How would you like it if your child had the self-esteem of a lioness, self-awareness of Michelle Obama and empathy of the Dalai Lama?
That sounds like a pretty powerful combination.
But I’ll do you one even better. How would you like it if your child was able to develop their own self-esteem, self-awareness and empathy to the point that they, just like Michelle Obama, just like the Dalai Lama, and just like that royal lioness, were living their best life, using their divine gifts and skills, and impacting the world in just the way that they were meant to?
Now, what would you say if I said that studies are showing that children who practice mindfulness are tending to develop the traits that would allow them to do exactly that?
It’s true! Mindfulness interventions in schools have shown practicing mindfulness may improve sleep and self-esteem, self-awareness and empathy, and can even contribute directly to the development of cognitive and performance skills, and executive function.
Summing that all up, that means mindfulness can help your child think more clearly, sleep more deeply, be better organized, believe more in themselves, be more aware of themselves, empathize with their peers, and even their parents. That means you!
Mindfulness can help your child think more clearly, sleep more deeply, be better organized, believe more in themselves, be more aware of themselves, empathize with their peers, and even their parents. That means you!
Okay, sure, the latter is a long shot, I know.
Or is it?
I’m keeping the faith alive for you, but even three out of the above eight can lead to a better life for all involved, and a better world.
Whitney knew it! She told us when she sang: “I believe the children are our future.”
And, with a world full of mindful children, the future’s so bright, we gotta wear shades.
So in preparation for that RayBan reality, one might ask:
What is “mindfulness,” and how can my child practice it?
What is “mindfulness,” and how can my child practice it?
According to the Cambridge Dictionary: [Mindfulness is] the practice of being aware of your body, mind, and feelings in the present moment, thought to create a feeling of calm.
And there are many more benefits of “calm” that I’ll get to in a bit.
There are so many different ways to practice this awareness, including, but not limited to: breathing exercises, meditation, going on nature walks, mindful eating and playing (yes, there is such thing as mindful play), and mindful thought of those you love.
Today, in this mindfulness exercise for kids, I’m practicing mindful awareness through mindful thought, breathing, and meditation, while listening to classical piano music. And the choice of classical music is a researched one.
And this is where we start to tap into the benefits of that “calm.”
The calming effect induced by classical music releases dopamine to spike pleasure and prevent the release of stress hormones. From here, mood is improved, which clarifies thinking. This is what can improve intellectual and cognitive performance.
So I’d like to invite your child to watch this video, and join me in improving our intellectual and cognitive performance, deepening our sleep, believing more in ourselves, increasing our empathy, and strengthening our self-esteem, all while brightening our collective futures.
Together, we’ll practice deep breathing and mindful thought, including visualization practice — all in 6(ish) minutes.
Together, we’ll practice deep breathing and mindful thought, including visualization practice — all in 6(ish) minutes.
It’s going to be so much fun!
I am so excited to share this with you. And hey, if you like this mindfulness activity for kids, be sure to share it with your friends and loved ones. You can even watch the video and practice mindfulness together!
Thank you for watching.
Until next time…
Happy Learning!
P.S. Quick reminder that this is a practice, and the benefits come from repetition! I practice mindfulness daily. Even just 3 minutes a day can add up.
P.P.S If you are interested in more mindfulness videos, be sure to join Effie Playdates https://effiemonroe.com/playdates! There, I share weekly learning activities including vocabulary building, mindfulness and meditation videos, color sheets, and more!