How to Teach Your Child to Practice Mindfulness the Montessori Way

As we are going through challenging times, understanding and practicing Mindfulness is now more important than ever.

Mindfulness is the ability to focus on the present moment – and do so in a positive way. It helps children learn to reflect on the triggers and take a pause before choosing how to react. It allows them to savor the beautiful moments of the day and be kind to themselves and others. Mindfulness also enables our students to stay focused and concentrate when working on Montessori lessons.

At La Prima Casa Montessori, our students build emotional intelligence by learning how to identify their emotions, understand them and choose their reactions. Mindfulness is an important skill we teach our students to prepare them for life.

Five Mindfulness Activities to Practice

Here are five Mindfulness activities that will help you become more mindful and teach Mindfulness to your child at home:

1. Practice and model Mindfulness to your child. Take moments to stop and breathe and model emotional intelligence. Verbalize these techniques with your child by saying: “I need to take a deep breath now.” Modeling is an important tenet of Montessori education.
2. Offer sensory activities that stimulate your child’s senses. Experiences that stimulate the sense of touch, such as kneading dough by hand or experimenting with grains, can help your child practice Mindfulness.
3. Help your child connect with nature. When outdoors, encourage your child to stop and smell a flower or practice walking meditation. Those are all great activities to help your child practice Mindfulness.
4. Play Montessori’s “Silence Game.” Pick a “Quiet Corner” in your house, where the family gathers for a quiet moment. Explain what’s expected to your child. You can say: “Make your body as still as possible. What do you hear?” Offering opportunities to children to have stand-and-stare time can help them connect with the world around them.
5. Take advantage of the free Mindfulness classes available online. For example, Mindful School offers ten free Mindfulness Classes for Kids on its website. Use these resources to teach your child how to practice mindful breathing and movement, express gratitude or do yoga.

(NOTE: You do NOT need to sign up to watch Mindful School’s free Mindfulness classes. Please SCROLL DOWN THE PAGE to access the free Mindfulness lessons at the bottom of the site.)

Mindfulness has always been a key aspect of Montessori education, with even the youngest children benefiting from practicing Mindfulness in Montessori classrooms.

Whichever activity you choose, practicing Mindfulness with your child will help you and your little one stay positive, calm and focused during these challenging times and beyond.