Meditation can be used to help anyone feel calm and forget their everyday cares. Buddhists try to be ‘mindful’ which means be aware of the present moment and the world around you. Here are three activities you can try as a family to help practise mindfulness:
1. Create a sensory surprise bag
Gather items of different texture from around the house and put them in a paper bag. Have your child reach in and explore the items through touch. You can support your child to be mindful by prompting them with questions such as:
- Does the item have edges?
- Does it feel soft and fluffy?
- Does it feel rough or smooth?
Ask your child to describe what they are feeling, what they think the item might be and ask them to describe what they think it’s used for.
2. Practise yoga
Yoga encourages taking time to breathe deeply, engage in body awareness, reduce stress and practise patience and emotional regulation.
You can find different yoga resources on YouTube. British Blind Sport has some great videos on the First Steps and Active At Home pages of its website.
3. Use your ‘Spidey Sense’
Encourage your child to switch on their ‘Spidey Senses’ - the super-focused way Spider-Man keeps tabs on the world around him by using smell, sight, hearing, taste, and touch - to understand their own environment.
This is a fun way to let your child pause and focus on the presentand open themselves up to the different information their senses can bring in.
It’s also a great mindfulness exercise for everyone as it encourages observation and curiosity through an appreciation of all the senses.
