As a parent, I know that when I pause and take a few deep breaths before reacting—in just about any situation—things usually go better. (This doesn’t mean I always do it, of course...!) Imagine if we could teach this skill to children very early in life—if kids were actually taught how to manage their behavior and emotions, instead of letting their emotions rule their behavior. Just think of the positive effects this could have on the rest of their lives!
In our super fast-paced world, where children have less and less downtime to just be, simple, kid-friendly mindfulness practices can help teach children essential skills: how to calm themselves down, how to pay attention and focus, and how to manage their bodies and emotions. They can also help children cope with stress—which believe it or not, even young children can have.
I’m so excited to offer a simple, beautiful tool to help: my children’s mindfulness book, “Breathe Like a Bear!”
Check out the book trailer below!
I know from long experience what engages children—I’ve taught mindfulness to thousands of kids in tons of different settings. Having learned what works and what doesn’t, I took the most effective, age-appropriate, fun practices that WORK and put them in this book.
Here’s the great thing: you don’t need any special training. It doesn’t need to be complicated in any way. Anyone can bring simple mindfulness to the children in their lives, and my hope is that “Breathe Like a Bear” is an easy-to-use resource to help parents and educators do just that.
Grab your copy right this minute! (The paperback is only $10.39 here right now, normally $14.99.) It’s a fabulous holiday gift, perfect for your own family, your child’s teacher, your grandchildren, or anyone with young children in their lives!
PS - Here's one of my favorite exercises from the book, perfect for this wintry time of year, “Candle Breath.” So simple, and so effective, this one is great for mealtime, bedtime, or in the car.
CANDLE BREATH
Imagine you’re holding a candle in front of you.
Take a long breath in, and slooowly, gently blow the air out toward your candle.
You want to make your candle flame wiggle,
but…DON’T BLOW IT OUT!
Long breath in, slooow breath out.
Long breath in, slooow breath out.
Watch the candle flame wiggle and dance.
Long breath in, slooow breath out.
Long breath in…now blow your candle out!
Aaahhh…