Encourage children to turn off tablets, TVs & video games a few times a day to create a space for mindfulness-based practices —powerful tools that increase self-awareness, reduce stress, & support social/emotional development.
Being mindful means taking time to purposely focus your attention to the present in a gentle & accepting way. Mindful practices teach children how to recognize & reflect upon their emotions, thoughts & actions. The benefits include managing stress, learning self-regulation & building a spirit of connection. The best way to show children how to be mindful is to practice it at home & in the classroom.
Breath Awareness
Ask students to put their hands on their bellies & notice what happens when they take deep breaths. Count to 3 for each breath in & for each breath out.
Use a pinwheel to focus children's attention on deep breathing. See how long the pinwheel can spin each time they exhale.
Blowing bubbles. Have children focus on slowing their breath. Ask them to inhale deeply & then exhale to fill the bubble slowly. Have them watch what happens to the bubble as it floats, lands & pops.
Honing Senses
Fill a bag with objects of various shapes, sizes & textures. Ask the children to reach in, one at a time, find an object & describe what it feels like. No peeking!
Walk to an outdoor area & have the children sit quietly in a circle. Have them take turns describing some things they can hear, see, feel & smell.
Body Awareness
Practice animal stretches. Three to try: (1) Stand with one knee bent like a flamingo. (2) Stretch tall & reach as high as you can like a giraffe. (3) Bend at the waist and touch the ground. Walk hands forward & inch along like a caterpillar.
Have children tighten different muscles for 5 seconds & then slowly release.
RELATED:
Comments