Easy Mindfulness Games for Kids

— You don’t have to DO anything, just be in the moment.   

Last week our local elementary school asked me to do a Project Cornerstone Zone on mindfulness.   I came up with three great "games" and it went really well.  I thought you might like to use them too—anyone can do them and benefit from them.  I ended up getting more relaxed than when I do my normal meditation which I DID NOT ANTICIPATE.  So, parents if you do this with your kids, you will really benefit too.  BAM!  TWO for ONE!.  No need to do all three (but you can), or just pick one when you have time and then add on later.

Sit in a tall position, and ask your kids...

When you feel angry or upset what do you do?   What would happen if you stopped doing that?  Get out of automatic pilot.   It can be challenging to be more mindful.  But it gets easier with time.  It is a like a muscle you want to build, you have to practice.   

1.  What's your weather like today?

1.  The weather exercise:  We are like the weather.  Some days we are sunny, warm with a light breeze.  Others we are like a storm brewing…  cold, dark, rainy.    Describe your internal weather station right now.  How about your parents this morning?  How about your friends today?    Brothers, sisters, teachers?

What is the weather going to be like in a week?  Tonight?  Can you change it?  Is one better then the other?

Moods change, they blow over.  You don’t need to do anything about it.  What a relief!    You can notice, and you can feel safe in knowing that accepting the weather inside your body is just like accepting it outside.  And know that it really never stays the same. 

*Draw a picture of your weather right now and check in with it later today to see if it changed.

2.  Change your station

When you listen to music and you like it how do you feel?  What if it is a station that you don’t like?  How do you feel?  What do you do about it?    Sometimes the thoughts in our head need to be changed.  They are in our heads, can’t we do anything with them we’d like?  If a station in your head is playing the same old song, and you want to change it, you can.  

Ask yourself the questions:  Is this thought really true?  Do you know 100% for sure that it is true? Is this thought good for me?  Is there a different thought that would make me feel better?

*Think about a thought that doesn't make you feel very good.  Ask yourself the questions.  See if you can create a NEW thought that you would like to listen to instead.  Change your station!

 

3.  Breathe Away Your Worries

Shift attention from your head and distance yourself from your thoughts when worried.  

Lower your attention from your head like a raindrop sliding down the window.  Lower it more until it reaches your belly.  There are no thoughts in the belly.    There are no fights, troubles or worries.  Just your peace and quiet.    Take your breath into the belly and breathe.   If you are ever worried, just do two things:

1.  Notice the worrying.  It’s ok.

2.  Move out of the head and the thought intros the belly and breath in and out.

 *Make a worry box to put the worries in.  A shoe box is great!

Get into your body!

Parents, our society is so “heady”, and that is great.  But wouldn’t it be nice to take a break from the thoughts and get into our bodies?   

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This post is a culmination my own readings and teachings over the years, but I'd like to thank a few key influencers:  Katie Byron, John Barnes, Eline Snel and Katy Bowman.   All rights reserved for Pilates After School--Strong, Tall, Centered & Confident Kids.