Student Wellness

Mindfulness has been shown to help improve focus, emotional regulation, stress management, and teaches us to observe thoughts and feelings without reacting impulsively. All of these help to build resilience, better coping skills, improved attention and problem-solving, which leads to greater well-being and academic success.  Further, it provides tools to calm our bodies, understand emotions better, and build self-esteem, making us feel less anxious and more present.  Here are some great resources to learn about and practice mindfulness with your kids:

MindYeti Mindfulness Video Playlist (19 Videos)

Bubble Bounce

Rainbow Relaxation

The Body Scanner

Thought Bubbles

Mindful Jar

Brain Breaks by Pure Edge - FREE Apple App

Brain Breaks by Pure Edge - FREE Google Play App

Breathing exercises activate your body's natural relaxation response, which can help manage big emotions (ie: stress, anger, or sadness) and improving focus by calming the nervous system, lowering heart rate, and increasing oxygen. When practiced regularly they can help build self-regulation skills, helping to calm down, reset, and regain control during overwhelming moments. In turn this can lead to better sleep, reduced anxiety, and improved concentration. Here are some great calming breathing techniques for kids:

Belly Breathing

5 Finger Breathing

Box Breathing

Hot Cocoa Breathing

A growth mindset reminds us that our abilities can develop with effort, therefore building resilience, confidence, and helping us see challenges and mistakes as learning opportunities.  This mindset encourages taking risks and builds persistence, both of which lead to higher academic achievement and better problem-solving skills compared to a fixed mindset.  Jump into learning about growth mindset with these videos below:

ClassDojo Growth Mindset Video Playlist (5 Videos)

Developing a Growth Mindset

Growth Mindset for Kids

Positive self-talk teaches us to replace negative thoughts with empowering ones (ie: "I can do this") which help to build confidence, resilience, and a growth mindset. This in turn boosts self-esteem, improves emotional regulation, motivates persistence, enhances problem-solving, reduces stress, and helps them view setbacks as learning opportunities. It fosters a more capable self-image, encouraging them to tackle challenges and build stronger relationships. Check out these videos and resources below on how to start practicing more positive self-talk with your kiddos:

Positive Self-Talk

The Affirmation Song

Affirmations for Kids

Positive Self-Talk for Kids: Benefits, Examples and Tips (Parent Article)

Gratitude is a very powerful habit that can boost happiness, resilience, empathy, and social skills, while also reducing stress, anxiety, and depression.  It rewires our brains to focus on positive experiences, improves emotional regulation, and fosters a stronger sense of well-being and connection with others, all of which can lead to better academic engagement and healthier coping mechanisms.  Check out these kid-friendly ways to get start on practicing gratitude: 

Gratitude for Kids

Hello Gratitude

The Gratitude Jar