27 Jun BE MINDFUL: KIDS AND TEENS
BE MINDFUL
JUST FOR KIDS AND TEENS
Mindfulness is noticing your thoughts, feelings and physical sensations in the present moment without judgement.
In these sessions, whether individual, group, or during my workshops, I show kids and teens lots of ways to be present in their life as it is actually taking place.
I aim for participants to be in the here and now with less thinking about the past or worrying about the future.
They become daily mindfulness tools for kids and teens, when they are feeling anxious, moody, angry, or just need to relax.
Being mindful is useful in managing everyday stressors such as:
- School pressures
- Worrying about things that need to be done
- Relationship problems
- Difficulties in paying attention and focusing
- Feeling overwhelmed with commitments and time demands.
I ensure the session involves fun and interactive experiences.
Three themes /topics that the activities fall under include:
- PAYING ATTENTION WITH SENSES
The easiest way to be mindful is to pay attention to your senses in anything you do.
For example,
Just Breathe
You are always breathing.
Your breath is always there with you.
…Notice your breath right now
Notice where you breathe in.
Through your mouth or nose?
Notice where you breathe out.
Through your mouth or nose?
- SELF CARE
Part of being mindful is to be aware of your relationship to other people and to yourself.
For example,
Kindness to Another
Do or say something nice to someone else today for no reason.
Notice what it feels like when you are kind to another.
- ALWAYS CONSIDER OTHER RESPONSES NOW
We often get stuck in our minds and our thinking. In these activities, kids and teens are asked to consider different ways of thinking, responding and reacting.
For example,
Past, Now, Future
Write down all of your thoughts for the next 2-3 minutes.
Now label each thought as a past, now or future thought.
Afterwards look at the number of thoughts that are labeled as “now”.
Anything surprise you?
AND OF COURSE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE KIDS TO BE CREATIVE AND MAKE THEIR OWN….
The point of being mindful is to shift from being on autopilot during your day, and instead be awake to your life.