In a world filled with modern technology, everything is so fast paced. This makes life easier for us in lots of ways, but it can also be harmful. Mindfulness is a concept that can help people feel more at ease in this sort of environment. With that said, mindfulness is something that your child might benefit from.
What is mindfulness?
Simply put, mindfulness is the act of focusing more on the present moment and what’s going on in the world around us as well as inside our heads. By paying attention to what is happening now, we are less likely to dwell on things that have happened before or feel anxious about things that may or may not happen in the future. If you are wondering how to help your children understand this concept, I have teamed up with an independent school in Hitchin to offer you the following advice.
Of course, every child is different but generally speaking, kids are often a little more mindful than grown-ups because they are usually fairly protected from the hardships of life. Regardless, mindfulness is something worth exploring within the home to help children recognise all of the amazing experiences that they are exposed to. This could be anything from eating a tasty treat to going on holiday to Disneyland. Explain to your child that happy moments flash by in the blink of an eye so it’s important to acknowledge them and be grateful.
The trick is to talk to your child about how they feel in certain moments, both physically and mentally. Talk about the senses and how emotional experiences can affect the way the body responds. For instance, if your child has a test at school the following day, they may feel sick or have sweaty palms. If your children learnhow their bodies reacts to certain things, they will know what sort of experiences to avoid a repeat in the future, or how to manage the inevitable responses.
Mindfulness is all about tuning into the senses and considering what’s happening in the present moment. Bedtime is a great opportunity to practice mindfulness, especially if your child struggles to fall asleep. Each night ask your youngster to consider each of their body parts from the top of the head to the tips of the toes. Encourage them to talk to you about how each of these body parts feels against the pillow and the mattress until they feel relaxed enough to doze off.
