Sunday, June 11, 2017

Mindfulness and Yoga for Young Children: Tips, Books, Apps, and Activities




by Catharine Hannay



Are you interested in teaching mindfulness and/or yoga to younger kids but not sure where to start?  Or perhaps you've been teaching for a while and are looking for some new resources?  The following books, apps, training programs and activities are recommended by experienced teachers.  



 Expert Advice at MindfulTeachers.org

 I've had the privilege of interviewing a couple of educators with extensive experience teaching young children.
Kelli Love is a full-time yoga instructor at Girls Prep Bronx Elementary, a charter school in New York City where mindfulness is embraced as a school-wide content area.  In an interview on  "Best Practices in Teaching Yoga and Mindfulness to Young Children," she shares tips on:
  • how to structure a yoga class for young children;
  • how to meet the needs of different students; 
  • how parents and classroom teachers can integrate mindfulness into the daily routine; and
  • how  a personal yoga and mindfulness practice creates a solid foundation for teaching kids.
Renee Metty is the founder of The Cove School, a preschool specializing in mindfulness and social and emotional learning.  In an interview on "Breathing Buddies and Vibratones: Mindfulness for Young Children," she discusses:
  • how social-emotional learning is a foundation for academic learning; 
  • how principals and other administrators can promote mindfulness in their schools; and
  • specific techniques and activities parents and teachers can use when introducing mindfulness to young children.

 image source: phanlop88 for FreeDigitalPhotos.net


 Teacher-Recommended Activities and Resources

I had an amazing response to a Facebook request for books and activities you've used successfully with children under ten.    Thanks so much to everyone who shared your suggestions! 

 (FYI, I had a question about why some of the links are in blue and some are in green. That doesn't mean certain resources are recommended more than others; it happened because of a coding glitch that I haven't been able to fix.)


Teacher-Recommended Props and Activities
  • Kids love comfy cushions and snuggly blankets for meditation/relaxation time;
  • The Mind Jar activity is very popular;
  • Another popular activity is mindfully eating chocolate.
    • (Obviously check your school’s policy on snacks and make sure no one in your group has an allergy.)

Teacher-Recommended Apps and Websites


Teacher-Recommended Books (and yoga cards and CDs) for Young Children:
For your convenience, titles in this section link to Amazon or another website where you can order the book.  I don't have an affiliate account, so there's no financial benefit to me or MindfulTeachers.org if you order through links from this site.


Teacher-Recommended Mindfulness Training
  • Calm Classroom Professional Development 
  • British Mindfulness Institute Professional Training in the Applied use of Mindfulness for 7 – 11 year olds
  • Mindful Schools Mindful Educator Essentials training (K-12 curriculum)
  • Paws B training to teach mindfulness to 7-11 year olds, from the Mindfulness in Schools Project
  • Relax Kids coach training to help children with concentration, self-esteem and anger management.



Any favorite books, apps, courses or activities that aren't included here?  Please post a comment letting us know about them.  MindfulTeachers.org has an international readership, and it's likely your colleagues in other countries won't be familiar with all the same resources.  

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 related posts: 

 Go Go Yoga for Kids: Yoga Lessons for Children (recommended book)

Great Children's Songs about Mindfulness, Self-Acceptance, and Gratitude

 Jungle Yoga Adventure for Kids

Mindfulness Activities and Teaching Resources

Teacher-Recommended Mindfulness Books


Interviews with Children's Authors:
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5 comments:

  1. UnknownJuly 9, 2017 at 1:10 AM

    These are some excellent resources for teaching mindfulness! I've used Smiling Mind for 6th graders and was pleased with the results. I can't wait to try the MindJar activity. Do you know a way to find mindfulness training for teachers PD in Washington state?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catharine HannayJuly 9, 2017 at 10:27 AM

      Thanks for your comment. I hope your students like the MindJar activity. Here are a few suggestions for mindfulness trainers in Washington State--not sure if they offer the type of PD you're looking for, but they'll likely be able to point you in the right direction:

      Renee Metty (mentioned above as principal of The Cove School) is actually based in the Seattle area and does training in schools: http://www.withpause.com/work-with-renee/for-schools/

      You might also want to check with the other Mindful Schools' certified teachers in Washington State:
      http://www.mindfulschools.org/resources/directory/region/WA/

      or with Mindfulness Northwest:
      https://www.mindfulnessnorthwest.com/

      or the Center for Child and Family Wellbeing:
      https://depts.washington.edu/ccfwb/events?tid=3
      https://depts.washington.edu/ccfwb/events?tid=1

      Best of luck with this!

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJuly 9, 2017 at 4:36 PM

      Again, thank you! These are wonderful resources! I truly appreciate your time and help!

      Delete
  2. AnonymousOctober 30, 2017 at 1:36 PM

    I love the book Fly Like a Butterfly, by Shakta Kaur Khalsa.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Catharine HannayOctober 30, 2017 at 4:35 PM

      Thanks for that suggestion. It's always great to know about teacher-recommended books.

      Here's the Amazon link for anyone who's interested:
      https://www.amazon.com/Fly-Like-Butterfly-Yoga-Children/dp/0915801841

      Delete

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