Put simply, mindfulness is paying attention to what is happening right now, without judgement or distraction. It is enjoying every moment of your life without getting caught up in thinking about the past or future and can help us to take a step back from our experiences and respond intentionally (rather than running on autopilot). 

 

The formal practice of mindfulness is meditation, where typically your eyes are closed and you are focused on one thing, usually your breathing. When we practice mindfulness in a more informal way we bring in the same kind of awareness to everyday life, by paying attention to what is going on in that particular moment. By training our attention to be in the present moment, we develop the ability to calm the mind, improve focus, manage stress and to step back from negative thinking. These skills can have a wonderful impact on children’s learning and general well-being.

 

Click here to find out more about the benefits of teaching mindfulness to children. 

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