Mindfulness is a powerful tool that can help children reduce stress, improve focus, and increase emotional awareness. This post explains how to teach mindfulness to elementary school kids in easy, fun ways that engage their natural curiosity and playfulness.
Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment with openness and curiosity. A growing body of research shows that mindfulness offers many benefits for children, including:
- Lowering stress and anxiety levels
- Improving focus, attention and concentration
- Increasing self-awareness and emotional intelligence
- Enhancing emotion regulation and impulse control skills
- Boosting social skills like empathy, kindness and compassion
Mindfulness gives children valuable inner resources to meet life’s challenges with greater ease and resilience. When kids learn mindfulness at a young age, they develop healthy habits that support well-being throughout their lives.
“If every 8-year-old in the world is taught meditation, we will eliminate violence from the world within one generation.” – Dalai Lama
5 Fun Mindfulness Activities for Elementary School Kids
Try these simple, engaging mindfulness activities to help kids in elementary school learn the basics of mindfulness. The activities are easy to do at home or in the classroom and can be adapted for different ages and attention spans.
- Mindful Breathing – Have children sit comfortably and focus on the natural flow of their breath. Encourage them to notice the sensation of air moving in and out of their nose or the rise and fall of their belly. If their mind wanders, gently guide their attention back to the breath. Start with just 1-2 minutes and gradually increase the time as they build focus.
- Body Scan – Guide children to mentally scan through their body from head to toe, noticing how each body part feels in the moment. Have them pay attention to sensations like their feet on the floor, hands in their lap, or air on their skin. This exercise builds body awareness and helps focus attention on the present.
- Heartfulness – This exercise cultivates kindness and compassion. Tell children to bring to mind someone they care about, like a parent, friend, or beloved pet. Have them imagine sending kind thoughts and wishes to that person and notice how it feels in the area of their heart.
- Mindful Sensing – Take children outside and have them mindfully explore the environment using their senses. Tell them to pay attention to what they see, hear, smell and feel. They might notice the colours of flowers, the sound of birds, the scent of grass, or the feeling of wind on their cheek. This engages children with the present moment and the wonders of the natural world.
- Gratitude Practice – Encourage kids to think of three things they feel thankful for each day. They can say them out loud, write them down, or draw a picture. Gratitude helps children notice the good things in life, however small. It boosts optimism, contentment, and overall positive emotions.
When first introducing these mindfulness activities, keep them short, simple and playful. Use language and metaphors that children can easily grasp. Make it fun by incorporating games, stories, and lots of positive reinforcement. Let kids know that it’s natural if their mind wanders. The key is gently bringing attention back to the present moment.
“Children’s developing brains are more likely to be influenced by mindfulness practice than adult brains. The research is showing that mindfulness is helpful for attention, focus, calming the amygdala, and emotion regulation in kids.” – Dr. Daniel Siegel, clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine
The inner critic or ego may tell the kids that mindfulness is too hard, boring, or weird. Remind them that mindfulness is a skill that takes practice, just like learning to ride a bike or play an instrument. Encourage kids to approach mindfulness with a spirit of curiosity and experimentation. Help them notice how mindfulness makes them feel – calmer, happier, and more focused.
To go deeper with mindfulness, it can help to learn from an experienced teacher. Private online mindfulness sessions allow children to receive personalized instruction and guidance in a safe, supportive space.
The Benefits of Mindfulness for Elementary School Kids
Interested in giving your child lifelong tools for wellbeing, focus and resilience? Enrol now in private online mindfulness sessions customized for elementary school kids!
In these interactive 1:1 sessions, your child will:
- Learn the foundations of mindfulness in fun, engaging ways
- Develop focus skills to support classroom learning
- Cultivate tools to navigate emotions and stress
- Gain practices to foster kindness, empathy and connection
Teaching mindfulness to elementary school children gives them a toolkit of practical skills to meet life’s ups and downs. With regular practice, mindfulness can boost well-being and lay the foundation for healthy development. While the practices are simple, the benefits can be profound and lifelong.
By introducing children to mindfulness, we empower them to live with greater awareness, ease, joy and meaning. We nurture seeds of wisdom and compassion that will blossom within them and flower out into the world.
Give your child the gift of mindfulness. Contact me today to schedule a free 30-minute online session and see if my mindfulness program is right for your elementary school child
