Mindfulness-Based

Stress Reduction for

Children and Youth
Terri Kendall, Psy.S., NCSP
Agenda
1. Overview of Mindfulness
2. Communication Tips
3. Interventions and Accommodations
4. Activities
5. Apps and Websites
Concept of Mindfulness
To notice what is happening in the present moment.

To be aware of ones senses, thoughts, emotions

without reacting. No judgment, only accepting the
moment as is.

Compare to art project, musical instrument, athletic

endeavor, etc. We are in the moment without
judgment

Neuroplasticity: repeated experiences shape our

brain. Mindfulness can change our brain and body.
Extra Thoughts on
Mindfulness
We tend to seek pleasure and run from pain.
Instead, we can turn towards our pain with
sensitivity and tenderness.
Investigate our thoughts and feelings and

beliefs and needs.

Nourish our self with compassion.

Listen mindfully to ourselves and others. This

helps with healing.

Focus is on paying attention with intention to

be kind and curious and healing ourselves,

rather than fixing situations.
Mindfulness is not
Peaceful and calm
Pleasant
Being in control
Relaxation

In contrast, it means letting down your guard,

observing and experiencing in the moment,
allowing life to touch you. You dont have to
be trapped in fear.
Modern Obstacles
Difficult emotions
Conflicts with self or others
Stressful situations (schedule, tests,

competitions, hard assignments)

Bright lights
Electronics
Television
Email/Text
Social Media
Worry is an illusion.
Worrying does not take away tomorrows
troubles. It takes away todays peace.

Anxiety=worrying, doubting, nervousness

Anxiety is in our heads. Our thinking can

change our anxiety level.

Anxiety is linked with thoughts of the future.

Depression is a non-feeling
Depressive thinking is linked with thoughts in the
past.

Depression is described as blah, numb, stuck,

sad.

Associated with feelings of shame, regret, guilt,

sadness.

People need to express thoughts and feel feelings and

learn to release these feelings of shame and regret.
Benefits of Mindfulness
Improve focus
Calmness
Lower anxiety
Less depressive thinking
Impulse control
Better responses when faced with
overwhelming emotions (emotional
regulation)
Compassion and empathy
Physical health
Life Improvements
Relationships
Less conflicts
Learning/academics: Better test scores, better

concentration
Sports
Music
Visual Art
Emotions: reduce anxiety, stress, tension
Hope that we can gain control in our lives due to

emotional reactions not taking over our behavior.

Body Cues
We feel our stress in our body before our brain
processes and understands it.

We need to teach our students to pay attention to

their bodies, so they can use coping skills before
their brains are overwhelmed.
***Take breaks before they are needed.

Ask students how stress affects their body, such

as stomach, heart rate, breathing, sweating, jaw,
biting fingernails, etc.
We can only control
ourselves.
No one can make us feel a certain way and we can not make anyone behave
a certain way. We are able to change our thoughts and reactions, although it
takes awareness and practice.

Mindfulness can help greatly with this by accepting the moment without
judging.

Label and feel the feeling we need to feel.

Decide what we have control over. It is not what happens to us; it is how we
respond. External circumstances v Internal conditions

Inner peace begins the moment your choose not to allow another person or event
to control your emotions.

One of the happiest moments ever is when you feel the courage to let go of what
you cannot change.
To facilitate MINDFULNESS
Have student be in the here and now
Labeling ones feeling can soften the
identification with it.
Observe thoughts. Goal is not to get rid of
thoughts.
Deep breathing
Ask questions to help student get in the present
Calming environment
Music
Lighting
 Most of our communication is
NONVERBAL
Eye contact
Gestures: hands or head
Tone of voice

Posture (open v closed)

Facial expressions

Personal space

Body language

Discuss texting/emailing. Positive becomes neutral.

Neutral becomes negative. Funny becomes less
funny.
Nonverbal Exercise
We all need to gather our
possessions and move to another
building as soon as possible.
Adult Responses
Calm demeanor: gestures, body language, etc.
Soft steady voice
Supportive words: Acknowledge feelings
Questions to show and gain collaboration
Avoid arguments
Firm boundaries (not power struggles)
Allow wait time after commands
Patience

Flexibility
Conflict resolution: non-confrontational, positive
Sense of humor
Frequent praise and encouragement
Supportive Questions
How can I help you?
What do you need to feel better?
How can I help you feel better?
What do you have control over right now?
How are you feeling?
What can we do right now to make this

situation better?
Accommodations
Reduced workload
Alternative ways to assess knowledge
Allow breaks regularly
Read body cues to provide break
Help student learn their own body cues and

energy level
Calming strategies a part of the day.
Classroom Interventions
Calm down spot in classroom
Calm spot outside of classroom
Soothing options: music, lights, ball, clay, exercise (yoga, stretch, walk)
Relaxation processes: counting, visualization, deep breathing, positive
affirmations
Conference with students about ideas.
Allow them to help younger students.
Encourage positive self-talk
Special adult mentor (safe person)
Journaling
Drawing, coloring (e.g. mandalas), or computer time
Visual schedules
Social stories
Reward and consequence plan
Opportunities to fix problems
Model appropriate responses
Activities
1. Bell or Gong: Sound a gong while students close their eyes
and listen carefully for when the gong sound ends. They
then raise their hands.
2. Mindful eating: Raisin activity
3. Teach calm breathing
4. Have students color or draw mandalas.
5. Ask students how they would create calmness in their
classroom (lights, music, noise and voice levels).
6. Positive Affirmations: Make a label and repeat often.
7. Breathing Buddy: stuffed animal on stomach. Teaches
mindful breathing and how to have fun calmly.
8. Puzzles: (jigsaws, word, number, etc.)
9. Learning Basket
10. Yoga in the classroom
Activities
1. Smell and Tell: close eyes and smell things like orange, lavender, basil, etc.
This teaches how to isolate sense to really focus on one experience.
2. Heart Beat Activity: Run in place, then stop and put hand to heart and listen to
breath as eyes are closed.
3. Soft Touch: Objects (stone, feather, soft toy, etc.). Close eyes and describe to
their partners what they are feeling.
4. Squish and Squeeze: Students tighten up everything from toes to legs to fists
to stomach to shoulders up to head and hold for a few seconds and then
completely relax. This teaches how to be fully present.
5. Marble Roll: Every student has a paper towel roll. One marble is to be
transferred very slowly from one students roll to the next without dropping or
using hands.
6. Seated Walking: As lift foot, breathe in fully. Breathe out as set foot down. Do
the same with other foot. Repeat for 8 times. Can do more sets.
7. Rainbow Walk: Have student walk in nature and look for something purple,
blue, red, orange, green, and yellow. Either draw these things, take pictures,
or write them down.
8. Gratitude Lists e.g. G.L.A.D.
Apps or Websites
Stop, Breathe, Think: After a brief interview
on feeling, you get recommended
meditations.
Smiling Mind
Take a Break: guided meditations
Go Noodle
Head Space
Mind Yeti