Focusing on a single sense to experience our surroundings is a great way to anchor in the present moment. Guessing the scent of each “smelly marker” is a fun, accessible way to practice mindfulness with our littles.
My daughter loves her Mr. Sketch markers, or as she endearingly calls them, her “smelly markers.” On a daily basis, she uses them to color and draw. Recently, I asked her if she wanted to play “Guess the Smelly Marker” before she actually used the marker. Since it was a “game” she was very eager to participate.
She closed her eyes. I put a marker up to her nose and she would guess which scented marker I was holding up — blueberry, apple, cherry, licorice. She was so tuned into the smell that the majority of her guesses were right. She totally loved playing it, so we went through every marker.
After she guessed the marker scent — right or wrong — she would then use it to continue her drawing (pictured above). It was an easy and quick way to pause for a bit and tune her into her present-sense of smell using her favorite drawing tools.
Since that first time we played, she periodically asks if we can play it again. And I take advantage of her eagerness to participate in our “smelly” game whenever I can.