Welcome to
Creative Mindfulness for Children
This is an 6 lesson video recorded programme suitable for children aged 8yrs-12yrs.
The programme has been created, designed and recorded by Leona McDonnell.
Leona is an Irish based IMMA Accredited Creative Mindfulness Kids Practitioner
based on the Louise Shanagher Creative Mindfulness for Children method.
The aim of this programme is to bring Mindfulness, Meditation, Wellness and Emotional Resilience to children and to enhance their daily lives with ‘forever’ coping tools and techniques to use during the daily demands and struggles of life that they face.
Having suffered with anxiety, fear and worry as a young child and into her teenage years and early adulthood, Leona has devised this 8 lesson programme in a way to teach and empower children ‘from the inside out’. This programme fuels children with the knowledge that ‘Everything we NEED is already WITHIN us’, we just need to learn how to use these internal, built in tools!
In this programme, Leona helps children to realise, learn and use their internal strength and internal resources to build their confidence, mental, emotional and physical resilience and self belief. Leona teaches children using the Mindfulness, Kindness, Compassion, Self-Compassion and Resilience practices she uses daily in her own life to help her to live a calm, happy, peaceful and confident life.
Please click into the Curriculum tab for further information on the programme structure.
How is the Programme Structured?
There are 6 Lesson’s in the programme, which are structured as follows:
- Lesson 1: My Stormy Mind (The Mind Jar)
- Lesson 2: My busy Monkey Mind
- Lesson 3: All of my Emotions and Feelings belong in my Heart
- Lesson 4: My Worries and Me
- Lesson 5: My Thoughts are like Clouds passing by in the Bright Blue Sky
- Lesson 6: Being a Kind Friend to Myself
Each lesson includes the following elements:
- Lesson introduction and explanation from Leona
- A breathing practice
- A talk on the lesson theme
- A meditation practice
- An activity practice
** Leona has designed this programme in a way that enables children to move through each lesson at their own pace. The programme can be completed in their own time frame. **
What will children learn from this programme?
- Leona has devised this programme in a way to help children to learn and understand that they don’t have to be afraid of their thoughts and emotions, that they don’t have to believe what their thoughts tell them, that they are not their thoughts, that they are so much bigger than their thoughts.
- Each lesson will help children to realise that it is ok to experience different thoughts, emotions, feelings and the physical sensations that these can create in their body.
- Children will feel empowered that they now have mindful tools in their ‘Mindful Tool Box’ to help them to self-regulate their breathing, their thoughts and their emotions.
- Children will learn the importance of welcoming each emotion as they experience it, learn to be-friend themselves and each emotional visitor and also learn how to help the emotions leave their minds and body when the time is right.
- Children will be equipped with a set of ‘forever’ coping tools and techniques to use in their daily lives.
Curriculum
- 7 Sections
- 35 Lessons
- 6 Weeks
Expand all sectionsCollapse all sections
- Lesson 1: My Stormy Mind (The Mind Jar)In Lesson 1, we talk about how our thoughts and emotions can create our stormy minds and how it is ok to experience different thoughts, emotions and physcial feelings inside our bodies. We do a lovely breathing practice, a meditation practice and even make a 'Stormy Mind Jar' of our own!5
- Lesson 2: My Busy Monkey MindIn Lesson 2, we talk about how we can describe our busy minds of thoughts and emotions like a 'Monkey Mind'. We also talk about how we can calm and tame the busy monkeys in our minds. We do a lovely breathing practice, a meditation practice and have some nice activities to help to calm and tame our busy 'Monkey Minds'.6
- Lesson 3: All of my Emotions and Feelings belong in my HeartIn Lesson 3, we talk about how it is OK to have different emotions and feelings in our minds and bodies. We discuss the different types of thoughts that we may have and the different types of emotions and feelings that we may feel in our bodies when they visit us. We do a lovely breathing practice, a meditation practice and have some nice activities to help us realise that 'Everything Belongs in our Hearts'.6
- 4.1Welcome to Lesson 3: All of my Emotions and Feelings belong in my Heart2 Minutes
- 4.2Breathing Practice: Hot Chocolate Breathing6 Minutes
- 4.3All of my Emotions and Feelings belong in my Heart17 Minutes
- 4.4Meditation: Everything Belongs Meditation10 Minutes
- 4.5My Emotions and Feelings: Activity5 Minutes
- 4.6Activity Worksheets2 Minutes
- Lesson 4: My Worries and MeIn Lesson 4, we talk about the type of Worries that we may have, whether they are big or small. We talk about the Kind and Angry Wolves that can help us to love or let go of our worries. We do a lovely breathing practice, a meditation practice and have some nice activities to help us to be a Kind Friend to ourselves and our worries.6
- Lesson 5: My Thoughts are like Clouds passing by in the Bright Blue SkyIn Lesson 5, we talk about how we can imagine that our mind is like the 'Bright Blue Sky' and that our thoughts are like the 'Clouds' that pass by in the sky. We do a lovely breathing practice, a meditation practice and have some nice activities to help us to realise that all of our thoughts will pass over like clouds passing over in the bright blue sky.5
- 6.1Welcome to Lesson 5: My Thoughts are like Clouds passing by in the Bright Blue Sky2 Minutes
- 6.2Breathing Practice: 4 Square Breaths6 Minutes
- 6.3My Thoughts are like Clouds passing by in the Bright Blue Sky11 Minutes
- 6.4Meditation: Blue Sky Meditation11 Minutes
- 6.5My Thoughts are like Clouds: Activity5 Minutes
- Lesson 6: Being a Kind Friend to MyselfIn Lesson 6, we talk about how important it is that we treat ourselves like we would treat our very best friend. We talk about using kind and caring thoughts and words towards and about ourselves. We do a lovely breathing practice, a meditation practice and have some nice activities to help to be kind and caring to ourselves.6
- Congratulations you have completed the programme!!1
