8 Resources to Help You Teach Mindfulness to Children

Children naturally move through the world with high degrees of curiosity and openness, two fundamental principles of mindfulness. As mindfulness teachers working with children, our role is to reinforce this natural presence while also helping children to navigate any challenges they encounter as they get older

We are able to teach mindfulness to children in quite a lot of settings, whether at college, at home, in nature, or elsewhere. But whatever the setting we discover ourselves in, how can we teach mindfulness to children effectively? How will the practice profit them? And, are there any resources or suggestions that may support us?

First, it may be helpful to have a transparent sense of what we hope to realize by sharing mindfulness with children. We would intuitively sense that the practice can be supportive for them, but what outcomes can we expect time beyond regulation?

Studies the connection between mindfulness and the wellbeing of youngsters show that the sort of practice can:

Once we are teaching mindfulness to children, we don’t must share these advantages with them explicitly. Nevertheless, knowing what the science says about mindfulness may also help us to clarify the practice to any teachers or parents who’ve questions. It may possibly also help us to maintain our eye out for markers of whether or not our sessions are working.

In a way, how children learn is just not so different from how we as adults learn. Through experience, investigation, trial and error, reading, and listening, children pick up recent ways of considering and being similar to we do. Nevertheless, a toddler’s brain is much easier than an adult brain. Habits and beliefs usually are not so deeply ingrained, which may lead kids to being more open and receptive than adults. In addition they are likely to be more playful of their learning.

This openness and playfulness could make sharing mindfulness with children an exciting experience. As an illustration, if we’re leading a mindful eating exercise using strawberries, are you able to imagine the delight a toddler might express? Not only might mindfulness be fun for kids; it needs to be. To make it fun and age-appropriate, consider the next suggestions:

Those that teach mindfulness meditation are likely to have a sophisticated personal practice. So, it may be helpful to consciously shift gears when our audience is a bunch of youngsters. When leading children through a mindfulness or meditation practice, keep it easy. Start with the fundamentals and explain it in easy terms. Ask inquiries to get a way of the maturity level within the group (and to spark engagement) and take it from there. 

If we’re recent to teaching mindfulness to children, we is perhaps caught by surprise when the group seems bored with a certain activity or struggles to calm down. Leave all expectations behind you. With kids, our session might be completely unpredictable. Let go of what you think that a session should appear to be and remain open to whatever unfolds.

Each children and adults have busy minds; nevertheless, adults are likely to have a neater time with silence and stillness (even when only on the skin). With kids, it is vital to maintain mindfulness exercises fun and flowing. As an illustration, in case you are leading a ten-minute meditation, explore quite a lot of different practices (equivalent to respiration exercises, body awareness, guided imagery, and even gentle movement). 

Mindfulness for teenagers tends to evoke more vibrant imagery than it does for adults. This is vital because it may help to maintain children engaged. As an illustration, when leading a respiration exercise, you may have them imagine that they’re filling up a balloon of their belly. Alternatively, you may have them pretend that they’re of their favourite place when practicing. This will offer a level of comfort as they change into more aware of mindfulness. 

Events get in the way in which of predictions – especially after we’re with kids. For instance, you may have five activities lined up and halfway through a session realize that you just’ll only have time for 3. Or, you may encounter more questions and comments than you had expected. Be flexible in your approach. For those who don’t make it to a selected exercise, there’s at all times next time.

Working with a big group of children, particularly if you will have no previous relationship the category, might be difficult. Having a second teacher to support you’ll be able to be incredibly helpful. Alternatively, in case you are leading in a classroom, you may have the ability to have the teacher support you where needed.

One other necessary consideration to make is that children often need loads of time to share. Some can be quiet and reserved while sharing, but others could have rather a lot to say about their experience. When sharing throughout the group, it may even be helpful to model what and the way the children might share. As an illustration, in case you ask them to share how they felt about a selected meditation, you may start by saying: “Once I practice this meditation, I sometimes feel restless, but often it helps me to feel calm and relaxed. What about for you?”

Lastly, it is vital to get all necessary information that you just might need before a session with kids begins. Check in with parents or teachers to search out out if there are any current challenges in the category it is best to learn about. As an illustration, if a toddler has recently lost a grandparent and has been fighting it, it might be helpful to know this. Or, if there are children who would do higher sitting on different sides of the room, ask the teacher for his or her suggestions and assistance. Get as much information as you’ll be able to beforehand. 

