Mindfulness for children shouldn't be called a 'fad.'
Can children benefit from mindfulness? With all the signs suggesting yes, why is it still being considered a ‘fad’ by some?
Over the weekend, we read this article, entitled ‘Mindfulness for kids: magic pill or a parenting fad too far?’ with interest. We have written before the positive impact mindfulness can have on children, so it’ll come as no surprise to know that we don’t believe it’s a fad!
Research into the effectiveness of mindfulness for children is a growing area but the early signs all suggest that, similar to adults, it does have a positive impact on their mental and physical wellbeing. With this in mind, we ask – shouldn’t we be embracing it more, rather than calling it a ‘fad’?
More schools than ever before are adopting a mindfulness approach in classes and there are now approximately 2,200 trained mindfulness teachers in the UK, with the practice being implemented nationwide.
It is short-sighted to suggest mindfulness for kids is a fad, given the positive results from research so far and the support lended to it by academics, including Willem Kuyken, a professor of clinical psychology at Oxford University, who recently said the spread of mindfulness among children could do for Britain’s mental health what fluoride did for its teeth.
Emma Clarke, author of our range of books that cater for those new to mindfulness, whether adults or children, said: “Mindfulness can help children become more focused, alert, creative and self-aware. It can also help them manage anxiety by using techniques to calm their minds when they feel stressed. And there’s the added benefit of helping children manage distractions by increasing their concentration with mindfulness exercises.”
At Identity Withheld, we write and publish books for the whole family, including ‘This Book Stinks’, a mindful activity book aimed at children over eight. This book allows kids to practice mindfulness in a fun way, with new activities on every page aiming to stretch their imaginations.
Emma continued, “I use mindfulness gently with my own children – with helping them cope with homesickness when they’re away on school trips, helping them deal with nerves before a test or an exam and generally helping them take responsibility for their own moods and behaviour.
“As a parent, I find mindfulness helps me open up conversations with my kids about all sorts of things. As a family, I think mindfulness helps us feel happier and better organised.”
If you are still dubious about the effectiveness of mindfulness for children, the best advice we can give you is, try it – you might be pleasantly surprised by the results.
Buy books on mindfulness now
Over the weekend, we read this article, entitled ‘Mindfulness for kids: magic pill or a parenting fad too far?’ with interest. We have written before the positive impact mindfulness can have on children, so it’ll come as no surprise to know that we don’t believe it’s a fad!
Research into the effectiveness of mindfulness for children is a growing area but the early signs all suggest that, similar to adults, it does have a positive impact on their mental and physical wellbeing. With this in mind, we ask – shouldn’t we be embracing it more, rather than calling it a ‘fad’?
More schools than ever before are adopting a mindfulness approach in classes and there are now approximately 2,200 trained mindfulness teachers in the UK, with the practice being implemented nationwide.
It is short-sighted to suggest mindfulness for kids is a fad, given the positive results from research so far and the support lended to it by academics, including Willem Kuyken, a professor of clinical psychology at Oxford University, who recently said the spread of mindfulness among children could do for Britain’s mental health what fluoride did for its teeth.
Emma Clarke, author of our range of books that cater for those new to mindfulness, whether adults or children, said: “Mindfulness can help children become more focused, alert, creative and self-aware. It can also help them manage anxiety by using techniques to calm their minds when they feel stressed. And there’s the added benefit of helping children manage distractions by increasing their concentration with mindfulness exercises.”
At Identity Withheld, we write and publish books for the whole family, including ‘This Book Stinks’, a mindful activity book aimed at children over eight. This book allows kids to practice mindfulness in a fun way, with new activities on every page aiming to stretch their imaginations.
Emma continued, “I use mindfulness gently with my own children – with helping them cope with homesickness when they’re away on school trips, helping them deal with nerves before a test or an exam and generally helping them take responsibility for their own moods and behaviour.
“As a parent, I find mindfulness helps me open up conversations with my kids about all sorts of things. As a family, I think mindfulness helps us feel happier and better organised.”
If you are still dubious about the effectiveness of mindfulness for children, the best advice we can give you is, try it – you might be pleasantly surprised by the results.
Buy books on mindfulness now
