Mindfulness is growing in popularity just about everywhere. Parenting and early childhood settings are no exception. There is good reason for this enthusiasm. Mindfulness has been used with adults to reduce stress, bolster overall health and psychological functioning, and assist a return to wellness following adversity. We are learning that mindfulness may also support healthy adult-child relationships.
A Mindfulness Exercise to Try!
Shake the Sillies Out
- Stand still like a statue. Breathe in and hold your breath.
- Breath out and shake out your arms. Shake them high. Shake them low.
- Shake out your legs. Shake them this way. Shake them that way.
- Shake your body until it’s loose. Shake. Shake. Shake your sillies out. See them fly off you like water droplets.
- Flop down gently into a chair or onto a mat. Now let that last silly out: “Ahhh!”
- Take three soft, slow mindful breaths. Fill your nose, your lungs and your tummy. Then return to your day.
For more information about Mindfulness in Early Childhood, check out the Zero To Three website or search for the book by W. Stewart & M. Braun (2017). Mindful Kids. 50 Mindfulness Activities for kindness, focus and calm. Barefoot Books.