BRILLIANT WAYS TO CALM ANXIOUS CHILDREN
New research has found that kids who participate in yoga and mindfulness at school are less anxious and have improved emotional health. Emma says we can get those benefits at home
indfulness has been a real buzzword over the past few years but, if you’re sceptical, you may want to give it a chance. Mindfulness has been proven to reduce cortisol, which is the hormone that causes anxiety, and those who practise it also report higher levels of focus and general wellbeing.
IMPROVE LEARNING
Recently, schools have been marvelling at the impact mindful practice has had on the behaviour of their pupils. Researchers found that eight and nine-year-olds who participated in a schoolbased yoga and mindfulness programme experienced reduced anxiety and improved wellbeing and emotional health, which in turn benefited their learning in general.
FOCUS ON NATURE
With funding cuts and pressures on educators in general, your child’s school may not be offering such a programme, but creating mindful moments for your kids at home is simple and may well benefit you, too.
There are two types of mindful practice – formal and informal – that you can introduce to your children. If they are very little, getting them out in nature is the informal route, and all you need to do is help them focus on their surroundings. Encourage them to pick up leaves or concentrate on the way the breeze feels on their cheeks so they really connect with the here and now. Talk to them about the miracle of being part of this amazing planet. If you have slightly older children, try formal mindfulness, which can include yoga, meditation, diaphragmatic breathing and body scan techniques. Examples of these can all be found for free on Youtube.
ENCOURAGE HARMONY
I would be lost without mindfulness, I have practised it for 20 years and both my teenage sons have sessions with me twice a week to create some positive time out to alleviate the pressures they face. Making mindful practice a family affair won’t just help you to all feel happier, it will lead to stronger bonds and greater emotional understanding that can enhance harmony at home.