Goldie Hawn webchat: Today - Monday 5 March, 1-2pm

[GeraldineMumsnet]

It's not often we get Hollywood glamour gracing Mumsnet Towers but we're rolling the red carpet out on Monday lunchtime, 5 March, when we're joined by Goldie Hawn.

Her legendary Hollywood roles include Private Benjamin, The First Wives Club and Death Becomes Her. Her performance in the 1969 film, Cactus Flower, won her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Goldie is visiting the UK to promote her book, 10 Mindful Minutes, and the launch of The Hawn Foundation in the UK.

The foundation has developed the MindUP programme to help children reach their full potential and aims to teach children how their minds work and how their thoughts and feelings affect their behaviour. The programme has been implemented in schools in the United States, Canada, Australia and, more recently, the UK.

Chat to Goldie live from 1-2pm on Monday 5 March, or post your question in advance here.

Thanks

Goldies here................................

I LOVE YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Goldie is now in the building and ready to start, so without further ado, welcome to mumsnet Goldie...

Hi it's Goldie I'm so happy to be here. This should be lots of fun! Nothing better than talking about the well-being of our children and ourselves.

Hello Goldie!!

Hello . (can't believe I've just said hello to Goldie Hawn!)

Good afternoon

Squeeeeel!!

@NaughtyMrChicken

Actual real life Goldie Hawn?

Okay question 1; Would you like to adopt me? I'm very nice and mostly house trained?

Question 2; having looked over your website briefly, I couldn't find any mention of whether this programme will be offered to special schools, will it?
It's lovely that your programme is aiming to, 'transform children's lives by helping them to acquire vital social and emotional skills', would this package be tailored for children with special needs?

Yes, we do have MindUP in schools for children with special needs. It's working beautifully, helping them focus, giving them tools to manage their busy brains. Most of our schools for special needs are in Minneapolis in the States.

Hello :)!

@tumbleweedblowing

I've read some bits from your book already (only got it last night, so not finished yet), but many of the psychologists you mention, are people whose work I respect. I've been using techniques similar to those you suggest with my own children for years, and am sure it could be really useful in our state education system, especially for children with challenging lives.

However, you met with Michael Gove, and immediately he pounced on what you were suggesting as supporting evidence for dismantling our precious state education system. How did that make you feel. Are your methods likely only to be adopted by private or "free" school, and not really by the majority in the real state system?

Yes these techniques that we have used have been very successful and has helped our children immensely. As for Mr Gove, I never met him, so one day I do hope to meet him and share what we are doing.

Hi Goldie, thank you so much for some wonderful films over the years, they have provided countless laughs.

I am very interested in the psychology behind fame and its effect on the public. You just have to see the screaming crowds on the red carpet. Why do you think we idolise actors and actresses in particular? If I was to meet you in real life , I would be star struck but when if I think about it, this is very odd considering we are all human beings at the end of the day. I don?t get star struck when I meet an incredible surgeon. So I wonder what you think makes us so enamoured with film stars?

MonicamumtoRyanDec08 Actually Mnetters are nbloody lovely, intelligent nice persons. That's why Goldie came to see us today, isn't it HQ?

@Sam100

Goldie - how would you define happiness? What measures will the Hawn foundation be using to assess whether pupils are happier after the Mindup lessons compared to before?

Defining happiness is very personal. We all have our level and set points for experiencing joy and happiness. The measurements we have used in the past has measured optimism in particular. In the last research we did with the University of British Colombia, optimism raised to 63% higher than the control group. The results of happiness are measured by positive symptoms, such as working well in the classroom together, lowering aggression on the playground and doing better academically in school.

Hi Goldie xx welcome to the UK, enjoy, you are fab x

@scrappydappydoo

Hi Goldie, So many questions but if I was to pick one...

Could you tell me what is exactly taught in mindup lessons - I'm intrigued as to how you teach children 'how their minds work and how their thoughts and feelings affect their behaviour'. A quick google suggests a form buddhist meditation is this corrrect?

Thank you for bringing up this question, it would be nice to be able to put this question about Buddhism to bed. We are not and never have been a a Buddhist and Meditation programme, we are science based, evidence based, brain friendly learning. We teach our children how their brains work - part of their science curriculum. We address being mindful of many thing such as our senses. We are reminded of gratitude, happiness and the importance of being connected to each other as thoughtful human beings. All of these exercises are included in the Teachers standard curriculum social studies, English and the like. It works brilliantly.

Hi Goldie
Has your MindUp programme been developed partially in response to the dreadful violence we see reported from American High Schools?
Do you think the gun control regulations should be tighter in the USA, as they are here in Britain?

I absolutely love your films by the way.

Hi Goldie, I have no question (that hasn't already been asked!) but just wanted to wave a "Hellooo" and a "Squee!!!" in that order.

OOOH! OOOH! I have a question after all! Do you know what "Squee!" means?

Hello!! (housesitter is GENIUS!!)

Am wondering how/why you have written the book? Is it something you have always beeen interested in, and why? ( sorry if its toooo nosey). I work with SN children so will definitely be reading your book.

Thanks

Shakey, Goldie practically invented "squee-ing"

@bbaloo

Quite scary to see how many children these days suffer from depression If this does help children become happier, healthier and able to learn better than it is a great program. Has this program been implemented in any failing schools and shown proof of improvement in children's performance? I know that there is already very little time in the classroom for any extra activities as there is so much to learn in such a small amount of time and the teachers are already stretched to gram it all in (as well as look after around 30 children in one class) - how would this program fit in?

I agree. It saddens me to see how children suffer from depression today. Far too many of our children are medicated for these problems and challenges such as difficulty to focus. Science tells us that when children are happier they are more productive and better learners. We have implemented in all kinds of schools and different socio-economic levels. To answer your question, teachers have reported that MindUP has actually given them more time to teach in the classroom rather than take time away from them as other programmes do.

This thread is starting to smell like Squee

Honeydragon - I didn't say mumsnetters weren't intelligent and lovely! I said we can be a bit harsh sometimes! No offense intended!