Mindfulness for Children
“Breathing in I calm myself, breathing out I am at peace.”
~Thich Nhat Hanh (Vietnamese monk)
Calm yourself!
Are you saying these words to your child several times a day? Is your nighttime routine exhausting? Does your child never take a breath?
Children don’t always come equipped with a stop button. They can have a hard time stopping activities, behaviors or thoughts. BUT they can learn how to stop by practicing mindfulness.
What is mindfulness?
For children, mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to what is happening in their body and mind as events occur around them.
By focusing on their breathing or a specific sound, for example, a child can learn to soothe themselves when they are anxious, slow down when over excited or quieten themselves at bedtime.
Fun activities and games (secretly) teach your child to:
calm themselves
improve their attention span
develop compassion for themselves and others.
I will also partner with you to ensure you can provide support for your child if they ask for help to practice their mindfulness skills. Don’t be surprised if your child suggests you take a breath the next time you get frustrated with traffic!
If you would like to learn more, call me at (310) 487-6061 for a free initial consultation.