Wellness and Mindful Living Activitiesfor Preschoolers

By Helen Duane, LCSW, Parrish Medical Group Behavioral Therapist

Wellness and Mindful Living for Preschoolers teaches children how to live well. The program, in its fourth year, takes place at The Children’s Center and brings in community professionals to share their knowledge with children—compassion, deep breathing, relaxation techniques, and the importance of exercise and eating nutritious foods. The overall goal is to help children develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime.

In recent months, the 30-minute, biweekly class has given children the opportunity to learn about yoga, fitness and exercise, and nutrition, including how to garden and harvest. Last year, the program added classes about the arts, where local musicians come in with instruments and other props. These types of activities stimulate both sides of the brain and show children how being active is a way of life and can be fun.

Practice Is Gaining Popularity

The program continues to grow as mindfulness training for children gains more attention. It provides a variety of emotional and psychological benefits ranging from patience and frustration tolerance to the ability to stay calm during challenging situations and intense emotions.

What parent doesn’t want their children to use their words instead of throwing a tantrum, or taking a deep breath instead of smashing a toy? Children will get better at these skills, but it’s a learning process, and starting them young, as with most everything else, often leads to lifelong habits.

Tips to Try with Your Kids

To teach a specific mindfulness skill, choose an activity that will resonate with your child. The idea is to slow down and pay attention in a way that makes sense. For instance, if you have a child who has difficulty staying still, a sitting and breathing exercise may not be the best choice. If that’s the case, some yoga may be better suited for your child.

Younger children might need something concrete to help them focus on their breathing. Have them lie on their backs with a stuffed animal on their tummies and breathe. Have them notice how the toy moves with each inhale and exhale. Or have them hold a pinwheel in front of their mouth and ask them to make it move with their breath. Say, “Notice how you feel when you are breathing hard versus softly to make the pinwheel turn.”

Calm-down glitter jars—any jar filled with a simple mixture of glue, glitter and warm water—allow children to settle and take a break when they’re upset. Often, when our children are angry, it is because they are so upset they are unable to communicate their needs. Watching the glitter float to the bottom gives them time to calm down before explaining their thoughts.Mindfulness for Your Child

The Children’s Center Wellness and Mindful Living for Preschoolers program takes place twice a week for 3-year-olds and 4- and 5-year-olds. For more information, call Helen Duane at 321-268-6808.