Creative Mindfulness for Children (EYFS)

Lesson Five – Feelings are like Visitors

Aim – To help children understand feelings are like visitors, that they come and go

 

Set the scene – see Lesson One

Make sure everyone is sat comfortably, including yourself.

The session should start with a signifier. I choose to use a sound (chimes or singing bowl) as it gets their attention and signifies it’s time for something new or different. Invite the children to close their eyes but they don’t have to if they don’t want to (be trauma aware). Instead they could lower their gaze, put up hand, stand up etc. Talk about giving the monkey mind a job to do and the job is listening (see video).

Mini Mindfulness Moments

Invite children to notice 3 things in the room that you have never seen before. Can they share what they have noticed? Give own example first.

Recap on previous lessons – The Mind Jar/Bottle, Breathing Buddy, Monkey Mind.

Can they remember are there any bad feelings to have? Is it ok to feel sad, worried or nervous? Show heart from session four and talk about all our feelings are ok to have, in our heart everything belongs.

Discuss – Do you think it is ok to feel angry? Is it ok if you hit someone when you are angry? Do you think it is ok to feel sad? Is it ok to say mean things to someone when you are sad?

Share scenarios and discuss (see video)

Feelings are like Visitors

Every day we get lots of different visits from our feelings. Talk about the different visitors we might have.

Ask –What feeling is visiting you right now? Give own example. Model with cards. What can they do to help when they get a visit? Model balloon breathing.

Read – Look Who’s Here by Louise Shanagher (or use video) or any other book about feelings.

Mini Mindfulness Practice – Listening Practice

Invite children to close their eyes. Ask them to notice a noise that comes from themselves, inside the room, outside the room. Open eyes and share the sounds they noticed (adult to model first).

This repetition of mini mindfulness moments is helping to build connections in the brain that support focus and attention.

 

Guided Meditation

Stretching Exercise and Balloon Breathing

Read out Feelings meditation (see handout here)

Ring bell to signify the end.

 

Creative Activity – Feelings Puppets

Make feelings puppets from cut out people shapes. Feelings could include happy, sad, angry, frightened, excited or worried. This will help develop their emotional literacy. Use to demonstrate which feeling is visiting and extend to talk about feelings you haven’t introduced before.

Remember to link to what is happening in the environment, thoughts/feelings and body.

Using props regularly and not just during ‘mindfulness’ time, this will help children to engage in the practice and make it meaningful.

 

Breathing

Repeat another mindful breathing exercise, the children could choose which one.

Finish with a sound to signify the end of the session.

Discuss with the children how they feel in their mind, heart and body

 

created by Louise Shanagher

(Children’s therapist, mindfulness teacher and Psychology lecturer)

Accredited by the International Mindfulness and Meditation Alliance (IMMA)

Alison Scott

Early Years Standards and Improvement Officer

Hull City Council

Alison.scott@hullcc.gov.uk Tel: (01482) 613 598