Exploring Mindfulness with Your Child

Mindfulness is a popular meditation technique that encourages a person to focus on the present moment and really tune into what’s going on around them, rather than worrying about things from the past or things that may or may not happen in the future. This is great for children, especially if they struggle with anxiety or nerves, but it doesn’t always come naturally to everyone. Exploring mindfulness with your child might help them to enjoy themselves and take their focus away from things like friendship troubles or exam stress. Here are some tips from a private school in Hampshire that will help you find a way to start practising mindfulness with your child.

It’s not as complex as it sounds; you can practise mindfulness with your child when you’re doing the most mundane of activities, like eating your dinner. Encourage them to recognise what’s going on in that present moment, like what they can smell, hear, taste, touch or see, and how those sensations make them feel. This will help them to enjoy experiences as and when they happen, rather than letting moments pass by unrecognised. It’s so easy to let our minds wander to things that concern us in a way that prevents us from truly enjoying what we’re doing in that moment, which mindfulness seeks to prevent. 

However, when practising mindfulness, you and your child don’t have to focus on just the positives. You can also use it as an activity to help them understand their thoughts and feelings on a deeper level, even if they’re negative, so that they can handle the situation better. For instance, if they have an exam coming up, ask them to share with you how they feel in both a physical and mental sense. Have they noticed increased heart rate or sweaty palms? If they know what’s happening to their body and why in a particular moment, they will be better able to cope. Understanding their responses to things will help them learn what experiences they should repeat or avoid in the future, or even how to alleviate their heightened emotions and sensations. 

Be sure to encourage your child to get plenty of outdoor exercise. When you’re out walking or playing in the garden, encourage them to truly consider their surroundings. Can they hear the leaves rustling in the wind? Can the feel the fresh air on their skin? Do they feel out of breath after running around? Talk to them about what their body is capable of in terms of physical strain and remind them to be thankful of their ability to run, jump and climb.