Mindfulness for children by tracy daniel

Thank you for downloading this Simon & Schuster ebook Get a FREE ebook when you join our mailing list Plus, get updates on new releases, deals, recommended reads, and more from Simon & Schuster Click below to sign up and see terms and conditions CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP Already a subscriber? Provide your email again so we can register this ebook and send you more of what you like to read You will continue to receive exclusive offers in your inbox Contents Foreword Introduction Part One Mindfulness Basics Chapter 1: An Introduction to Mindfulness What Is Mindfulness? A Brief History of Mindfulness Why Mindfulness for Kids? The Science of Mindfulness What Are the Benefits of Mindfulness for Children? Mindful Breathing How Do You Teach Mindfulness to Children? How to Use This Book Tips for Success Part Two Mindfulness Activities Chapter 2: Mindful Movement Standing Poses Seated Poses Balancing Poses Backbends Mindful Brain-Building Moves “Hello, Sunshine” Resting Poses Mindful Movement in Nature Chapter 3: Mindful Breathing Energizing Breathing Exercises Calming Breathing Exercises Breathing Props Breathing Games Chapter 4: Mindfulness and the Senses Mindful Hearing: The Auditory Sense Mindful Smelling: The Olfactory Sense Mindful Seeing: The Visual Sense Mindful Tasting: The Gustatory Sense Mindful Feeling: The Tactile Sense Mindful Movement: The Vestibular Sense Mindful Deep Pressure: The Proprioceptive Sense Chapter 5: Eating Mindfully Mindful Eating Mindful Eating Activities and Games Mindful Eating in Literature Chapter 6: Mindful Activities for Focus Mindful Games for Focus Chapter 7: Mudras, Mind-Sets, and Positive Affirmations Mudras Positive Affirmations Mindful Mind-Set Chapter 8: Kindness and Gratitude Gratitude Kindness Activities Chapter 9: Relaxing and Restoring Restoring Poses Relaxation Stories Thought Watching Mindful Meditations Part Three Putting It All Together Chapter 10: Mindfulness Off the Mat Sequencing Mindfulness Activities Sample Sequences Integrating Mindfulness Into Your Everyday Life Acknowledgments About the Author Resources Index Foreword Children play It is their nature to play When mindfulness for children engages them in a fun, playful way, they will be drawn into their own natural focus and calm Mindfulness will always be relevant for their lives because they can use its tools—awareness of breath, movement, and stillness—anywhere along their life path Dr Tracy Daniel knows this She has dedicated her career to creatively adapting meditative experiences into fun activities for children Among her many stellar qualifications is one with which I am particularly familiar, and that I find sprinkled throughout this wonderful book: her work as a certified teacher of Radiant Child Yoga When I began teaching children yoga and mindfulness several decades ago, I noticed something remarkable: children had a much easier time than adults in learning to be present being mindful in the moment I found that I became more present to the “here and now” when I was with children I know that Tracy has experienced this, too It is one of the reasons she has devoted her life to children She wants to help them stay connected, present, and mindful of themselves And just like me, she has noticed that purposeful play is the key method Within these pages you will find one creative activity after another that will allow you and your children to enjoy purposeful play together Prepare to discover a multitude of mindful activities in these pages: meditations, yoga movements, games, art projects, guided relaxations, and much more Tracy’s clear and practical style makes it easy to jump right in with your children in tow, with all of you becoming more mindful, joyful, calm, and connected to yourselves and each other I’m so happy to see a Radiant Child Yoga trainer like Tracy bringing these gifts to families, teachers, and, most of all, to the beautiful souls we call children! Shakta Khalsa Founder of Radiant Child Yoga ERYT-500, Author, Montessori Educator ChildrensYoga.com Introduction We all want our children to be able to focus when necessary, calm themselves down