mindfulness resources for kids
Activity-based mindfulness is a great way for kids and adults to develop focusing skills while learning to regulate their emotions and respond to any situation calmly, with kindness and compassion. These simple, fun mindful games can be dropped into your routines at home, work, school, or after school. Transitions — between completing one activity and starting another, or when standing in line, sitting at the kitchen table, getting ready to leave the house, or waiting to go to lunch, recess, or the next class — are opportunities to reinforce universal themes, like patience and appreciation, and to practice one or more of six social, emotional, and academic life skills that mindfulness develops. Soon kids begin doing this on their own. They may surprise you by using the themes and life skills they’ve learned to settle a dispute on the playground or among friends, steady themselves if they’re upset, or ignore a distraction to concentrate on their homework or the task at hand.
A parent, educator, or other caregiver’s, attention, balance, and compassion have a powerful effect on everyone in their lives, especially on children and teens. Kids notice when their caregivers are calm, composed, and joyful, and they learn from our examples. How caregivers steer their course through the world directly affects how secure kids feel and how they move through the world themselves. That’s why I encourage you to develop your own mindfulness and meditation practices first, before sharing them with youth. Here are some tips, answers to frequently asked questions, and links to additional resources to help you get started.
A deck of fifty-five mindful games for kids that takes a playful approach to developing attention and focus, and identifying and regulating emotions--by the author of Mindful Games and The Mindful Child.
You can train your mind to pay attention to even the littlest things. Like sounds.
For six short minutes, pause and listen to what's happening in and around you. In this live recording from a webinar for parents.
We imagine that everyone has a special star with them all the time and learn how just imagining it can help us feel more relaxed and calm.
We play three mindful games in a row to practice paying attention while moving and having fun.
Life has a way of throwing curve balls and it’s up to us how we respond. What would happen if we loosened our grip instead of clamping down?
We build a chain of plastic monkeys to demonstrate how to notice thoughts and let them go.
In a polarized world, we can build bridges by focusing on common themes that cut across time-tested wisdom traditions instead of focusing on our differences.
One of the terrific things about mindfulness is that it helps us develop universal qualities that are with us all the time. One of those qualities is patience, and today we'll explore how mindful listening helps develop the quality of patience.
Allowing means learning to be with what's happening when it's happening. We don't give up working to make the world a better place. We just recognize, "This is what's happening now. Nothing I can do about it right now, but maybe there's something I can do about it later."
When we plant seeds of confidence, patience, and kindness, those are the qualities that grow. When we plant seeds of doubt, restlessness, and cruelty, those qualities grow instead. What seeds will you plant today?
Are you game to try a pizza meditation?
You can think of anything you like in this meditation.
Except for pizza.
We use an awareness meter and barrel of plastic monkeys to demonstrate how to work with thoughts and emotions when we meditate.
We usually think of Obi-Wan Kenobi as being cool, calm, and collected, right? A remarkable Jedi Master. But even Obi-Wan Kenobi feels unsteady sometimes. If you don't feel steady – like Obi-Wan is feeling now – mindful awareness can help you feel more grounded.
In this 90 second video I use a Hoberman Globe to demonstrate how minds change bodies and bodies change minds. When our bodies are tense and feel tight, our minds tense and tighten, too. But when our bodies relax our minds become more spacious. Then, it’s easier to take in the full picture by looking at what’s happening with kindness and curiosity.
Sometimes one thing can look different to different people, even though it’s the same thing. Can you think of examples from your life where two or more people look at the same thing but see it from different perspectives?
We develop the life skills Seeing & Reframing when we notice what's the same and what's different about a handful of toy bears.
Laura Greenfield rocks a stuffed animal to sleep on her tummy in this lovely DIY video. Laura made it in response to COVID-19 for her lucky preschool students (ages 2-3) to watch with their parents while staying at home. Laura teaches at C5 Children's School in San Francisco. #stayhome #staysafe #stayconnected.
By moving our attention away from what we're thinking to an experience in the moment, our minds help our bodies settle.
A delightful adaptation/mash-up of two mindful games — Friendly Wishes and Imaginary Hugs.
A colorful chain of plastic monkeys demonstrates how to notice thoughts and let them go.
Are you feeling under pressure or overwhelmed? Susan demonstrates what stress and pressure do to our bodies and how to move through them.
Watch how easy it is to settle your mind when it's busy! then, listen to this guided meditation to give it a try.
Feeling upset or annoyed? Here's a tip for calming down anytime you feel worked up.
Listening to sound is a great way to practice meditation. This meditation will help you feel focused and relaxed at the same time.
Our past is a part of us, but we needn't get distracted by it. Nor, do we need to be preoccupied with what will happen in the future. Instead, we can enjoy the moment.
Let any worries, stress and strain drop away in this bedtime routine. lie flat on your back with your arms by your sides, close your eyes, and you’re ready to begin.
We sit or stand face-to-face and choose a leader. When the leader slowly moves we mirror the movement. (Game led by Annaka Harris.)
songs
A fun and lively folk song taught to me by Tom Nolan from the Crossroads School and the Council in the Schools program.
Tom Nolan from the Crossroads School and the Council in the Schools program, taught me this wonderful folk song for children of all ages.
We sing a song to learn that when we stop and feel our breathing, we feel more calm and focused.
Affectionately known as "breathe-in, breathe-out" children sing this song to help them calm down if they're upset, to concentrate if they're having a hard time focusing, or just for the fun of it.
mindfulness resources for kids