Mindfulness practices are extra important during stressful times like these. 

Benefits of Mindfulness

Everyone faces challenging situations and stressful events. Having the skills to manage difficult times can help us thrive. Because we are not born with these skills, we need to be taught. One especially good skill to help children, adolescents, and adults cope with challenges we face in our daily lives is mindfulness. Mindfulness can be thought of as a super-skill that’s made up of two small skills:

• • Awareness: noticing the little things right now (thoughts, feelings, and sensations)

  • Acceptance: maintaining this awareness with gentleness and kindness, rather than trying to change or judge the experience.

Mindfulness helps individuals to pay attention to what’s going on right now, while also being kind to themselves and those around them —        even when it’s hard to do.

Effects

The effects of mindfulness for children and adolescents has a growing scientific literature with evidence demonstrating it can:

• • Reduce stress

  • Reduce emotional problems 

  • Reduce behavior problems and aggression

  • Reduce depression

  • Improve happiness

  • Increase self-regulation and attention abilities

  • Increase calming and relaxation skills

  • Improve cognitive performance

  • Increase resilience

Sources: Zenner, Herrnleben-Kurz, & Walach, 2014; Sapthiang, Van Gordon, & Shonin, 2019