if they’re upset, and bounce back from disappointments But how exactly you teach kids these skills? The answer is mindfulness, the practice of quieting your mind and focusing on the present moment The same practice that is being taught in the adult world is also useful for children Just as adults deal with worries, stress, and challenges, so children Teaching them mindfulness will enable them to deal with these emotions in a balanced, healthy way Science has shown time and again the myriad benefits of methods such as mindfulness and yoga for physical and mental health Providing mindfulness strategies and ways to cope with stress early in life gives children a chance to build resilience so they can meet life’s daily challenges What’s even more amazing is that it is simple, doesn’t take long, and is relatively inexpensive Implementing a few minutes of paying attention in the moment and breathing can really make a difference in your child’s life! This age-old practice for connecting the brain, body, and mind can have a tremendous impact on children’s health and well-being From my perspective as a mental health professional, yoga instructor, and parent, I have seen the effects mindful awareness can have on strengthening kids’ minds This book will show you some of the mindfulness practices that I use in my classes with children The activities are backed by scientific research, and I can personally attest to their effectiveness and, most important, the fun and delight they bring to children In fact, kids love these exercises so much, I can’t get them to leave after our classes end! This guide provides you with these techniques so you can instill in your children the same happiness, resilience, and pure joy that I see in children daily PART ONE Mindfulness Basics Welcome to the beginning of your child’s mindfulness journey! You’ll learn the definition of mindfulness and what a practice of mindfulness for children entails Are you wondering exactly how mindfulness can change your child’s health and well-being? You’ll learn how in this part Finally, we’ll discuss proper breathing techniques and how to teach mindfulness to children, which is very different from teaching adults Get ready to witness the powerful ways that mindfulness provides children with a sense of calm, a focused mind, and a happier outlook on life CHAPTER An Introduction to Mindfulness This chapter introduces the history of mindfulness and what modern science tells us are the benefits of a mindfulness practice Cutting-edge research in the areas of neuroscience, psychology, and mindfulness shows us how a mindfulness practice of just ten minutes a day can change how your child feels! What Is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is an English word that means “focused, sustained attention, in a nonjudgmental manner, to the here and now.” It is the process of using your senses to pay attention to your internal and external experiences in the present moment Mindfulness can take many forms It can be a yoga practice, breath work, walking, coloring, or even martial arts All mindfulness practices share a focus on sharpening attention and building self-regulation skills to handle challenging situations Some practices, like the ones offered in this book, emphasize empathy, kindness, gratitude, and compassion Mindfulness principles can also be applied to everyday life and incorporated into daily activities, such as eating, brushing your teeth, and simply breathing A Brief History of Mindfulness Mindfulness has been practiced for thousands of years and different practitioners have referred to it by different names Mindfulness is closely related to yoga and meditation Its recent rise in popularity in the United States is the result of an intersection of science and anectodal evidence As yoga, meditation, and mindfulness gained attention in our society, psychologists, physicians, and other professionals began practicing Many immediately recognized the benefits of stress reduction and health promotion They began collecting data on their experiences, which provided evidence of the positive effects of mindfulness Jon Kabat-Zinn, professor of medicine emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, is widely credited as being a pioneer in making mindfulness accessible to a wide audience Kabat-Zinn studied meditation under influential Buddhist teachers He combined what he learned from Buddhism with Western science to develop his Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program (which is secular, meaning free from Dweck, C.S., & Leggett, E.L (1988) “A Social-Cognitive Approach to Motivation and Personality.” Psychological Review, 95(2), 256–273 Dweck, C.S., & Mueller, C.M (1998) “Praise for Intelligence Can Undermine Children’s Motivation and Performance.