Even if you can only give yourself a brief moment, it is critically important for both adults and children to take extra care of themselves and practice mindfulness during uncertain and stressful times. As the New York Times states, children of all ages can benefit from “the simple practice of bringing a gentle, accepting attitude to the present moment.”
So, take a deep breath, roll your shoulders back away from your ears, and keep reading to find out our recommendations for mindfulness activities for kids that both you and your kiddo can do together to bring a little peace and a sense of calmness into your home.
1. Pretzel Kids Yoga: Namaste calm and pose on with your little one with Pretzel Kids Yoga! Pretzel Kids Yoga is now offering online classes for kids of all ages on their site. Use this link to receive a $20 credit upon signup.
2. Meditation with Headspace (for Kids) (free 2-week trial): With a focus on Calm, Kindness, and Bedtime, Headspace (for Kids) teaches parents and children together about meditation for different age levels and promotes mindfulness for kids. Joanna Weiss from the Boston Globe writes “Headspace’s ‘intro to meditation’ course was full of primer videos, in which an adorable cartoon brain with legs encounters helpful metaphors. Meditation, I learned, is like watching traffic go by in your mind.”
3. Float and Pop: Have a stressful thought? Now, imagine that thought as a balloon, floating up into the sky, until…pop! You can do it, and so can your toddler. “I recently started playing 8-10 minute kid-focused meditations for my own kids. I figure it’s good to start young and get those brainwaves trained early,” says Kristen Quinn from Misadventures in Mommyhood. Kristen recommends the free app Insight Timer to get yourself started.
