Helping children and adolescents feel calm is a powerful skill and tool for the adults in a child's life to have.  

 

The practice of mindfulness has been scientifically proven to change the brains of adults in positive ways.  Mindfulness for children is just as effective in helping them to find calm more readily, regulate behavior and emotion, improve focus and get along more harmoniously with peers, family and adults. 

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Children's brains are still forming at a rapid rate.

 

A recent study showed after 8 weeks of regular mindfulness practice a group of adults' brains showed on MRIs to have grown gray matter in parts of the brain responsible for rationalizing and regulating and shrunk parts of the brain that react with fear.  

 

Can you imagine how mindfulness practice can affect the formation of the child's brain?  

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I would encourage you to pause for a moment and just imagine if children with hyperactive behavior, anxiety or depression could learn to do that?  

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After 20 years of working with children and adolescents in various capacities as a school counselor, behavior specialist and clinical outpatient settings. 

 

I have see profound improvement in children's mood and behavior after

 

I have introduced them to mindfulness practices.  

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I often utilize directive play therapy with children as a therapeutic modality.  Play is the primary way that children learn about their world, understand how things work, express themselves, develop new physical skills, develop new mental skills and develop social skills and bonds.  In directive play therapy, the therapist traditionally plays a bigger role and encourages the child to engage in specific activities.  It is also used to teach children skills such as empathy, mindfulness, compassion, improved self-worth and respect for others.