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (75), 33–52 Flynn, L (2013) Yoga for Children Avon, MA: Adams Media Gard, T., Taquet, M., Dixit, R., Hoelzel, B.K., Demontjoye, Y., Brach, N., & Lazar, S.W (2014) “Fluid Intelligence and Brain Functional Organization in Aging Yoga and Meditation Practitioners.” Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 6(76) Goldberg, L (2013) Yoga Therapy for Children with Autism and Special Needs New York, NY: Norton & Company Gothe, N., Pontifex, M., Hillman, C., & McAuley, E (2013) “Acute Effects of Yoga on Executive Function.” Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 10, 488–495 Hagen, I., & Nayar, U.S (2014) “Yoga for Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Well-Being: Research Review and Reflections on the Mental Health Potentials of Yoga.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, 5(35) Hannaford, C (2013) Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head Salt Lake City, UT: Great River Books Hawn, G., Holden, W., & Bean, J (2014) 10 Mindful Minutes Grand Haven, MI: Brilliance Audio Hirschi, G (2016) Mudras: Yoga in Your Hands Newburyport, MA: Weiser Books Innes, K.E., Selfe, T.K., Brown, C.J., Rose, K.M., & Thompson-Heisterman, A (2012) “The Effects of Meditation on Perceived Stress and Related Indices of Psychological Status and Sympathetic Activation in Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and Their Caregivers: A Pilot Study.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: eCAM, 927509 http://doi.org/10.1155/2012/927509 Jacobson, E (1932) “Electrophysiology of Mental Activities.” American Journal of Psychology, 44, 667–694 Johnston, C.A., Tyler, C., Stansberry, S.A., Palcic, J.L., & Foreyt, J.P (2009) “Gum Chewing Affects Academic Performance in Adolescents.” ASN Scientific Sessions and Annual Meeting at Experimental Biology, New Orleans, LA, April 2009 Kabat-Zinn, J (1990) Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness New York, NY: Delacourt Khalsa, S (1999) Fly Like a Butterfly: Yoga for Children Herndon, VA: Shining Circle Kranowitz, C S (2006) The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun: Activities for Kids with Sensory Integration Dysfunction New York, NY: Penguin Group Lavretsky, H., Siddarth, P., Nazarian, N., St Cyr, N., Khalsa, D.S., Lin, J., & Irwin, M.R (2013) “A Pilot Study of Yogic Meditation for Family Dementia Caregivers with Depressive Symptoms: Effects on Mental Health, Cognition, and Telomerase Activity.” International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28(1), 57–65 http://doi.org/10.1002/gps.3790 Mahar, M., Murphy S., Rowe D., et al (2006) “Effects of a Classroom-Based Program on Physical Activity and On-Task Behavior.” Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 38(12), 2,086–2,094 McCloud, C., & Messing, D (2016) Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids Brighton, MI: Bucket Fillosophy Mendelson, T., Greenberg, M.T., Dariotis, J.K., Feagans Gould, L., Rhoades, B.L., & Leaf, P.J (2010) “Feasibility and Preliminary Outcomes of a School-Based Mindfulness Intervention for Urban Youth.” Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 38, 985–994 Napoli, M., Krech, P.R., & Holley, L.C (2005) “Mindfulness Training for Elementary School Students.” Journal of Applied School Psychology, 21(1) Newberg, A., Wintering, N., Khalsa, D.S., Roggenkamp, H., & Waldman, M (2010) “Meditation Effects on Cognitive Function and Cerebral Blood Flow in Subjects with Memory Loss: A Preliminary Study.” Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 20, 517–526 Rey, H.A., & Krasinski, J (2016) Curious George Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Rosenblatt, L.E., Gorantla, S., Torres, J.A., Yarmush, R.S., Rao, S., Park, E.R., & Levine, J.B (2011) “Relaxation Response–Based Yoga Improves Functioning in Young Children with Autism: A Pilot Study.” The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 17(11), 1,029–1,035 Saltzman, A (2014) A Still Quiet Place: A Mindfulness Program for Teaching Children and Adolescents to Ease Stress and Difficult Emotions Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Sarris, J., Kean, J., Schweitzer, I., & Lake, J (2011) “Complementary Medicines (Herbal and Nutritional Products) in the Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Systematic Review of the Evidence.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 19(4), 216–227 Sears, W (2009) The NDD Book: How Nutrition Deficit Disorder Affects Your Child’s Learning, Behavior, and Health, and What You Can Do about It—Without Drugs New York, NY: Little, Brown Singleton, O., Hölzel, B.K., Vangel, M., Brach, N., Carmody, J., & Lazar, S.W (2014) “Change in Brainstem Gray Matter Concentration Following a Mindfulness-Based Intervention Is Correlated with Improvement in Psychological Well-Being.” Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00033/full The Hawn Foundation (2011) The MindUP Curriculum: Brain-Focused Strategies for Learning—and Living Grades Pre-K–2 New York, NY: Scholastic Teaching Resources Yolen, J., & Teague, M (2006) How Do Dinosaurs Eat Their Food? New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers We hope you enjoyed reading this Simon & Schuster ebook Get a FREE ebook when you join our mailing list Plus, get updates on new releases, deals, recommended reads, and more from Simon & Schuster Click below to sign up and see terms and conditions CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP Already a subscriber? Provide your email again so we can register this ebook and send you more of what you like to read You will continue to receive exclusive offers in your inbox Index A note about the index: The pages referenced in this index refer to the page numbers in the print edition Clicking on a page number will take you to the ebook location that corresponds to the beginning of that page in the print edition For a comprehensive list of locations of any word or phrase, use your reading system’s search function A Activities about: importance of, 29 overview of, 24–25 basis of See Breathing; Movement being role model and, 23–24 including all children in, 25–26 tips for success, 26–27 types of See Eating mindfully; Focus; Kindness and gratitude; Mudras, mind-sets, and positive affirmations; Relaxing and restoring; Senses using this book and, 23–27 Affirmations See Mudras, mind-sets, and positive affirmations Airplane Ride, 106 Amazing Journal, 173 Ambient Music, 91 Animal Sounds, 88 Applesauce Appetizers, 118 Apple Taste Test, 115 Auditory sense, 90–93 B Be Here Now, 147 Blackout, 119 Body Scanner, 226–27 Brain challenges, overview of, 25 See also specific focuses Brain Power Mudra, 165 Breathing, mindful, 61–88 about: benefits/effects of, 20–21 overview and importance of, 61 tips, guidelines for, 21–23 breathing games, 84–88 breathing props, 78–83 calming exercises, 67–77 energizing exercises, 62–66 integrating into daily life, 244–45 sequencing activities and, 238–43 Breathing, mindful, specific exercises/games Animal Sounds, 88 Balloon Breath, 67 Beanie Breath, 83 Box Breath, 73–74 Brain Breath, 71 Breathing Train, 87 Breathing with Bubbles, 78 Bubble Mountain, 85–86 Bubble Pop, 86 Bunny Breath, 65 Butterfly Breath, 76–77 Counting Breaths, 69 Elevator Breath, 70 Feather Weather, 81 Hoberman Sphere, 80 Hot Chocolate Breath, 72 “Let It Go” Breath, 63 Lion’s Breath, 64 Milkshake Breath, 68 Parachute Breath, 82 Ping-Pong Race, 84 Pinwheels, 79 Volcano Breath, 62 Wake-Up Breath, 66 Where Is My Breath?, 75 Bubble Gum Brain, 182 Bubble Mountain, 85–86 Bubble Pop, 86 C Chime Listening, 92–93 Chop-Chop Breathe, 121 Cloud Watching, 229–30 Courage Mudra, 163 Crab Soccer, 152 Crash Pad, 110 Create a Sun Dance, 150 D Draw Love, 202 E Eating