Practicing Mindfulness in Nature with Young Children

One of my favorite ways to engage children in nature is through mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of becoming fully aware of our bodies, minds, and surroundings. It's a skill that can be nurtured with time and has wonderful benefits for children, helping them build focus, emotional awareness, and calm.

Here’s a simple guided mindfulness activity that you can try with your little ones:

🌱 Nature Body Scan 🌱

1. Find a quiet spot outdoors, ideally a soft patch of grass. Lie down on your back with your arms and legs stretched out comfortably.

2. Close your eyes and take a deep breath in. Hold it for 3 seconds… then exhale slowly for 3 seconds. Repeat a few times.

3. Now, let’s focus on how our bodies feel in nature:

• Can you feel the sun? Where does it warm your body—your arms? Your face

• Do you feel the breeze? Where is it touching—your hands? Your legs?H

• How does the ground feel beneath you? Is it hard or soft? Cool or warm?

4. After a few minutes, open your eyes and take in your surroundings.

5. How do you feel?

It’s normal for children to need some practice to engage with mindfulness activities like this. Stay patient, keep trying, and see how their interest evolves over time!

What's your favorite way to practice mindfulness in nature? Share in the comments below!

For more tips on mindfulness with children, explore these helpful resources:

• Harvard Education: Making Time for Mindfulness

• Green Child Magazine: Body Scan for Kids

• Mindful Magazine: Mindfulness for Kids

• Child Mind Institute: The Power of Mindfulness