Mindfulness or Calming exercises don’t have to be complicated – particularly for younger children. Try one of these next time you need to help your little one out.
- Blowing bubbles not only distracts kids but blowing out slowly calms down the nervous system. A drop of washing up liquid in a glass of water or on a saucer and get them to blow through a straw.
- Listening to calming or classical music helps slow down the heartbeat and focus the mind. Pop some on in the car or kitchen and see what happens.
- Asking kids to hide their eyes and listen to certain sounds or to take 3 deep breaths can help reset their focus.
- Take 5 – everyone traces their 5 fingers with the index finger from the other hand. Everytime you move up a finger you breathe in and every time you go down a finger you breathe out. By the time you have finished all 5 fingers everyone should feel a lot calmer.
- Ask the children to put their hand near their heart and count how many beats they can feel. Shifting their focus to this activity just for a minute can help distract and calm them down. If you need more ask them to run on the spot for one minute and now feel how their heart is beating faster. How long does it take to slow back to normal?
