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Sometimes a term gets repeated so often that the meaning becomes obscure. While it might seem like we鈥檙e all talking about the same thing, there鈥檚 a good chance we鈥檙e just glossing over our different ideas of what the word means.

Take mindfulness. Is it different from meditation? Is it appropriate for young children? Is it important for young children? Let鈥檚 start with ZERO TO THREE鈥檚 : intentional and non-judgmental present-moment awareness.

According to Maria Gehl, ZERO TO THREE鈥檚 project director of Mindfulness in Early Childhood, the benefits are clear for teachers and caregivers. 鈥淲hen adults are self-aware,鈥� she says, 鈥渢hey are better at helping kids develop their social and emotional learning skills.鈥�

For very young children, mindfulness always starts with the adults. In the pre-K classroom, there are also ways to engage children directly.

Here are six resources for educators who want to usher pre-K learners into the world of mindfulness.

1.  In this September 2020 Washington Post article, Brooklyn mom Steph Fairyington chronicles her efforts to quell her 4-year-old daughter鈥檚 anxiety. She reads by meditation teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn, consults psychologist Phyllis Cohen and tries Scott L. Rogers鈥檚 . Fairyington arrives at a toddler-appropriate practice that 鈥渂rings levity to our relationship and household that feels especially critical and urgent during this difficult and tender time.鈥�

2. Words of Wisdom. This program of the David Lynch Foundation modifies Transcendental Meditation (TM) for younger practitioners. (TM works best for those 10 years and up; Words of Wisdom is for any child old enough to keep a secret鈥�that is, the mantra that a meditator silently repeats.) While TM is traditionally practiced with eyes closed, Words of Wonder participants keep their eyes opened; they can also walk around or perform simple tasks while meditating.

Rena Boone of the David Lynch Foundation recalls how TM changed her life when she was a public schoolteacher in Long Beach, Cal., in the 1970s. Today, she partners with schools in Washington D.C. to bring mindfulness into the classroom. During the pandemic, they continue to work with educators and students. 鈥淧eople are looking for ways to heal this trauma and stress,鈥� she says. More research into Words of Wisdom is called for, but are promising.

3. . The Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison created this resource. It works like this: twice a week for 20 minutes, children between 4 and 6 discover stories and practices for paying attention, regulating their emotions and cultivating kindness. that kids who had participated in the Kindness Curriculum earn higher marks in academic performance measures and show greater improvements in self-regulation and other measures than kids who had not.

4. writes and speaks about the 鈥淎BCs of Attention, Balance and Compassion.鈥� She has created age-appropriate exercises, songs, games, and fables for children as young as four years. Her involves the whole family in mindfulness.

5. . This 30-lesson plan incorporates printable puppets to teach children between 2 and 6 years old about using their breath, along with movement, play and sensory activities. Helen Maffini, co-author of (2008), created the curriculum, which is used in schools across Asia.

6. . This simple curriculum of mindfulness exercises was developed for kids age 3-8 and their parents and teachers. It starts with learning about the brain and proceeds to skills of focusing and calming. (.) A key element of this program is 鈥減reparing yourself first鈥� through breathing exercises, movement and paying attention to your five senses.

This story originally published on Early Learning Nation and is now archived on 社区黑料. Learn more here.