Mindfulness for Children

The chaos and rapidly changing conditions of the modern world are deeply affecting children's mental and emotional worlds. Stress, anxiety, attention deficit disorder and social pressures are no longer problems exclusive to adults. Mindfulness is emerging as an important tool for children to develop psychological resilience and strengthen their awareness skills. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of mindfulness for children and the importance of introducing this powerful practice at an early age. Because mindfulness is a skill that not only adults but also children can use throughout their lives.

We may think that it would be ideal for children to develop the skills they will gain through mindfulness before they encounter the stresses of modern life, before the pressures of academic life increase, before they face financial difficulties or family problems...

But real life is not like that...

Many children are already burdened by societal values. Society places more importance on test results, earning good money, or status superiority than on a state of well-being alone. As scientific research also indicates, the lives of many children and young people are actually filled with stress. Some argue that this stress stems from the fast-paced, social media-driven lifestyle of the modern world; others claim it arises from society's pressure to achieve ‘success’ by securing admission to a prestigious university.

Regardless of age, gender, origin, educational level or socio-economic status, many children and adolescents are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, anxiety, obesity, eating disorders, addiction or suicidal tendencies.

There is no prerequisite such as waiting until the age of 45, losing one's job, or having a heart attack for mindfulness practices to be effective and sustainable. Mindfulness is a skill that children can acquire at a young age and use throughout their lives to cope with stress, which is a part of life. In fact, research has shown that prolonged and persistent stressful emotions and situations have a negative impact on memory, emotional intelligence, social development, and moral behaviour. Therefore, introducing mindfulness at an early age can even be considered an ‘early intervention.’

Children can also spend their days on autopilot. It is true that children may be better focused than adults at this point. They focus intently on a fun game or enjoyable activity with their friends. Even if they have difficulty identifying or expressing their emotions, they immediately show their feelings by reacting to the situation at hand. However, children live in a world where they are told what to do: when to get up, when to go to school, what to do at school, etc. They carry out their daily tasks routinely without being consciously aware of what they are doing. Ask a child what they had for dinner the night before. Their inability to remember may surprise you. This is not just because of a poor memory. It is more likely because they were not paying attention. They may have been watching their favourite TV show or hurriedly eating what was put in front of them after coming home from football practice.

Children tend to be more inclined to practise mindfulness than adults, even though they function on autopilot in their daily lives.

This can be seen more clearly in a baby's first experience with food. The baby looks at the food, touches it and tastes it. Babies and toddlers experience everything, and every experience is new. Young children live in the moment. They react emotionally to sudden situations and then quickly let go and move on to the next experience. You may have observed this in a child who cries, then has a tantrum, then stops, gets up, and goes to play with a toy. Children find it easier to forget the past. You can see this in how a young child can quickly fall into a deep sleep without thinking about daily activities or other concerns. But I repeat, this does not mean they are mindful, as it does not prevent them from struggling to delay their desires and regulate their emotions.

Stress, anxiety, depression and eating disorders are quite common in children and adolescents. Adapted mindfulness practices offer specific benefits for children with these symptoms: First, mindfulness can improve memory. As mentioned earlier, children often forget things because they do not pay attention. Children remember better when they are focused on things that can help them with learning and sports and are aware of them.

Using mindfulness as an exercise to develop attention and focus can be beneficial for concentration problems. Mindfulness training can also be beneficial for aggressive children because it encourages self-control and self-management. By focusing on themselves and gaining more awareness, children learn about their thought processes and how their minds work.

Mindfulness is a powerful tool that helps children live their lives in a more conscious and balanced way. The benefits it offers in areas such as coping with stress, developing focus skills and emotional awareness can make a significant difference in children's developmental journey. However, teaching these skills becomes more effective with the right guidance and methods.

If you want your child to acquire these skills and make mindfulness a natural part of their daily life, you can participate in the ‘Mindfulness for Children’ training courses organised by the Mindfulness Institute. This programme aims to help children express their emotions, observe their thoughts and become aware of their bodies. Additionally, it has been carefully designed by expert instructors to support children in improving their attention and concentration, strengthening their focus skills, and developing a compassionate attitude.

Contact us for detailed information and to register; help your child lay the foundations for a life full of awareness while supporting their social and emotional development!

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-Excerpted from Prof. Dr. Zümra ATALAY's book entitled ‘Mindfulness: Conscious Awareness.’