Date : June 18, 2021
Mindfulness For Kids – How To Find A Little Inner Peace
Is mindfulness for kids really necessary? Well, let’s think about it for a moment. Being a kid is hectic. There are games to be played, learning right from wrong, sports and extracurricular activities, and academic stress as they get older. And let’s not forget the big bad world around them.
It’s no wonder kids are feeling stressed! In fact, one in 14 kids in Australia, aged between 4 years old and 11 years old, are living with an anxiety disorder that interrupts their everyday lives. One in 14! The biggest problem with this is that anxiety can stick around into adulthood, impacting quality of life in general.
One way you can combat stress in children at a young age is by providing them with outlets so they can learn to combat, and perhaps even remove, those worries. That’s where mindfulness for kids comes in.
Mindfulness helps children stay focused on the present – what’s happening right now, rather than worrying about the world around them. Sounds like a challenge, right? Well, it is. But it will provide you and your child with so many benefits that it’s worth the energy.
The Benefits of Mindfulness
Mindfulness can enhance the ability to control emotions, experience compassion and empathy, improve concentration and alleviate stress. It’s a successful treatment for children (and adults) with aggression, ADHD, or mental health issues. It also helps to strengthen a child’s self-control so that when they find their mind wandering, they can bring it back into focus. Additionally, it enhances their mood and increases their self-esteem.
There are many methods of mindfulness for kids, like yoga and meditation, but let’s face it – the activity should also be stimulating, and if you have a product at the end of it, you’re more likely to have a win.
So, one of the best ways to embrace mindfulness is to blend it with one of the most popular pastimes for children of all ages – colouring in.
Mindful Colouring
Mindful colouring allows children to concentrate on one thing – they’re aware of the pencil in their hand, the shades of colour, and if there are any, the words on the page. Bringing these together lets children concentrate better for longer. It gives children the chance to choose new colours and to try to stay in the lines – and it helps them to let go of their worries. It’s actually very similar to meditation, which is why it’s so effective.
With mindful colouring, children can let go of their judgement. It doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad, or whether they are good at it. It’s a form of self-expression and there’s no right or wrong way. And of course, it’s a great way for children to relax and unwind; plus, they get to show off their masterpiece at the end of it.
How to Introduce Mindfulness for Kids
Mindful colouring should never be a chore. Allow your child to do it when they feel like it, or if they’re particularly stressed, encourage them to sit down with a colouring book. Sitting with them, doing your own colouring, can also inspire them.
The key to mindfulness for kids is that you don’t force it. You’re trying to alleviate stress, not create more. Have plenty of bright colouring pencils or textas, and buy them books that will keep them engaged. The new May Gibbs themed mindfulness colouring book is a perfect example – and it’s suitable for all ages! Or try these free May Gibbs printable colouring in sheets. Most of all, have fun. Because that’s what being a kid should be all about.
Aunty Tara
Tara Tyrrell is a writer and mother of two young children who are always on the go and looking for adventure. She understands the challenges, the exhaustion, the fun– and the need for recharging for the kids and mum.