mindfully, 113–33 about: activities and games, 124–32 definition of, 114 importance of food, 113 in literature, 134 overview of activities, 24 sequencing activities and, 238–43 Applesauce Appetizers, 118 Apple Taste Test, 115 Blackout, 119 Chop-Chop Breathe, 121 Fake Food, 124–25 Fruit and Veggie Monster, 126 Fruit Caterpillar, 120 Happier Meal, 128 Leprechaun Gold, 133 Mandala Dough, 130–31 Marshmallow Challenge, 132 Mealtime Mindfulness, 123 Mindful Dinosaurs, 134 Mindful Taste Test, 114 Raisins and Grapes, 117 Salad Bar, 122 Savvy Shopper, 127 Triple Taste Test, 116 Yogurt Slime, 129 Energy levels (high), sequence for reducing, 240–41 Executive functioning, 17–18 F Fake Food, 124–25 Falling Bubbles, 231 Family Gratitude Book, 193 Fantastic Elastic Brain, 180–81 Feather Weather, 81 Feeling (tactile sense), 104–5 Fiber Optic Focus, 136 Finding Sounds, 90 Find It, 142–43 Find the Yoga Joes, 101 Focus, mindful activities for, 135–57 about: games for focus, 149–57 getting children to pay attention, 135 overview of, 24, 135 sequences for building focus, 238, 242–43 Be Here Now, 147 Crab Soccer, 152 Create a Sun Dance, 150 Fiber Optic Focus, 136 Find It, 142–43 Mindful Coins and Sticks, 151 Mindful Jenga, 155 Mindful Music, 141 Mindful Tic-Tac-Toe, 153–54 Polaroid, 140 Pop Quiz, 138–39 Rhythm Detective, 156 Shake Up a Routine, 157 Starfish Hands, 137 Toega (Toe Yoga), 144 Walk Through the Forest, 149 Weather Report, 148 Zen Garden, 145–46 Focus Mudra, 161 Fruit and Veggie Monster, 126 Fruit Bowl, 100 Fruit Caterpillar, 120 G Gratitude See Kindness and gratitude Growth mind-sets See Mudras, mind-sets, and positive affirmations Gustatory sense, 102–3 H Hammock Swing, 108 Happier Meal, 128 Happy Box, 172 Happy Listening, 93 Hearing (auditory sense), 90–93 “Hello, Sunshine” (Sun Salutation), 49–53 History of mindfulness, 13–14 Hoberman Sphere, 80 I I Am Awesome, 191 Integrating mindfulness into daily life, 244–46 See also Sequencing activities K Kindness and gratitude, 185–210 about: gratitude activities, 186–200 integrating into daily life, 245–46 kindness activities, 201–10 overview of activities, 25, 185 sequencing activities and, 238–43 Draw Love, 202 Family Gratitude Book, 193 Gratitude Alphabet, 189 Gratitude Hunt, 200 Gratitude Journal, 186–87 Gratitude Rock, 188 Gratitude Sticks, 195–96 Gratitude Tree, 196–97 Gratitude Walk, 194 I Am Awesome, 191 Kindness Challenge, 201 Kindness Coins, 204–5 Kindness Fortune Teller, 207–8 Kindness Scavenger Hunt, 209–10 Kinetic Sand Messages, 198–99 Pay It Forward, 206 Settled Glitter Drawings, 192 Volunteer Work, 190 Wall of Love, 203 Kinetic Sand Messages, 198–99 L Lemon Water, 102–3 Leprechaun Gold, 133 Lotus Flower, 221–22 Lotus Mudra, 164 M Magic Carpet Ride, 222–23 Mandala Dough, 130–31 Marshmallow Challenge, 132 Mealtime Mindfulness, 123 Meditations, mindful, 219–20, 231–33 Mental health, mindfulness and, 18 Mindful Butterfly Meditation, 219–20 Mindful Coins and Sticks, 151 Mindful Dinosaurs, 134 Mindful Jenga, 155 Mindful Music, 141 Mindfulness being role model for, 23–24 benefits for children, 9, 14–15, 16–20, 235 brain impact, 15–16 daily time commitment, 235 defined, 13 executive functioning and, 17–18 history of, 13–14 including all children, 25–26 integrating into daily life, 244–46 learning and, 19–20 mental health and, 18 physical health and, 20 putting it all together, 237–46 science of, 15–16 sequencing activities (sample sequences), 238–43 teaching to children, 23 using this book for teaching, 23–27 See also Activities well-being and, 19 Mindfulness challenges, overview of, 25 See also specific focuses Mindfulness/Mindlessness, 105 Mindfulness variations, overview of, 25 See also specific focuses Mindful Taste Test, 114 Mindful Tic-Tac-Toe, 153–54 Mind-Set Dance Party, 179 Mind-Set Mudra, 162 Mind-sets See Mudras, mind-sets, and positive affirmations Movement, mindful, 31–60 about: overview and importance of, 31 backbends, 40–44 balancing poses, 37–39 “Hello, Sunshine” (Sun Salutation), 49–53 mindful brain-building moves, 45–48 in nature, 57–60 resting poses, 54–56 See also Restoring poses seated poses, 35–36 sequencing activities and, 238–43 standing poses, 32–34 as vestibular