Mindfulness


Remember in SEL class! Let's practice a MINDFUL Minute!

  • Sit down in a chair/floor or lay down on the floor

  • Close your eyes or watch the video

  • Once you you hear the bell, begin taking deep belly breaths

  • Continue breathing until you hear the bell again.

This is something you can do each morning before school start. It's okay to do this more than once!

Having a break spot or calm down corner can be extremely beneficial for all students.

Many classrooms in Wellington have a dedicated spot that students can take a moment to themselves. Using a timer and strategies, students are able to regulate their emotions and rejoin the class.

Below are some strategies that can be helpful even using at home.

Create a Family "Coping Kit" to deal with Anxiety

  • Feelings Wheel to be able to name and accurately describe emotion.

  • Private journal or sketchbook

  • Yoga or mindfulness

  • Jar-everyone write down on a piece of paper

    1. One activty they would like to do

    2. Favorite movie

    3. Favorite board game

    4. Favorite meal

Example of Calm Down space

Activities for home:

1. Try to build your own break spot at home. It could be in your bedroom, or a quiet spot near a window. May it's just a comfy chair you love to sit in.


2. Create your own calm down toolbox. Find an old shoebox and fill it with some small items that you can use when you are having strong emotions. (Legos, playdoh, fidget toy.)

What is Mindfulness? (And what does it mean to you?)


Activities for home:

  1. Start a gratitude journal

  2. Try using a coloring book

  3. Try fingerknitting

  4. Practice Belly Breaths

  5. Go for a walk

  6. Go online and use mindfulschools.org

GROUNDING - from https://copingskillsforkids.com/calming-anxiety

This technique will take you through your five senses to help remind you of the present. This is a calming technique that can help you get through tough or stressful situations. Take a deep belly breath to begin.

  • 5 - LOOK: Look around for 5 things that you can see, and say them out loud. For example, you could say, I see the computer, I see the cup, I see the picture frame.

  • 4 - FEEL: Pay attention to your body and think of 4 things that you can feel, and say them out loud. For example, you could say, I feel my feet warm in my socks, I feel the hair on the back of my neck, or I feel the pillow I am sitting on.

  • 3 - LISTEN: Listen for 3 sounds. It could be the sound of traffic outside, the sound of typing or the sound of your tummy rumbling. Say the three things out loud.

  • 2 - SMELL: Say two things you can smell. If you’re allowed to, it’s okay to move to another spot and sniff something. If you can’t smell anything at the moment or you can’t move, then name your 2 favorite smells.

  • 1 - TASTE: Say one thing you can taste. It may be the toothpaste from brushing your teeth, or a mint from after lunch. If you can’t taste anything, then say your favorite thing to taste.

  • Take another deep belly breath to end.


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