We are finishing our series of mindfulness activities from the wonderful book, My Mindful Journal, from Trigger Publishing today, with a simple, but really effective mindfulness activity for tweens. All it does, is help them focus their minds in the moment.
Mindfulness is all about focusing on the here and now; something that we all know is incredibly different to do with the busy lives that we all manage to have. Tweens and teens are no different from us, and keeping them focused on the present is an excellent exercise. This activity helps them to notice what they are; thinking, feeling, or even seeing in the world around them at that particular moment.
The above sheet really is all about thinking about themselves, and their current thoughts and feelings. What are the five things that they notice around them, about themselves NOW.
We have already covered a friendship mindful activity for tweens, alongside an activity for looking at the mistakes our tweens have made. All three of these activities are from My Mindful Journal, which is designed to help our children to be more mindful overall. Thinking about their experiences, and what those experiences have taught them about themselves, and beyond.
Anything that can keep our tweens and teens a little calmer, and help them to learn how to be just that little bit more mindful is good, right?
Mindfulness can, in particular, for slightly older children, assist them in stopping their automatic reactions to specific situations; which can be harmful to them over a long period of time. For example, how many of us with tweens are a little frustrated that they automatically think that if they are being asked to do something, we are, in fact, telling them off for not having done it?!?! Due to the changes that are occur inside our older children’s mind, their emotional responses can often be extreme, and unchecked. Mindfulness helps them to slowly learn to control, and take a break from that turmoil; to live in the present moment.
It is hard sometimes to step back, and walk in our teens shoes. But there is merit in trying to empathise with them. Take a moment yourself when you are talking to your teen, and try to remember what it felt like when you were younger. A little empathy can go a long way in helping to understand how your children feel, and what they are going through.
To download the printable – just click on the square image below and it is yours.
Do feel free to check out the other activities we have on mindfulness on the site, including:
Mindfulness resources for kids
These mindfulness resources for kids are great resources to help you and your kids stay in the moment and live in the now.
Mindful art activities for children #31DaysOfLearning
Art activities that help kids to be mindful and stay in the moment.
10 ways mindfulness can help you be a better parent
Mindfulness for YOU so you can help your child better.
Free hippo mindful coloring pages: Buy our coloring book for adults and kids on Amazon today
Our hippo mindfulness colouring pages both for you and for your children.
How to help your kids mental health and wellbeing #31DaysOfLearning
Exercises to help your children be more mindful, including an excellent breathing exercise.
Free worry tree to help ease your kids fears
This is a brilliant tool to help kids talk about and "get rid of" their worries.
We also have a few ideas for you from other sites around the globe too! There are so many excellent resources from other sites like ours…
Mindful activities for kids from other sites
Here are a few more ideas for you about mindful activities that your kids can do today.
50 Mindful Journal Prompts for Teens
Some prompts for the journal that you might now have from Upside Down Books - or just some general journaling ideas for your kids.
Tip To Encourage Mindful Sibling Relationships
Ideas for encouraging mindful sibling relationships - something that we struggle with a little in our family...so perhaps some of you do to?
Inspiring Your Child to Love Themselves
Helping your kids with their self-esteem is a great way to encourage them to be more mindful too. Why not check out this advice to help them?
If you like this activity we have a few more mindful activities to come out in the coming weeks. Make sure you can come back for them! To help – sign up to our newsletter so you don’t miss them.
Thanks for coming to see us; we love you all!
Helen
Helen Neale
Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, website editor and a qualified counsellor with experience of working with both children and adults.She is a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapists, with her own private practise. She also freelances with her local Mind organisation.Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, use those grey cells at the same time, and supplement her counselling income.KiddyCharts has reach of over 680k across socials and the site. The site works with big family brands to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10. She is a specialist counsellor for neurodivergent individuals and brings this expertise to her resources and the site. She is also an ADHDer herself.KiddyCharts gives 51%+ profits to charities, focused on supporting mental health and a community in TanzaniaHelen has also worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on.Get in touch TODAY!