Kind Mind's Story

The Problem

We all know what stress and anxiety feel like. We don’t all know how to cope. 

When adults are stressed, children absorb that stress. 

And it works both ways. When a child is tantruming, for example, we absorb their stress and often react in ways we later regret.

This happens because our nervous systems are freaking out - and we call this dysregulation.

When we move through the world dysregulated, it can lead to anxiety, difficulty learning, and behavior problems. 

Today, 1 in 4 children are diagnosed with anxiety. 

Now, imagine being a teacher. You have 20 kids, and at least 5 of them are chronically dysregulated and in need of support.

There is no way to meet each child’s needs when you are also working to keep kids safe, teach a math lesson, AND keep yourself calm.  

This problem not only impacts the anxious child, but also their peers, teachers, families, and eventually society as a whole. 

Research shows that a lack of social-emotional skills in Kindergarten directly impacts unemployment, incarceration, mental health, substance abuse, and high school graduation rates.

Kind Mind's Solution

What if we teach children how to regulate in HEALTHY and sustained ways, as part of their learning throughout school? 

As someone whose life transformed when I studied at Stanford’s Center for Compassion, I wanted to teach children and adults these skills in a habit-forming way that becomes part of our daily routine. 

My name is Lee Sowles, founder of Kind Mind, and we have developed a high-impact solution.

Kind Mind teaches adults and children how to co-regulate, be kind, and feel ready to learn. 

Our evidence-based program currently impacts over 4,000 children and families, and 165 teachers across 16 elementary schools, one college, and 6 childcare facilities.  

Over the past 3 years, Kind Mind has reduced emotional distress by 35%, bullying by 50%, and improved children’s ability to focus by 45%.