sense, activities, 106–8 Movement, mindful, specific activities See also Restoring poses Airplane Pose, 38 bike riding, 57 Camel Pose, 43 Caterpillar Crawl, 46 Child’s Pose, 56 Cobra Pose, 40–41 Cross Crawls, 45 Dancer Pose, 39 Dead Bug, 47 Down Dog Pose, 51 Easy Seated Pose, 35 Fish Pose, 44 Forward Fold, 49 “Hello, Sunshine” sequence, 52–53 Locust Pose, 42 Mindful Jungle Course, 60 Mindful Walking, 59 Monkey Pose, 50 Mountain Pose, 32 Mummy Pose, 55 Plank Pose, 52 Rock ‘n’ Roll Pose, 36 Spaghetti Pose, 104 Starfish, 54 Tai Chi, 58 Tree Pose, 37 Warrior I and II Poses, 33–34 Washer Pose, 36 Yoga Bicycles, 48 Mudras, mind-sets, and positive affirmations, 159–84 about: affirmation benefits and guidelines, 25, 168 growth mind-sets explained, 24–25, 178 mindful mind-set, 178–84 mudras defined, 24, 160 mudras delineated, 160–67 overview of, 24–25, 159 positive affirmations delineated, 168–77 Affirmation Art, 175 Affirmation Cards, 170–71 Affirmation Web, 174 Amazing Journal, 173 Brain Power Mudra, 165 Bubble Gum Brain, 182 Courage Mudra, 163 Fantastic Elastic Brain, 180–81 Focus Mudra, 161 Happy Box, 172 Lotus Mudra, 164 Mind-Set Dance Party, 179 Mind-Set Mudra, 162 Namaste Hands, 166 Pass the Affirmation, 176 Peacemakers, 169 Perspective Art, 184 Quiet Mudra, 160 Singing Mudra, 167 Vision Board, 177 What Am I?, 183 N Namaste Hands, 166 Nose Plug, 96 O Olfactory sense, 94–97 Orbeez Meditation, 233 P Pass the Affirmation, 176 Pay It Forward, 206 Peacemakers, 169 Perspective Art, 184 Physical health, mindfulness and, 20 Ping-Pong Race, 84 Ping-Pong Search, 98 Pinwheels, 79 Polaroid, 140 Pop Quiz, 138–39 Poses See Movement, mindful, specific activities; Restoring poses Positive affirmations See Mudras, mind-sets, and positive affirmations Proprioceptive sense, 109–12, 238 Q Quiet Mudra, 160 R Rainforest Relaxation, 217–18 Raisins and Grapes, 117 Reflection, ending practice with, 238 Relaxing and restoring, 211–33 See also Restoring poses about: benefits of activities, 211 elements helping children relax, 211 mindful meditations, 231–33 overview of activities, 25, 211 relaxation stories, 217–28 sequencing activities and, 238–43 thought watching, 229–30 Body Scanner, 226–27 Cloud Watching, 229–30 Falling Bubbles, 231 Lotus Flower, 221–22 Magic Carpet Ride, 222–23 Mindful Butterfly Meditation, 219–20 Orbeez Meditation, 233 Rainforest Relaxation, 217–18 Settle Your Glitter, 232 Squeeze It, 228 Sunken Treasure, 224–25 Restoring poses Corpse Pose, 214 Legs Up the Wall, 213 Sleeping Butterfly, 212 Sleeping Child, 215 Tranquil Twist, 216 Rhythm Detective, 156 Role model for mindfulness, 23–24 S Salad Bar, 122 Savvy Shopper, 127 Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, 97 See and Spin, 99 Seeing (visual sense), 98–101 Senses, mindfulness and, 89–112 about: overview of activities, 24 overview of senses, 89 sequencing activities and, 238–43 deep pressure (proprioceptive sense), 109–12, 238 feeling (tactile sense), 104–5 hearing (auditory sense), 90–93 movement (vestibular sense), 106–8 seeing (visual sense), 98–101 smelling (olfactory sense), 94–97 tasting (gustatory sense), 102–3 Senses, mindfulness and, specific activities Airplane Ride, 106 Ambient Music, 91 Chime Listening, 92–93 Crash Pad, 110 Finding Sounds, 90 Find the Yoga Joes, 101 Fruit Bowl, 100 Hammock Swing, 108 Happy Listening, 93 Lemon Water, 102–3 Mindfulness/Mindlessness, 105 Nose Plug, 96 Ping-Pong Search, 98 Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers, 97 See and Spin, 99 Smell and Tell, 94–95 Spaghetti Pose, 104 Thunderstorm, 111–12 The Wall Is Falling, 109 Wheelbarrow Ride, 107 Sequencing activities (sample sequences), 238–43 focus-building sequence, 242–43 integrating mindfulness into daily life, 244–46 reducing high energy levels, 240–41 reducing worries and stress, 239–40 Settled Glitter Drawings, 192 Settle Your Glitter, 232 Shake Up a Routine, 157 Singing Mudra, 167 Smell and Tell, 94–95 Smelling (olfactory sense), 94–97 Spaghetti Pose, 104 Squeeze It, 228 Starfish Hands, 137 Stories, relaxing, 217–28 Stress, sequence for reducing, 239–40 Sunken Treasure, 224–25 T Tactile sense, 104–5 Tasting (gustatory sense), 102–3 Teaching mindfulness, 23 Thought