Three Things to Teach Your Kids About Being Mindful

Three things to teach your kids about being mindful

“Mindfulness” is about being in touch with the present moment — paying attention to what is happening now – your thoughts, your feelings and your way of being.

Practicing mindfulness is a powerful tool for creating a sense of well-being, for managing stress, and for creating overall good health. Therefore, it is an important skill to teach our kids.

There are three things to teach your kids about being mindful:

First teach them to look for the “grungies”. Grungies are “negative feelings” such as fear, anxiety, frustration, and worry which often come from thoughts about the past or concerns about the future. These thoughts steal the present moment. Teach your kids that whenever they feel the grungies, they can regain focus on the present moment by taking three slow deep breaths. This “time out” enables them to become mindful of their current thoughts and to gently change their thoughts to something that support them.

Second teach them to be mindful of their self-talk. What they say to themselves is more important than what anyone else says to them. Supportive self-talk is the foundation for creating a peaceful state of mind, building positive self-esteem, and developing powerful self-confidence.

Third, teach them to be mindful when they are with others. Every time they are with someone they leave a “mark” — either a “gold heart” or a “black mark” depending on how they treat them. Show your kids that when they choose kindness and use manners they leave “gold hearts” everywhere.

Practicing mindfulness by focusing on current feelings and thoughts, choosing supportive self-talk, and being respectful towards others will enable our kids to create more peaceful and “connected” lives.

About the Author:

Renaye Thornborrow is a personal development expert, mother of 11 year old twins, and author of the Adventures in Wisdom Life Coaching Program for Kids™. This unique program uses fun stories and activities to help parents raise kids who are confident and prepared to handle the ups and downs of growing up; to think for themselves and make good decisions; and to go for their dreams and make them happen. Visit https://AdventuresInWisdom.com and get a free story for your kids.

Photo courtesy of Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/25186262@N04/4510853713/sizes/z/in/photostream/