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Wiggle - freeze game
Wiggle - freeze game
This is an opportunity for children to become aware of their body sensations using movement. To play, have children wiggle, move around, shake, stomp, or dance until you say, "Freeze!" Once everyone stops moving, encourage children to pay close attention to the sensations that they feel in their bodies. You can repeat this game several times and can even play music and pause when it’s time to freeze.
Senses Scavenger Hunt
Senses Scavenger Hunt
Mindfulness asks you to be present in the moment. One way to accomplish that is to connect to the environment using your senses. To practice mindfulness and empower children to use their senses, go on a senses scavenger hunt.
Provide a safe environment for exploration. Here are the steps for kids to follow:
Listen. What do you hear with your ears? Name one thing.
Look. Name one thing that catches your attention when you look around.
Smell. What scent do you notice when you inhale with your nose? Name it.
Touch. Name an object that you enjoy feeling with your hands. Is it soft? Smooth? Rough?
Taste is not encouraged due to safety concerns. If you want to add in the sense of taste, supply a few kid-friendly snacks and ask kids to name flavors they enjoy, like sweet, salty, or sour.
Bubble blowing
Bubble blowing
Kids love bubbles! Try this mindfulness activities with your children.
First, ask the children to reflect on what they’re thinking or feeling. If they find this challenging, you can prompt them by giving examples like, “I feel...” or “I want/need...”
To assist with the emotions and feelings, have your children blow them into the bubble. Demonstrate blowing your bubbles and figuratively putting your thoughts and feelings inside them. For instance, “I feel nervous. I’m going to put that feeling in a bubble and let it float away.”
This is a great way to visually symbolize that thoughts and feelings are momentary, so point out how our thoughts and feelings are just like bubbles: They come up, and they drift away in the breeze. Sometimes they even pop.
Activity Prep
Adults: Create mini obstacle courses such as balancing on a log or encouraging them to observe their surroundings.
Modification Prep: Create the Secret-smelling potion prior to introducing this activity. Fill the glass jar with water until it is halfway full. Add food coloring. Place the items from nature into the jar.
Secret Potion Ingredients:
Clear jars
Water
Food coloring
Flower petals and other items from nature (optional)
Magic stirring stick
Small sponge (cut a large sponge into small pieces) for application.
Jedi training
Jedi training
The ability to connect with nature is a difficult task to master for any young Jedi. But, by being mindful and using your senses, you will be able to practice deep breathing and balance, enhance your senses, and identify plants. Use your Jedi talents to explore the obstacle course!
Modification: Jedi need to be alert at all times! Create a secret-smelling potion (see below) to help connect with the environment. Tell children that it will enhance the environment's natural smell. They simply need to dip their magic sponge into the potion, gently brush it on different surfaces in nature, and sniff the object to smell the mystic aromas of nature. (Demonstrate what this would look like).
Directions:
Go for a walk outside or gather items from nature, such as sticks, leaves, or flower petals, and bring them to you.
Take the small sponge soaked in a secret-smelling potion and gently apply it to an object.
Inhale deeply and discover what scents arise.
Take a little adventure and let kids explore, adding caution to areas that need it, such as thorns or other hazards.
At the end of your adventure, find out what was their favorite smell, least favorite smell, and anything that surprised them.
Note: This is a fun way for adults to explore nature as well!
Before you Go....
Identify a location with trees for this activity.
Take along a blindfold.
Meet a tree
Meet a tree
Find a location near a group of trees. Form groups of two and get ready to experience a tree in a whole new way!
Choose who will be the leader and who will be experiencing the tree.
If you are the leader, gently place a blindfold over your partner's eyes.
Lead your partner carefully to a tree
Have them explore the tree using their senses.
Return to a central location and remove the blindfold
Ask your partner to try to figure out which tree they were exploring blindfolded.
Meditation Sloth Breathing
Follow this breathing mediation after a stressful day.
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