Getting schools to recognize the importance of mindfulness training for young children is the next big step in children's mental health. More and more regular schools are budgeting for these types of initiatives, so that kids can improve concentration, reduce stress, improve self-regulation and better connect with feelings of community. Check out what they are doing at the Momentous school...
Kid's doing mindfulness doesn’t have to mean 20 minutes of quietly sitting and taking deep breaths. In fact, this is exactly the wrong approach for most young children. Starting to think about different ways of getting kids the benefits of a regular mindfulness practice, without all the boring bits, is EXACTLY what we're all about at Kidevolve...
Children of all ages struggle with anxiety, which can end up being a lifelong, crippling condition. We now know that helping kids learn to identify anxiety (see: being a thought detective!) and address it head-on (allowing worry to have voice and exist) can bring torrents of emotional relief. Here are some simple ways to help our little worriers move into a place where they can feel more personal power...
Many of our teens are in trouble... with anxiety and depression looming large in their lives. Early exposure to mindfulness practices (at the elementary level) can make a big difference, giving kids an accessible approach to self-management, emotional awareness and strengthening resilience. To help young kids combat depression and anxiety, check out our first four Creative Mind Journeys. Our unique mindfuness audio tracks are for kids aged 5-10. They are super fun stories that double as guided practices. Enjoy!
At Kidevolve, we're always thrilled to hear about real-world, practical applications for kids using mindfulness. Check out this piece about a US elementary school that has taken the bold step to replace the outdated, punitive detention model with a positive and beneficial Mindful Moment room! The results are pretty clear...
Kidevolve is all about empowering families with tools that let kids strengthen and expand their capacities for kindness, compassion, focus and inner calm. Here's an amazing list of books, curated by Sharon Rawlins (youth services specialist at the New Jersey State Library) that help kids make sense of their worlds and feel more confident emotionally. When your done reading this list, check out Kidevolve's Bookshelf too (here, you can find even more books that focus specifically on transferring valuable EQ skills).
Kidevolve has just released our first ever 'Creative Mind Journeys' into beta testing (new mindfulness audio tracks developed specially for kids aged 5-10), and our Family Testing panel (located all over the world, from Canada and the US through to Singapore) is well underway giving us feedback straight from the mouths of real kids, parents, educators and researchers. The science is out, whether it's boosting social skills, improving performance at school, encouraging independent thinking or augmenting overall creativity, teaching children mindfulness techniques has big benefits... Delve into this article by child development expert Sean Grover, to learn more about recent studies and confirm why it's important to take time to teach and expose kids to these key life skills...
At Kidevolve, we know that delivering mindfulness to kids takes special planning and a unique approach. Simply modifying what works for adults just doesn't fly. Check out these simple ways to capture little ones attention. We use most of these techniques to some extent or another when we deliver our creative EQ training programs. Stay tuned for more information about Kidevolve's new programming for Fall...
Why is it so important to teach mindfulness techniques to young children? A new CAMH Study, released July 21, 2016, shows that teens are experiencing more and more psychological distress (depression and anxiety), and too few know where to turn for help, or have coping skills in their arsenals to manage and reduce stress. To learn more about this study and what impacts teens today, read on...
