These mindfulness activities for kids are a fun way to encourage kids to think about their actions and practice kindness – to others and to themselves.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs we earn from qualifying purchases. Read more.
Mindfulness is simply the act of thinking about what you’re doing and how it affects the world around you. For adults, this might include meditation, being intentional with the product you purchase, or setting aside your device to be more present in the moment.
For kids of all ages, mindfulness can be a great way to focus on social-emotional health. Kids can be just as preoccupied with things that happened in the past or worry about the future as adults do. These mindfulness activities are a great way to help children deal with stress, become more resilient, and (maybe) stop fighting with their siblings so much.
Become a Happy Camper!
Sign up to receive our monthly email newsletter
and get a free printable 30 Day Reading Calendar!
Focus on the Senses
Focusing on the five senses is a popular tool for kids and adults to help ground you in the moment when you’re feeling overwhelmed. Simply go through the five senses and identify something around you that fits each one: something you can see, hear, taste, touch, and smell. Teach your kids to practice it when they’re feeling good and it will become a habit they can fall back on when they’re not.
Say Positive Affirmations
Positive affirmations are a simple way to encourage your child to have a positive outlook. Choose a different one each day on this list from The Artisan Life. Natasha recommends choosing affirmations that really resonate with your child and then talking about each day’s choice to dig a little deeper.
Paint Gratitude Rocks
Talking about the things you’re thankful for might be a common activity around the Thanksgiving table, but it’s something that you can do year-round too. Rock Painting Guide has a fun tutorial for making gratitude rocks that are the perfect conversation starters. Get your family thinking about and talking about the things you’re thankful for each day.
Relax Head to Toe
This relaxation technique is particularly helpful in the evenings if you have a child who struggles to wind down and fall asleep at bedtime. Have your child lay on their back and stretch out. Tell them to slowly imagine a warm, fuzzy feeling running from head to toe. Have them focus on each body part and relax it as it slowly moves down their body.
Make a Glitter Jar
Make a glitter jar to use as a calm down timer using this tutorial from Fireflies and Mud Pies. Little kids struggle to process big emotions, whether that’s frustration, anger, or being overwhelmed. This pretty craft project is fun to make and is a fun tool that your child can focus on when they need to calm down.
Do Yoga Poses
Practicing yoga has mental benefits as well as physical ones. It can help your child feel more in control of their body while stretching and improving balance and coordination. Try these kid-friendly yoga poses from Super Healthy Kids, inspired by nature and gardening.
Make a Stress Ball
A stress ball is a fun science project that doubles as an activity for anxious kids. Use it to help calm a stressed-out child or as a fidget tool for a sensory-seeking kiddo. This stress ball craft from Team Cartwright is easy to make with items you may already have at home.
Start a Journal
Coloring pages can be a great stress-relieving activity for kids. Grab this set of printable journal pages from Red Ted Art. They’re full of positive saying and affirmations along with fun patterns to color.
Blow Bubbles
One of the easiest ways to practice mindfulness is to focus on your breathing. Take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. For a fun way to do this with kids, blow bubbles! You can make your own solution using dish soap, or try this long-lasting recipe idea from Kids Activities Blog.
Go on a Nature Walk
Sometimes the best way to get in touch with the world around you is to get out in nature. Take a nature walk and try some of these ideas from A Tiny Trip to help your kids reconnect with the natural world.
Watch the Clouds
When the weather is just right, spread out a few blankets in the backyard and lay back to watch the clouds. Look for pictures or just relax and watch them float by.
Make Hand Art
For this activity, all you need is a pencil and paper, but you can include any of your child’s favorite art supplies too. Start by tracing your child’s hand onto a piece of paper. Then let them draw, color, or fill in the hand with whatever they are feeling.
Balance Rocks
Head outdoors for this unique way to use nature to meditate. Stacking rocks and getting them to balance can be challenging and requires focus. Follow these tips from Rhythms of Play to learn how to balance rocks with your kids.
Acts of Kindness
Kids are naturally pretty focused on themselves. One way to help them become more aware of how their actions affect others is to practice random acts of kindness. Write a few of these simple ideas from The Soccer Mom Blog on strips of paper and put them in a jar. Choose one weekly or monthly that you can do together.
Meditate
Look for kid-friendly guided meditation recordings to help you start this activity together.
Like any skill, being mindful is something that takes practice. Don’t expect younger kids to be able to focus for long. But by adding a few of these kids’ mindfulness activities to your weekly routine, you and your child will slowly see a difference.
Remember, the most important part of mindfulness is being present in the moment. Enjoy trying these new activities together!
Plan your summer with the DIY Summer Camp Planner!
Our step-by-step guide will help you organize a day, a week, or a whole summer of fun activities for your kids.
