Learn 5 powerful mindfulness techniques from the Holistic Life Foundation founders to help children build resilience, emotional regulation, and inner calm.
Discover proven strategies from the Holistic Life Foundation founders—Ali Smith, Atman Smith, and Andres Gonzales—for teaching mindfulness to kids. These techniques help children develop emotional regulation, self-awareness, and coping skills.
Mindfulness practices help children:
- Develop emotional resilience
- Improve focus and self-regulation
- Build healthy coping mechanisms
- Enhance social-emotional learning
Children thrive when they feel genuinely loved and supported. This foundation:
- Creates emotional safety for learning
- Increases engagement in mindfulness practices
- Builds trust in the caregiver-child relationship
The breath is a powerful mindfulness tool for kids because it:
- Provides immediate physical relaxation
- Helps calm racing thoughts
- Develops emotional awareness
- Creates space between stimulus and response
Practical application: When conflicts arise, children learn to pause and choose their response rather than react impulsively.
Effective mindfulness teaching requires:
- Observing the child's current state (physical/emotional)
- Adjusting techniques accordingly
- Using age-appropriate methods
Pro tip: For younger children, incorporate movement before seated practices. With teens, explore deeper questions about identity and interconnectedness.
Key principles for mindfulness teachers:
- Focus on the process, not predetermined results
- Remain present and flexible
- Model resilience when plans change
Increase child participation by:
- Incorporating pop culture references
- Using superhero examples (like Hulk's breathing)
- Telling jokes and playing games
- Watching educational cartoons together
These techniques work best when practiced consistently. Start with short, enjoyable sessions and gradually build duration as attention spans improve.
Originally published in Mindful magazine, April 2013
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