Some of our favorite fun and thoughtful mindfulness activities, perfect for cultivating emotional intelligence with kids.
Mindfulness is more than just the latest parenting buzzword. By incorporating a few mindfulness activities into our parenting toolkit, we can help our children gain essential skills for navigating life’s challenges with grace and resilience.
From enhancing kids’ emotional intelligence to fostering better focus and stress management, mindfulness lays the groundwork for a healthier, happier future.
Mindfulness Activities for Kids
Mindful Art
Art can be a wonderful and accessible mindful activity for kids of all ages. Simply provide art materials and invite children to express themselves creatively without judgment or expectation. Whether they’re painting, drawing, or sculpting, encourage them to focus on the process rather than the end result, fostering a sense of flow and self-expression. Here are some of our favorite mindful art activities to try.
1. Sticker Mandalas
Kids of all ages love stickers! Set out a variety of label stickers and circle paper to see what radiating mandala designs your kids can make! We love how this activity is super simple and totally mess-free.
2. Watercolor Geodes
Follow this tutorial to paint a beautiful watercolor geode with a series of concentric circles. The repetitive motion allows your mind to wander as you paint, inducing a state of calm relaxation.
3. Dot Painting
Another art activity that involves repetitive motion, dot paintings are so easy and so fun! Use cotton swabs and liquid watercolor or tempera paint on sturdy paper.
4. Watercolor Resist
Process art activities like this one are all about enjoying the journey of art-making instead of focusing on the finished product. Encourage your child to let go of expectations and observe how the oil pastels and paint interact.
5. Musical Art
Invite your child to draw, paint, and color while listening to different styles of music. They’ll begin to focus on the tempo, beat, and style of the music and let it inform their art.
Sensory Exploration
Experiences that use multiple senses are fantastic for mindful play. Encourage your child to notice sights, sounds, smells, and textures as they explore the world. Try these sensory exploration activities.
6. Sensory Bins
The sky’s the limit when it comes to sensory bins! Whether it’s cloud dough, aquafaba, or just a tub of water, adding a bit of sensory play to your day can have a wonderful calming effect on everyone.
7. Playdough
We LOVE playdough! Kids can knead and mold the dough, roll it into balls and snakes, poke their fingers into it, and squish it between their hands. So much sensory fun!
8. Nature Walks
Engage the senses with a nature walk in your neighborhood or local park. Invite your child to closely observe the world the world as you walk, taking the time to notice interesting sights, sounds, and smells.
Mindful Breathing
Encourage children to take deep, slow breaths, focusing their attention on the rise and fall of their chest or the sensation of air passing through their nostrils. This simple practice calms the nervous system and centers the mind. Here are some mindful breathing activities to try.
9. Bubble Blowing
Try making your own homemade bubbles and practice mindful breathing with your kids. You can even create your own bubble wands!
10. Blow Painting
Encourage your kids to concentrate on their deep breaths when making fun paint splatters!
11. Five Fingered Breathing
This is a helpful mindfulness technique for kids using your fingers to guide breathing. Start by tracing up one finger while inhaling, then trace down the same finger while exhaling. Repeat this process for each finger, helping your child to relax and focus on their breath and the movement of their fingers.
Did you see our free mindfulness bundle? It includes a helpful 5 Fingered Breathing Guide, Mindful Coloring page, and Gratitude Scavenger Hunt! If not, click HERE to get your own!
Gratitude Practice
Cultivate an attitude of gratitude by asking children to reflect on things they’re thankful for each day. This simple ritual shifts their focus from scarcity to abundance, fostering positivity and resilience. These gratitude activities are a great starting point.
12. Gratitude Tree
A few twigs in a vase gives you the base for this easy to make gratitude tree, perfect for Thanksgiving or anytime of year!
13. Gratitude Garland
Moments of gratitude become cheerful decorations with this sweet garland!
Books about Mindfulness
Reading together is always a wonderful way to slow down and connect with your kids, regardless of the subject matter. But we think you’re going to especially love this fantastic list of our favorite books for social emotional learning. Make sure you bookmark it for your next library trip!
Mindfulness isn’t just a practice; it’s a gift we offer our children—a gift that equips them with the tools to thrive amidst life’s challenges, fostering a resilience that will guide them for many years to come.
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