Mindfulness is about stepping back and seeing thoughts and feelings come and go, without judgement but with a relaxed mind, fully focused on the present moment.
With heightened academic pressure trickling down to kids as early as kindergarten, resulting in less time for play and the arts, children today are faced with an unprecedented amount of stress and anxiety—25% of 13- to 18-year-olds will experience an anxiety disorder according to the National Institutes of Mental Health. Such early stress levels can negatively impact learning, memory, behavior, and both physical and mental health.
Mindfulness is a powerful tool that supports children in calming themselves, focusing their attention, and interacting effectively with others, all critical skills for functioning well in school and in life.
Incorporating a consistent mindfulness practice into the curriculum is a great way to promote social and emotional learning in the class room it helps students cultivate confidence in life and create a classroom environment that’s primed for learning. Most importantly the benefits students gain from practicing mindfulness will have a lasting effect both inside and outside the classrooms.
Taking a few minutes every day to encourage students to check in on themselves and reflect on their day can have a tremendous effect on the classroom and on the students’ lives. The benefits of incorporating a mindful practice in the curriculum include:
- Increased focus and alertness
- Students will be more interactive
- It’s refreshing
- Increased awareness and understanding of one’s own feelings and emotions
As a result, students become more engaged and empowered to learn!
Incorporating mindfulness into education has been linked to improving academic and social and emotional learning. Also, mindfulness strengthens some underlying development processes—such as focus, resilience,
and self-soothing—that will help kids in the long run.