Kids have a lot to worry about these days. From COVID-19 to everyday school drama, the amount of stress and anxiety in their lives can feel overwhelming. While we can’t get rid of their problems completely, we can help our kids better manage those problems by teaching them mindfulness.
What is mindfulness?
When people hear “mindfulness” they often think of meditation practices. While meditation is one of the best ways to practice mindfulness, it’s not the only way. Mindfulness is essentially the practice of staying in the present moment. It means focusing on what you’re doing and what’s happening around you instead of letting your thoughts drift to your worries and stresses.
What are the benefits for kids?
Staying in the present almost seems too simple for it to work, but it does. By focusing on our breath or on our surroundings, we’re teaching our brains to pay attention, remember information, and how to manage tough situations by not letting our thoughts and emotions get ahead of us.
Many studies have shown that regular mindfulness practice can bring a variety of benefits for kids, including:
- Increased focus
- Improved memory
- Lower levels of anxiety, stress, and depression
- Higher self-esteem
- A better social life
- Improved academic performance
How to practice mindfulness
There are many ways to practice mindfulness with our kids. Breathing exercises, body scans, and awareness practices are just a few that come to mind. Finding the right one will require a bit of experimentation, but at the very least you should start with guided meditations. Mindful.org provides a few guided meditations for kids, and there are also many apps you can download that have special guided programs for kids.
At Steadfast Academy, we believe all kids could benefit from a little mindfulness each day. To learn more about our services, contact us today!