Mindful ObservationĮven as adults, we rarely stop to sit and observe the world around us. The game prompts players to describe emotions and why these feelings might occur. SnapHappy encourages children to think outside the box to help build social skills and emotional intelligence. MindPanda’s SnapHappy emotional awareness game is perfect for preschoolers but can also be helpful for kids up to the age of 10. This stage of development is the perfect time to use mindfulness activities to teach your child about understanding and dealing with emotions. Mindfulness Activities for Preschoolers (4 – 6 years)Īs your child progresses from toddler to preschooler, their vocabulary grows, and they begin to start identifying emotions. Our goal is to bring the unconscious to the conscious mind. Through all of these mindfulness activities for toddlers, the goal is to nurture a curious mind. If you choose an art project, start by getting them to feel the texture of the paint, the bristles of the brush, and verbalise those actions. Choose games and activities which stimulate the senses. Playtime is a fantastic opportunity to encourage your child to play consciously. Most of a child’s early development comes from play. Again, the goal is to make unconscious thoughts and actions conscious. Teach your child to describe the flavour, texture, and perhaps aroma of what they are eating. Mealtime is another opportunity for a toddler’s mindfulness activity. For example, “soap is slimy, or the sponge is soft.” Mindful Eating Use items in the bath like soap, sponge, face cloth, or toys to encourage your child to verbalise things that might otherwise remain in the subconscious.
As you’re washing your child, make a point of verbalising what you are doing.įor example, “washing Jake’s back.” Try to get your child to repeat what you are saying. With fewer distractions, bathtime is a fantastic opportunity to teach a toddler mindfulness. The goal is to develop a curious mindset, the basis for mindfulness and mediation. The most effective mindfulness activities for toddlers are basic sensory recognition exercises – smell, taste, touch, hear, see. If you have a toddler, we don’t have to tell you how difficult it can be to get them to sit still or focus for extended periods! Mindfulness Activities for Toddlers (1 – 3 years)