Observing our surroundings through one or more of our senses helps focus our attention on the present, calming our minds and anchoring our bodies.
Mindful Activity Jars Give Projects Meaning
A Mindful Activity Jar gives kids a go-to when they’re looking for something fun to do. Decorating the jar and determining what activities go inside challenges them to think about the kinds of projects, hobbies and games they truly enjoy.
Setting Intentions Provides a ‘Why’ for the ‘What’
In the beginning of any new year, we hear a lot about resolutions and goal setting. But what is the purpose of these resolutions and promises we make to ourselves? That’s where intention setting comes in.
Our Most Popular Mindfulness & Kindness Activities
As Mindful Littles celebrates four years of compassion in action, we wanted to share our most popular mindfulness activities and service & kindness projects with you. We hope you enjoy this mix of sensory activities, meditation, breath practice, nature, art and play!
Five Books About…Practicing Mindfulness
“I’m feeling flappy,” my five-year-old says, looking up at me. Flappy is our word for feeling restless, or out of sorts, or just not quite right. Whenever that happens, we start by talking about why, but what works better, every time, is hugging him hard, or, failing that, dance parties.
Rainbow Breathing Wand and Breath Practice
When we notice our breath, we can begin to slow our heart rate and anchor ourselves in the present moment. Using a Rainbow Breathing Wand is a wonderfully visual way to help us notice and regulate our breathing. Here are instructions for making your own Rainbow Breathing Wand plus a guided practice with Mindful Littles Founder Tanuka Gordon.
Eye Pillow Craft and Sleep Meditation
Using a lightly weighted eye pillow is a wonderful way to release anxiety by stimulating the vagus nerve and slowing the heart rate. Here’s how to make your own eye pillow, either for yourself or as part of a Peace Kit for someone else, plus a simple sleep meditation to help you relax and rest.
Notice the Good: Dressing Paper Cut Outs in Nature
While free play outdoors is always a good option for kids, making outdoor time mindful offers additional benefits, like easing anxiety and boosting feelings of calm. This simple Clothing Cut Out project is an engaging activity to do with kids that combines art and the outdoors while helping them tap into mindfulness through their sense of sight.
Service at Home: Make Family Dinners Together
With a quarantine in progress across many parts of the world, now is a perfect opportunity to encourage kids to be of service at home (they might disagree, but stay with me here).
A Heart-Filled Treasure Hunt
One of our favorite outdoor activities is a going on a heart-filled nature treasure hunt. The idea is simple: go outside, search for organically occurring heart-shapes in nature, snap photos to keep track of how many you find and that’s it!