Mindfulness Games to Help Kids Thrive
In today’s busy world, children can experience stress and overstimulation. Mindfulness provides them with tools to stay grounded and calm. Through fun and engaging activities, kids can improve their focus, strengthen their relationships, and develop skills to manage their emotions. Here’s how mindfulness games can support kids’ well-being and provide a strong foundation for a happy, healthy life.
Why Mindfulness Matters for Kids
Mindfulness offers countless benefits for kids, positively influencing their emotional, mental, and social development. By learning mindfulness, children can enhance their ability to focus, which supports both academic and extracurricular success. Mindfulness also promotes better mental health, reducing feelings of anxiety and stress while boosting self-esteem.
Tips for Teaching Mindfulness
When teaching mindfulness to children, it’s important to approach the practice in a way that feels accessible and enjoyable for them.
- Start by ensuring that they’re in a calm state and ready to focus. This means avoiding times when they’re overly excited or eager to play.
- Explain what mindfulness is and how it can help them, using language and concepts that make sense for their age and stage of development.
- Always present mindfulness as a positive activity rather than using it as a form of discipline and try to make it part of their daily routine.
Mindfulness Tools and Resources
Before getting into the games, know that there are several apps that can be a helpful tool. Smiling Mind, Calm, Moshi Kids and Ninja Focus provide guided meditations and mindfulness activities designed specifically for young users. Headspace, Waking Up: Guided Meditation and The Breathing App work well for teens.
Playing Games
There are also games you can play to get kids in the mindfulness zone. Here are a few of our favorites:
Mindful Poses. Invite your child to try simple poses like standing tall like a tree or balancing on one foot like a flamingo. Guide them to focus on how their body feels in each position. This game helps kids build awareness of their body and boosts their balance and focus.
Superhero Senses. Ask your child to imagine they’re a superhero with super senses. Challenge them to listen carefully for sounds, notice small details around them, or feel textures like a superhero would. This game engages their senses, bringing their attention to the present moment.
Adventure Walks. Go on a walk together and look for interesting things in nature, such as insects, animals, or unusual plants. At Jubilee we have miles of walking trails where you and your kids can do this. Encourage your child to describe what they see and hear. Adventure walks foster curiosity and mindfulness while encouraging physical activity.
Bubble Breathing. Blow bubbles together, encouraging your child to take slow, deep breaths as they create each bubble. Focus on watching the bubbles float and pop. This game teaches mindful breathing and helps kids calm their nervous systems.
Blindfold Taste Test. Blindfold your child and let them taste small bites of foods like fruit, cheese, or crackers. Have them describe the flavors and textures they notice. This game encourages mindfulness through the sense of taste, sharpening focus and awareness.
Mindful Coloring. Offer your child a coloring book or blank paper and encourage them to color slowly, focusing on each stroke of the crayon or marker. Mindful coloring is a calming activity that supports focus and creativity.
Breathing Buddy. Have your child lie on their back with a stuffed animal on their belly. Guide them to take slow, deep breaths and watch their breathing buddy rise and fall. This game is a great way to teach deep breathing in a fun, relatable way.
Practice Mindfulness at Jubilee
At Jubilee by Johnson Development, we understand the importance of creating an environment that fosters health and well-being for children and families alike. Our community offers wellness zones designed for exploration, inspiration, reflection, and connection, giving kids the space to grow and flourish. By choosing Jubilee, you’re not just choosing a place to live, you’re choosing a community that prioritizes the happiness and growth of your family.
