Do try this at home: Mindfulness activities for kids

Kevin McKee, elementary school counsellor at the Western Academy of Beijing, has two activities that will keep eight-to-ten year olds happy and stimulate their emotional development too.

DIY zen garden

Help kids to create their very own calming tool – a miniature zen garden. Miniature zen gardens, or ‘karesansui’, originated in Japan and have been used by the Japanese for centuries to manage stress and promote mindfulness. They are also easy to make.

Step 1 Find a shoebox top or other shallow box and fill it about one-third of the way with sand. Add a some stones and air plants – for any supplies you don't already have at home, we recommend Laitai Flower Market. Your child could theme their garden with ornaments or seashells from a recent vacation. Remember, less is more so don’t fill the box with too many baubles.

Step 2 After assembling and organising the garden, let your child use a fork to draw lines in the sand. In a traditional zen garden, these lines represent waves and the rocks represent mountains and islands. Give your child freedom to design and rearrange the garden as they like.

Why it works By focusing on one calming activity, your kids are practising mental stillness which produces a feeling of relaxation. Not only do they have an activity that can keep them entertained for hours, they also have a tool to help them if they are feeling anxious or upset about something and need to clear their mind and refocus.

Gratitude challenge

With summer vacation still fresh in their minds, and an exciting school year ahead, now is a good time to talk with your child about appreciating the world we live in. Why not hold a month-long gratitude challenge for your family?

Step 1 Brainstorm a list of things to be thankful for (imagination, family, laughter or music as examples) and assign one concept to each day of the month.

Step 2 Then, have each member of the family take a photo that represents the daily concept. At the end of each day, family members can display their photos and talk about why they are grateful for the item they photographed. Your family could make a collage out of the photos for an inspiring artwork.

To make this project even more meaningful, follow this simple rule – you must take the picture from the list on the day it is assigned.

Why it works This helps everyone stay present and focused on each concept. And remember, there are no correct or incorrect pictures to take – each day is up to each family member’s interpretation. Just encourage your budding photographers to get their creative juices flowing!

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