"The Seasons" Mindful Activity Pack from NECC Elevate22
Build Strong, Resilient Brains and Hearts With Evidence-Based Mindfulness Techniques
Thank you to the Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative for welcoming us at NECC Elevate22. The NECC does amazing work, providing support, resources, and training to strengthen early learning across Nebraska. Please enjoy these materials from our NECC Elevate22 presentation!
Session Description
Learn evidence-based mindfulness activities and exercises that bring calm, connection and healing to you and the little ones you support, as well as tools to help build resilience. With themes such as “Gentle Breezes and Bluebirds,” "Resilient Deer In Winter," and "Happy Hippos and Inner Confidence," we’ll share techniques from our mindful activity packs that will include calming breathing exercises, restorative yoga poses and stretches, healing mantras, meditations and creative activities. We’ll also offer guidance on how you can integrate these techniques into your daily lives at home and in the classroom and leave time for questions and discussion too.
“The Seasons” Mindful Activity Pack (26 pages) offers mindful activities that can be used year-round with the little ones you support.
“We use yoga and mindfulness with children to help build their emotional awareness and understanding, aka their self-regulatory capacity, to be able to help them acknowledge emotions, express them, and be able to breathe through all that life throws at them.”
thank you to our team member Anne-Marie avalon for presenting!
“Your body will follow your breath. If you breathe slowly and calmly, your body follows, and then your mind follows.”
Watch Anne-Marie’s Session by Clicking on the Button Below (Under Session 2)
Anne-Marie Avalon is a HERE team member, a registered youth and adult yoga instructor (E-CYT, E-RYT), is a certified hypnotherapist with the International Association of Counselors and Therapists, and is trained through Mindful Schools in Los Angeles to teach mindfulness and meditation to youth. She specializes in working with the trauma-informed community, at-risk children and veterans.
pages from “the seasons” mindful activity pack for children
more Mindfulness activities and meditations for children
“Spring Healing”
As we go through struggles, we can all too easily think we are alone. We are not alone. We are here together. Remind yourself of this when you struggle. Let’s practice “Spring Healing” to find your inner peace and calm which is always here for you. Take a moment to be still. Feel connected to, and held by the earth. Close your eyes and practice the mantra: “I am peaceful. I find softness in my heart. May I be gentle on myself.”
“Oodles of Tulips”
You are unique, loved and surrounded by support. Think of yourself as a beautiful tulip in a field of thousands of tulips, “Oodles of Tulips!” ~ You are surrounded by your community and supported by the earth. Take a moment to be still. Feel connected to, and held by the earth. Close your eyes and practice the mantra: “I am loved. I am connected to all life on earth. I send loving kindness into the world.”
“Gentle Breezes and Bluebirds”
There is a weather proverb that states: “Bluebirds are a sign of spring, warm weather and gentle south breezes.” (The Old Farmer’s Almanac). Along with this, the spiritual meaning of bluebirds includes love, peace, trust, dedication and positive change. We thought this would make for a relevant theme right now, and the idea of being gentle on yourself too. Try the mantra: "I am peaceful. I find softness in my heart. May I be gentle on myself."
“Breaking Through Like A Lotus”
Lighter days are ahead. Just like the lotus flower, we can move through even the toughest of challenges and murky water, emerging stronger and more beautiful on the other side. Feel your roots grounding you into the earth… Feel your gentle heartbeat and slow down the breath…. Feel connected to yourself, and to nature… It is within us to rise through challenge, just as the lotus flower does.
Spring-Themed Meditations For Children
From body scans to visualisations to sending loving kindness, inviting this practice into your home and/or classroom can be a lovely shared activity to help draw in calm while supporting the wellbeing of the whole family and children you support.
“Calming, Blue Sky” ~ Meditation For Families, Children and For Those Who Support Children
Get cosy, close the eyes, and shake out all the wiggles! Relax the whole body, shoulders, face, jaw, tummy, arms, hands, legs and feet. Imagine resting on a soft ,white, fluffy cloud, all comfy and cosy...It feels so nice to be here...You look up and see the bright blue sky above you... You are so warm here, the sun shining down on your face... All your worries are melting away...
“Cosy, Fluffy Bunnies” ~ Meditation For Families, Children and For Those Who Support Children
Lie down and let your whole body relax...Close down your eyes, or place something over them. You feel all cosy just like a fluffy bunny settling down for the night! Slow down your breath as you lay here all floppy and relaxed... Imagine a lovely fluffy bunny comes hopping over to you! It makes it way to you slowly and quietly... It wants to say hello!
“Happy Hippo” Meditation For Children, Families And Those Who Support Children
Let's settle in, close the eyes and relax whole body. Imagine you're a happy hippo laying in the sunshine, feeling the warmth on your belly and face! Let yourself be really floppy like a relaxed hippo ~ You are in the perfect place! Sink into stillness and peace here.
