“Stress” and “anxiety” are common words used as adults, but worries, fears, and distractions occur in everyone’s life, regardless of age. In fact, children may be experiencing the same kind of “psychological noise” without being able to label it. The “noise” in a child’s mind can be psychologically dense, and if that noise dominates a child’s behavior, it can lead to undesirable outcomes that last long into adulthood.
In addition to the psychological noise, it is not uncommon for children to experience a feeling of being on autopilot. Many kids today can admit that they’ve gotten so caught up in texting, scrolling, and playing video games that they’ve completely forgotten about conversations with their parents. Furthermore, if the current moment is not ideal for the child, it is expected that the child will want to take his or her mind elsewhere.
Mindfulness counters these typical experiences of the mind by increasing the individual’s awareness of what is happening in the here and now, in the environment, rather than getting caught up in the “world” of the mind. This is a skill to try. The good news is that children can learn to pay attention, perhaps even more so than adults. research proves Children who practiced mindfulness had better concentration and awareness, improved performance in school, improved problem-solving skills, increased inner happiness and satisfaction, and lower stress levels. is reported.
So how do you start working on mindfulness with your kids? Here are some simple tips to get started.
Please keep it short and sweet
An important question to ask when starting to teach mindfulness to children is: “How are children different from adults, and how should I adjust my practice to meet children’s needs?” is. First, children’s attention spans are short, and many children, especially those who would benefit most from mindfulness training, cannot sit in one place and be intentionally aware of the moment. I know that.
Therefore, we short and sweet practice. Keeping the practice short makes it feel more like a lesson than a game, which helps get kids’ buy-in. Here is a short mindfulness practice example: i spy or mindful seeing.
Let’s make it fun and interesting
Another difference between children and adults is that children tend to prefer more vivid and exciting stimuli. think about the environmentItems designed for children. They are often very bright and stimulating to the senses. Try to make mindfulness an interesting and sensory experience. mindful eating This is a great exercise that the whole family can participate in.
stay consistent
As you can see with any skill we’re trying to develop, and perhaps even our own mindfulness practice, consistency is essential. Focus less on practice time with your kids and more on consistency. If you can try to practice mindfulness for at least one minute each day with your child, you can build a foundation for consistent practice and increase the length and complexity of your practice from there.
become role model
The last thing to remember is that our Our actions and emotions as adults have a huge impact on our children (whether they are children or students). When we, as adults, are with a child who is in a bad mood and get angry that the child is upset, things tend to get worse. But if we are with a child who is upset and we can maintain cooperation;secureIf you don’t react and just stay present, your child will usually calm down. If we can accept suffering, the children we share with us can also accept suffering. So, the next time my child experiences a “frustrating moment,” ask yourself, can I emotionally “step back” from this moment and press my own pause button?
Mindfulness is beneficial for everyone. It will help you develop resilience and many skills that will last a lifetime, no matter what challenges come your way. Together, let’s ask ourselves what we want to prioritize teaching our youngest and most vulnerable populations. If emotional dysregulation is so prevalent these days, why not start building a foundation of emotional regulation skills from a young age?
