Most likely you have heard the term “mindfulness” somewhere in your daily life. Mindfulness is the practice of focusing our awareness on the present moment, while also acknowledging our feelings, thoughts, or bodily sensations. It is a way of slowing down and experiencing the world around us. You may have heard of mindfulness in a yoga class, with reference to eating mindfully, or as a stress management technique. Many people use apps such as Mind Yeti, Calm, or Headspace as guided opportunities to practice mindfulness. (Some of these may even be free to access through your medical insurance plan).
Research studies have found that practicing mindfulness can reduce anxiety and depression, lower blood pressure, and improve sleep. Mindfulness can help with depression for some people by helping them develop the ability to stay in the present, rather than worry about what has happened in the past or what may happen in the future. It may help people avoid all or nothing thoughts, such as “Bad things always happen to me” or “Nothing ever goes right for me.” With the rise of mental health issues for children, even before the pandemic, mindfulness may offer a positive solution. “In the 10 years leading up to the pandemic, feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness—as well as suicidal thoughts and behaviors—increase by about 40% among young people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System” (From the APA 2023 Trends report: Kids’ Mental Health is in Crisis).
Some teachers at Thurgood Marshall are already using mindfulness practices to support student self-regulation at school. These practices fit well with the Social and Emotional Learning we already incorporate daily into our schedule. When the community-based organization Space Between offered free classroom sessions, we jumped at the chance to add this support for our students, especially since Space Between was able to offer these sessions free of charge due to a grant they had received. This year, we started with all of our fourth-grade classes participating in a once per week thirty-minute mindfulness session for 12 weeks. Our second session of classes began this week! If your child’s class is participating in the Space Between lessons, you will have received a letter about this from your child’s teacher.
Here is some information about the program from Kara-Lee Rutolo:
This program will be taught by Ms. Kara-Lee, a mindfulness instructor from Space Between, a local nonprofit organization that brings research-based practices in mindfulness, breathing, and intentional movement to children, teens, educators, and families across Washington State. Families are an important part of this mindfulness experience and will have a chance to practice together during our family programs and community offerings throughout the year.
Space Between believes that integrated mindfulness practices promote alignment, authenticity, and connection. The mission of Space Between is to facilitate human and school transformation through mindfulness practices. Their vision is to promote wholeness and wellness for all students. Some examples of how we will use mindfulness in our class are noticing and naming our emotions, using mindful breathing before test-taking to calm anxiety and improve focus, or pausing when feeling frustrated or impatient.
The American Psychological Association website suggests these books for children if you are interested in learning more:
A World of Pausabilities: An Exercise in Mindfulness by Frank J. Sileo
Mindful Bea and the Worry Tree by Gail Silver
Bee Still: An Invitation to Meditation by Frank J. Sileo
Baxter Turns Down His Buzz: A Story for Little Kids About ADHD by James M. Foley, DEd
If you would like to experience Space Between’s work yourself, they are offering a retreat for caregivers and educators this Saturday! You can register at the QR code below.
