Why mindfulness in the early years?
Mindfulness in the early years can bring about a calm but enriching environment for children to learning which will promote well-being. Mindfulness is largely seen as something older children or adults do, so how then do you incorporate mindfulness into your daily activities is the question. As the new preschool year begins and transitions are to the fore it may be a good time to take a more mindful approach to your daily routine and incorporate activities to support the transition from busy play to quiet play.
Mindfulness Early Years Activities
The transition from active outdoor play to story time or other quiet activity can take longer for some children. The transition from environments such as going outdoors or going back indoors may also take longer for some children. Feeling upset? Can’t focus? Sometime children can get caught up in their thoughts and emotions. Here are some mindfulness activities which you may be able to incorporate into your routine/transitions to help centre them.
Walking
Mindfulness walking can bring quiet to busy little ones. Start by asking children to form a line and then to spend a moment looking at their feet and feeling the ground under them. Make sure everyone knows what to do. Begin a slow walk and remind them to think about their feet as they gently lift off the ground and place down gently in front. Walk naturally (not marching) for a few minutes in the shape of the figure 8 with everyone following as you continue to remind children to think of their feet and how the ground feels underneath. Cover as much ground as possible. Each child can put their hand on the child in front to try to keep a steady even pace. When ready and everyone is calm and relaxed make your way back inside.
Jump around
To move from active to non-active activity start by getting the children to jump up and down for one minute. When complete get them to sit down and place their hand on their heart. Closing their eyes get the children to listen and feel their own heartbeat and see what else they notice about their own bodies.
Using smell
Get the children to sit comfortable with their feet flat on the ground. Tell them to focus on the smells around them. Pass around items which will spark the senses such as:
- herbs from your outdoor area like mint and lavender
- dried herbs and spices
- citrus flavours from lemon or orange peel
- household items like soap and talcum powder
Closing their eyes get the children to breathe in that scent and focus fully on it.
These mindfulness activities may take a little practice but are well worth the effort.
Here’s an interesting article from earlier this year on the usefulness of mindfulness in schools – http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/05/testing-mindfulness-in-the-early-years/483749/
Do you have any other mindfulness activities you do in your early years setting?
