Most of us have heard “be mindful” at some point in our lives, especially when it comes to talking about other people. But what does this actually mean, especially when it comes to mindfulness for kids? Being mindful is a skill that we can all learn, and also one that we can teach our kids to help them through all their feelings and experiences. If you want some tips on how to be more mindful and teaching your kids mindfulness, keep reading!
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Daily Affirmations
Daily affirmations are another thing we often hear about or are maybe familiar with – this is a HUGE thing when it comes to body positivity. But did you know daily affirmations can help to reduce anxiety in kids and help them to stay mindful?
Start with things that our kids can understand really well – certified Mindfulness & Meditation Teacher Cynthia Arscott taught us all about using our fingers as grounding points in our exclusive UM Club Episode on Teaching Kids Mindfulness. On one hand, count five affirmations, starting from thumb to pinky. These are things like “I am strong, I am brave-” really you can make it whatever feels right!
Guided Meditations at Bedtime
Bedtime can be really stressful for kids and parents alike, so having something that can bring down anxiety before bed can be so helpful in our busy days. Using guided meditations (like these ones we love from GoldMinds) is just like listening to a really slowed down bedtime story. There’s a lot of focus on breathing and letting our minds rest – and we bet that these will help your own mind calm anxiety before bed too! Teaching kids meditation is so helpful in getting that good night’s sleep.
Mindful Eating
Now you’re probably asking yourself “what could mindful eating possibly mean?” Well, it’s almost exactly what you’re thinking – we’re going in-depth with what we’re eating! Being mindful can start anywhere, and thinking about what we’re eating can be so helpful in bringing our brain back to the present moment.
Let’s use an example for this one – how about potato chips? What does it taste like? What does it feel like in your mouth? If you had never seen a potato chip before, how would you describe it? Not only can this be a really fun game for you and your kids, it really brings them into the present and helps them to enjoy what they’re doing, without being distracted by all the worries of tomorrow!
Breath Work – but make it kid-friendly!
Breathing is SO important when it comes to managing anxiety and being mindful; it’s really the base for so much of what we’ve talked about. Learning how to do proper breath work will help so much in being mindful and reducing anxiety.
When it comes to our kids, making anything fun is going to make it so much easier to accomplish. Instead of saying “let’s do some deep breathing,” try saying “let’s do superhero breaths” or something else that your kid loves. You can really tailor this to your child and whatever they like, so it makes it super doable and easy!
Some of the things that we can do to help mindfulness are so easy that they can just be worked into our day-to-day lives. As busy parents, we can feel like there’s just not enough time in the day as is, let alone when we’re trying to work in new things. The best way to do any of the things we’ve just talked about is to work them into your normal day. Maybe this means doing affirmations while you do skin care or listening to those guided meditations at bedtime. Do whatever works best for you, and know that teaching mindfulness to your kids is going to help so much in the future!
Want to learn more about mindfulness and preventing anxiety? Make sure to check out our UM Club Episode with Cynthia Arscott from GoldMinds! We talked about tons of good information and tips on how to help our kids be mindful, and we’re sure you’re going to love the episode! Not an UM Club member yet? Sign up here and start looking at all our amazing episodes!
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