Mindfulness for Children

Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment. Mindfulness can help children and adults calmly acknowledge their feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations without worrying about the past or future.

It's easy and fun to infuse your family's life with mindfulness! Check out this great resource for 12 Simple Ways to Teach Mindfulness to Kids: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/breathe-mama-breathe/201605/12-simple-ways-teach-mindfulness-kids

Whatever you do, don’t force mindfulness. Leading by example is the best way to teach mindfulness. Be patient and have fun together!

If you have the materials, you can make mindfulness jars at home!

Mindfulness Jars:

Materials:

  • water

  • Clear Elmer’s glue

  • Food Colouring

  • Empty jar or water bottle

  • Sparkles

  • Duct tape

Directions

  1. Pour 250 mL of HOT water into a bowl

  2. Squeeze half a bottle of clear Elmer’s glue into the bowl and wisk contents together

  3. Add a few drops of food colouring

  4. Add 200 mL of COLD water to the bowl

  5. Pour contents of bowl into an empty water bottle

  6. Add sparkles and whatever else you like to the bottle

  7. Close lid and shake contents

  8. Let bottle cool and duct tape the bottle closed

Some other great mindfulness resources include:

Cosmic Kids Yoga - Youtube

Headspace for Kids - headspace.com

Three Ways for Children to Try Meditation at Home - https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/05/10/three-ways-for-children-to-try-meditation-at-home/