Mindfulness for Kids

Mindfulness Activities for Kids
Print and Cut a set of 4 activity cards.

mindfulness_for_kids_activity_cards.pdf
File Size:	1322 kb
File Type:	pdf

Materials: None
Directions:

Invite your child to play the “Noticing Game.”
Ask your child to cover his eyes with his hands. Pause for a moment, then say, “Now, uncover your eyes and notice what you can see.” Ask your child to cover his ears. Pause for a moment, then say, “Now, uncover your ears and notice what you can hear.” Ask your child to give himself a hug. Pause for a moment, then say, “Now let your arms hang and notice what you can feel.”

Note: If your child has his own idea for a "Noticing Game." go with it! Children can teach adults a lot about being present.

Materials: None
Directions:

Invite your child to play the “Belly Breathing Game.”
Lay down on your back in a comfortable, quiet setting (on the grass, in bed, on your living room floor). Ask your child to lay on her back and to rest her head on your abdomen.
Breathe deeply and ask your child to notice her head rising and falling with your breath.
Then, ask your child to rest her hands on her belly and say, "Now, breathe into your belly and notice your hands rising and falling with each breath."

Note: You can make a belly breathing chain. Each person rests her head on the next available belly and breathes deeply.

Materials: plastic headband, paper, scissors, tape, markers or crayons
Directions:

Ask your child to make a pair of “Superhero Ears” by drawing and coloring the ears of his favorite superhero. Cut out the ears and tape them to the plastic headband.
Say, “whoever wears these ears will have super hearing. You can try them out first.” Place ears on child’s head and say, “Now, close your eyes and think about a super silly moment. This is a moment where you were full of silliness and maybe you couldn’t stop giggling.” Pause while your child is remembering.
Then, say to your child, “Okay, now you put the Superhero Ears on my head and tell me all about your silly moment. I’m wearing the superhero ears so I’ll listen so carefully, I’ll be transported right into your silly moment.”

Note: Try making a stack of "moments" to choose from on blank index cards (silly, sweet, sad, etc.)

Materials: toothbrush, toothpaste
Directions:

Invite your child to play the “Teeth Explorers Game.”
Say to your child, “You are an explorer with a serious mission. Your mouth is a mysterious cave that has never been explored.” Hand your child her toothbrush and toothpaste and say, “Here is the equipment you’ll need for your mission.”

Then say, “Okay, begin ‘Operation Teeth Explorers’ now.” As your child is brushing, ask her to notice what she can hear, feel, taste, smell, and see (in the mirror) while exploring the mysterious cave. Pause between each, then ask your child to describe the mysterious cave.

Note: Try this game with any common, everyday activity (putting on seatbelts, getting dressed, etc.)