There is no such thing as a limit to the ways through which you’ll be able to explore mindfulness with children. Since mindfulness is just the practice of bringing open, non-judgmental awareness to our experience, it may be applied to absolutely anything that we do. The next list is offers some suggestions of places to begin if we’re wondering tips on how to teach mindfulness to kids:

One great exercise to explore with children is a mindful eating practice. Select a small piece of food that’s secure for all members within the group (think a berry, a cracker, or a bit of orange). Then, invite the youngsters to explore it for one full minute with all of their senses – aside from taste. Guide them to then slowly take a bite, noticing the way it feels of their mouth and because it moves into their belly. Have the group share their experience at the tip.

For those who are in search of an ideal place to practice mindfulness with kids, look no further than the good outdoors. There are many sights, sounds, smells and textures to explore in nature. Lead the group through a neighborhood forest or meadow, inviting them to mindfully contemplate what they arrive into contact with.

Help children get in contact with their emotions by inviting them to color their feelings. What colours do they feel inside? What styles of shapes do their emotions take? Invite them to explore their inner world by expressing how they feel by painting. Remind them that their artwork will look different from each day as feelings come and go like waves.

To harness mindfulness of all we’ve got to be pleased about, construct a gratitude jar with the group you’re teaching. Have each child write down one or a couple of things that they’re grateful for. Invite them to position their small pieces of paper in a jar, shake it up, and skim the statements aloud.

Relating to mindfulness of respiration, a fun approach to help children notice the way in which their breath moves through them is to have them place a teddy bear on their belly. That is to be practiced lying down. As they breathe, have them notice if the teddy bear moves. Does their belly rise and fall with each cycle? Alternatively, they may simply rest a hand on their belly.

For those who are in search of additional resources to aid you share mindfulness with children, consider the next practices, scripts, and courses. These might be used directly or they could spark recent ideas for tips on how to share mindfulness with the kid or group of youngsters that you just are teaching.

Mindfulness Meditations for Kids Course

This free mindfulness for teenagers course features a series of guided meditations and visualizations. It explores respiration practices, loving-kindness exercises, and other techniques and might function a place to begin for understanding what the youngsters you’re working with is drawn to.

What’s Your Weather Like Today? (Mindfulness Worksheet for Kids)

One other great mindfulness exercise for teenagers is that this weather worksheet, which helps kids to explore their feelings in a recent way. It invites children to take a private weather report – and to appreciate that feelings are just like the weather. They arrive and go; nothing stays the identical perpetually.

Focusing On The Colours You See (Meditation Script for Kids)

To assist children tune into the world around them, invite them to pay closer attention to the colours that they see. What stands out to them today? How does that color make them feel? Invite a bunch of youngsters to share what they notice in regards to the colourful world around them.

Awakening Joy for Kids (Mindfulness Talk by James Baraz)

On this talk, James Baraz explores how we will share the gift of mindfulness with younger generations. This insight may also help us to pass on the seed of consciousness and to awaken the goodness, kindness, and wisdom inside each child.

Gratitude Games and Ideas for Kids (Mindfulness Worksheet for Kids)

As mentioned previously, we will enhance mindfulness of all of the blessings in a toddler’s life by inviting them to practice gratitude. This worksheet offers other ways to encourage gratitude in children, together with specific exercises we will explore with them.

The Butterfly (Meditation for Kids)

This guided meditation for teenagers starts with a respiration exercise before delving into guided visualization. It’s a playful approach to help children change into comfortable with the practice of meditation. This practice is geared towards children between six and nine years of age.

Sounds and Silence (Mindfulness for Kids Worksheet)

One other great approach to share mindfulness with children is to explore sounds – and the silence between sounds. This worksheet offers guidance on tips on how to teach children to pay close attention to easy appears like the sound of a bell. It also invites children to mindfully reflect afterwards with questions equivalent to: “What does the quiet feel like?”

Nature Sounds: Tropical Beach Sunset

Lastly, if you will have your session already planned but need some music to accompany your teachings, nature sounds are an ideal approach to encourage and soothe children. The sound of lapping waves, whistling leaves, or chirping insects can evoke feelings

 of peace and ease in young ones (and in adults alike!). You should use nature sounds as a backdrop on your teachings or as a approach to help them settle in as they enter the room on your session.