How Can Mindfulness Help the Lives Of Children?

Currently, there are many digital books about boosting the ability to concentrate in infants. Among them is "Mindfulness Games" written by Susan Kaiser Greenland. It teaches them the ability to calm down, maintain control over their feelings, resort to concentration, attention, and emotional balance. But how can my child play quietly?

Indeed, there are activities in the field of meditation, tested by experts, that can be attractive to children. They are techniques that are based on thought and reflection, to reduce the stress or anxiety that COVID-19 has produced in them. These can help them relax, control their fears and emotions, and even overcome daily stress.

Also read: How to Handle the Return to Face-to-Face Classes with the Children?

A study carried out by the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, in its Specialized Unit, revealed that the practice of mindfulness reduces attention difficulties and improves children's behavior. Furthermore, the data collected shows that the strategy can become an effective intervention for boys. 

The mindfulness initiative that the children received drastically decreased the symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, as well as their levels of anxiety, irritability and episodes of anger.

Mindfulness activities for the well-being of children

There are several mindfulness exercises that you can do with the little ones at home, in a park or in the backyard of your house.

1. Conscious heart; in this exercise, you pay attention to a vibrating instrument. The results can be calming and an entertaining way to develop not only the auditory sense, but also the intuitive one. In addition, if the activity is carried out with the eyes closed, it tends to better favor the other senses and sensations.
2. Eat mindfully; this activity contributes to being attentive to sensory stimuli. The implementation of various fruits is suggested in the exercise. The sense of taste, touch, smell and sight are fully used to connect colors, textures, flavors and smells.
3. Conscious breathing; this exercise starts from the total control of the breath. In addition, with the eyes closed, it stimulates the internalization of thoughts and reflections.
4. Mindful walk; this activity helps them pay attention to all the sounds that nature can provide, such as animals, water, wind, among others. Likewise, the silence of solitude makes them reflect on their thoughts.
5. Conscious relaxation; this exercise can be good at any moment. It helps them relax in bed before sleeping or at naps. You can create an exercise routine before sleeping.

Benefits of mindfulness in children

Introducing mindfulness into the routines of children has a series of benefits.

• Their attention span changes; they are much more efficient and effective in their daily activities and in school assignments.
• They make better decisions; they learn their strengths and weaknesses consciously, with discernment and reflection.
• Mindfulness increases their resilience by making them able to better cope with the uncertainties that arise in life.
• Mindfulness helps children to better regulate their emotions. 
• Mindfulness makes children more reflective and less hyperactive and impulsive. It helps them express their emotions and feelings frankly and objectively.