social-savvy/) [Justin Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-menkes/) > [“Twelve-year-olds are eager to turn everything into arguments but don't have the cognitive skills to win them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-perlstein/twelve-year-olds-are-eager-to-turn-everything-into-arguments-but-don/) Linda Perlstein > [Cognitive skills such as big-picture thinking and long-term vision were particularly important. 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This is why dictators censor or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/reading-develops-cognitive-skills-it-trains-our-minds-to-think/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [ “\[Patricia Greenfield\] concluded that “every medium develops some cognitive skills at the expense of others.” Our growing use of the Net and other screen-based… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-g-carr/patricia-greenfield-concluded-that-every-medium-develops-some/) [Nicholas G. Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-g-carr/) > [My cognitive skills are a little suspect at times. It comes and goes on certain days. 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Once we understand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-menkes/those-who-have-high-business-acumen-display-specific-identifiable/) [Justin Menkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-menkes/) > [“Ellington would be growing up in a culture saturated with an idea you might call the cognitive hypothesis: the belief... that success today primarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tough/ellington-would-be-growing-up-in-a-culture-saturated-with-an-idea-you/) [Paul Tough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tough/) > [The stories on standardized tests don't have one author, therefore they can never authentically be in the first person. Imagine that! Everywhere, there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-zambra/the-stories-on-standardized-tests-don-t-have-one-author-therefore/) [Alejandro Zambra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-zambra/) ## More by Patricia A. Jennings > [“CARE program components increase in complexity across sessions and are augmented by individual reflective writing and group discussion. Teachers are given a CD of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-jennings/care-program-components-increase-in-complexity-across-sessions-and/) [Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) > [“Kripalu Yoga in Schools (KYIS) was developed to empower adolescents to learn social and emotional skills such as stress management, emotion and behavior regulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-jennings/kripalu-yoga-in-schools-kyis-was-developed-to-empower-adolescents-to/) [Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) > [“The Holistic Life Foundation’s program combines yoga postures, fluid movement exercises, breathing techniques, and guided mindfulness practices. The movement activities are designed to enhance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-jennings/the-holistic-life-foundation-s-program-combines-yoga-postures-fluid/) [Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) > [“the classroom environment can be a setup for serious stress-related health problems. In a sense, both teachers and their students are “captives”—they can’t leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-jennings/the-classroom-environment-can-be-a-setup-for-serious-stress-related/) [Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) > [“Over time, with practice, you will become more aware of your thoughts and feelings. You will notice which thoughts and feelings tend to capture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-jennings/over-time-with-practice-you-will-become-more-aware-of-your-thoughts/) [Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) > [“Practicing mindfulness means monitoring, in real time, your experience, and doing so in a nonjudgmental way (Kabat-Zinn, 1994).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-jennings/practicing-mindfulness-means-monitoring-in-real-time-your-experience/) [Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) > [“Mindfulness is a particular state of consciousness that involves awareness and acceptance of whatever is happening in the present moment. You can think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-jennings/mindfulness-is-a-particular-state-of-consciousness-that-involves/) [Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) > [“The eight lessons5 are: 1. Puppy training: Playing with attention 2. Taming the animal mind: Cultivating curiosity and kindness 3. Recognizing worry: Noticing how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-jennings/the-eight-lessons5-are-1-puppy-training-playing-with-attention-2/) [Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) > [“In 2000, the Mind and Life Institute held a dialogue between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a group of prominent scientists to explore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-jennings/in-2000-the-mind-and-life-institute-held-a-dialogue-between-his/) [Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) > [“Mindfulness involves three fundamental processes: forming intention, paying attention, and adjusting your attitude (Shapiro, Carlson, Astin, & Freedman, 2006).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-jennings/mindfulness-involves-three-fundamental-processes-forming-intention/) [Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) > [“Learning to BREATHE (L2B) (Broderick, 2013) program, a mindfulness-based program for adolescents and pre-adolescents designed to promote emotional awareness and improve emotional regulation, attentional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-jennings/learning-to-breathe-l2b-broderick-2013-program-a-mindfulness-based/) [Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) > [“Another program that evolved from the Cultivating Emotional Balance project is Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques (SMART) in Education, an eight-week, 11-session program that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-jennings/another-program-that-evolved-from-the-cultivating-emotional-balance/) [Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) > [“These programs have been successfully integrated into schools in the US, Canada, and/or the UK; have a clearly articulated curriculum that can be easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-jennings/these-programs-have-been-successfully-integrated-into-schools-in-the/) [Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) > [“Educators and mindfulness instructors of the Mindfulness in Schools Project developed a curriculum called “.b” (pronounced “dot bee”), which stands for “Stop, Breathe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-a-jennings/educators-and-mindfulness-instructors-of-the-mindfulness-in-schools/) [Patricia A. Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) > [“Setting an intention is not the same as setting a goal. 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Jennings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-a-jennings/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. 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