Most adults get stressed coping with everyday live.

From my own experience working with and providing psychological support to  children and teenagers; I know that many young people are too busy to just relax after school because of academic problems, bullying, divorce, extracurricular activities, etc.

I want to talk about something which will be useful to help your kids to cope with stress, to make better decisions, improve their concentration and to calm down when they are upset: MINDFULNESS

WHAT IS MINDFULNESS?

Mindfulness relaxes your mind to focus on “here and now”, to pay attention to your thoughts and feelings without judging them.

TRY MINDFULNESS BEFORE YOU PRACTICE IT WITH YOUR KIDS

When: 10 minutes a day, building up to half an hour.

Where: Create a comfortable place. Somewhere quiet (no phone, alarms, electronic devices) but if the total silence annoys you then put on some relaxing music. Sit on a pillow on the floor.

How: Focus all your attention on your breathing. Listen to it, feel it and imagine the good it is doing to your body. Repeat some relaxing words or sentences like “I’m fine”, “Relax”.

Then close your eyes and imagine you are in a comfortable place where you feel great.

MINDFULNESS OFFERS MANY BENEFITS TO YOUR KIDS

Mindfulness will teach them to pay attention, to understand more about their experiences and to trust themselves to make decisions.

It is also very useful for…

Better self-knowledge and self-esteem

Improve their complex cognitive functions

More self control

Better conflict resolution abilities

FUN WAYS TO TEACH MINDFULNESS TO YOUR KIDS

Get your kids to jump up and down in place for 1 minute. Then let them sit down and place their hands on their hearts. Tell them to close their eyes and feel their heartbeat, their breath, and see what else they notice about their bodies.

As a parent you can´t protect your children from stress and anyway trying to do that would be bad for them. To experience some stress is protective and adaptive – it’s impossible to live in a stress-free world! In fact, our response to stress helps our minds and bodies to prepare for difficult challenges, and to react better in a time of crisis.