I discovered mindfulness over a decade ago when I joined a weekly meditation group. I’d wanted to learn more about meditation for a while, but had no idea how to get started—it felt intimidating. So, when I stumbled across a postcard advertising a meditation class only ten minutes from my home, I thought: this is my sign to finally do it!
Once I began attending the group, it didn’t take long for me to notice the benefits: I was sleeping better and definitely felt less stressed. At the time, I was working with children who were dealing with high levels of anxiety and stress, and I found myself wishing I could share what I was learning with them, that I could teach them similar strategies for regulating their nervous systems. Assuming it was impossible to get a child to sit still long enough to get anything out of it, I googled teaching mindfulness to kids anyway.
Lo and behold, you can teach kids how to be mindful. Fast forward a few months, and I had the certification to prove it. Fast forward to today, and I’ve written a book about it!
Mindful with Me: Connecting with Your Child through Daily Mindfulness is for anyone who is interested in sharing mindfulness with children—no prior experience necessary. Once I learned that anyone (even toddlers!) could practice mindfulness, it became my mission to share it with as many people as possible—kids as well as adults.
The benefits of mindfulness include increased emotional regulation, improved attention and focus, and greater self-compassion and empathy. You may be thinking, Sounds great, I’ll start today! But beginning a new habit is not always easy. Even after I discovered that there was a meditation group waiting for me right down the road, it still took me months to actually go to the first class. Why? Because life gets in the way. We are settled into our daily routines, and it can feel daunting to add in something new—even when we know it’s good for us.
The typical barriers to trying something new are:
If any of these resonate with you, Mindful with Me has got you covered. In the book, you’ll learn the basics of mindfulness: what it is, and its myriad benefits. You’ll explore your own reasons for beginning a mindfulness practice with your child, and how to set up your practice space and get started. The middle chapters consist of over 50 mindfulness activities; take your time looking them over together, and choose the ones you’d like to try. The last chapter helps you put it all together with suggestions on setting up practice plans and maintaining your daily routines.
If you’re short on time, you can keep that day’s routine brief, with one or two activities. On the days with fewer time constraints, you may choose to do some longer activities, like a craft or a guided meditation. Either way, you’re making your mindful routine time a priority.
The key to teaching mindfulness to children is simple—you do it alongside them. Children look to adults to know how to be in the world. When they see that mindfulness is meaningful to you, and that you enjoy spending time practicing it with them, it becomes meaningful to them as well. Bonus: it’s also fun!
Throughout the last eight years, I’ve been lucky enough to teach mindfulness to thousands of children. From private classes to public schools, I’ve witnessed firsthand the positive impact of a mindfulness practice—for them and for myself. Practicing mindfulness with your child just a few minutes a day can help them better self-regulate and work through big feelings. In these intentional moments, you’re also developing your own mindfulness skills and self-awareness—all while building deep connections with your child.
So, if you’ve wanted to learn more about mindfulness, and how to share it with your child, this is your sign to finally do it!