watching, 229–30 Thunderstorm, 111–12 Toega (Toe Yoga), 144 Triple Taste Test, 116 V Vestibular sense, 106–8 Vision Board, 177 Visual sense, 98–101 Volunteer Work, 190 W Walk Through the Forest, 149 Wall Is Falling, 109 Wall of Love, 203 Weather Report, 148 Well-being, mindfulness and, 19 What Am I?, 183 Wheelbarrow Ride, 107 Worries, sequence for reducing, 239–40 Y Yoga poses See Movement, mindful, specific activities; Restoring poses Yogurt Slime, 129 Z Zen Garden, 145–46 Adams Media An Imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc 57 Littlefield Street Avon, Massachusetts 02322 www.SimonandSchuster.com Copyright © 2018 by Simon & Schuster, Inc All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever For information address Adams Media Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 First Adams Media trade paperback edition September 2018 ADAMS MEDIA and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster For information about special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Simon & Schuster Special Sales at 1-866-5061949 or business@simonandschuster.com The Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau can bring authors to your live event For more information or to book an event contact the Simon & Schuster Speakers Bureau at 1-866-248-3049 or visit our website at www.simonspeakers.com Interior design by Michelle Kelly Interior illustration by Nicola Dos Santos Cover design by Stephanie Hannus Cover illustrations by Nicola Dos Santos Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Daniel, Tracy L., author Mindfulness for children / Tracy L Daniel, PhD Avon, Massachusetts: Adams Media, 2018 Includes bibliographical references and index LCCN 2018017351 (print) | LCCN 2018021819 (ebook) | ISBN 9781507208137 (pb) | ISBN 9781507208144 (ebook) Subjects: LCSH: Cognitive therapy for children | Meditation Therapeutic use | Child psychotherapy | BISAC: FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Parenting / General | BODY, MIND & SPIRIT / Meditation | BODY, MIND & SPIRIT / Reference Classification: LCC RJ505.C63 (ebook) | LCC RJ505.C63 D36 2018 (print) | DDC 618.92/891425 dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018017351 ISBN 978-1-5072-0813-7 ISBN 978-1-5072-0814-4 (ebook) This book is intended as general information only and should not be used to diagnose or treat any health condition In light of the complex, individual, and specific nature of health problems, this book is not intended to replace professional medical advice The ideas, procedures, and suggestions in this book are intended to supplement, not replace, the advice of a trained medical professional Consult your physician before adopting any of the suggestions in this book, as well as about any condition that may require diagnosis or medical attention The author and publisher disclaim any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of this book Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks Where those designations appear in this book and Simon & Schuster, Inc., was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought —From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations The information in this book should not be used for diagnosing or treating any health problem Not all diet and exercise plans suit everyone You should always consult a trained medical professional before starting a diet, taking any form of medication, or embarking on any fitness or weight-training program The author and publisher disclaim any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of this book ... Contents Foreword Introduction Part One Mindfulness Basics Chapter 1: An Introduction to Mindfulness What Is Mindfulness? A Brief History of Mindfulness Why Mindfulness for Kids? The Science of Mindfulness. .. Mindfulness What Are the Benefits of Mindfulness for Children? Mindful Breathing How Do You Teach Mindfulness to Children? How to Use This Book Tips for Success Part Two Mindfulness Activities Chapter... in children daily PART ONE Mindfulness Basics Welcome to the beginning of your child’s mindfulness journey! You’ll learn the definition of mindfulness and what a practice of mindfulness for children