As part of the Shooting Stars program, we often practice mindfulness with our participants as a way to help them regroup and refocus during their school day. Mindfulness is also a great way to help build emotional regulation skills and mental wellbeing. According to Smiling Mind, practising mindfulness, whether through formal methods such as meditation or informal methods such as being present during specific activities, is a great way to de-stress, create a sense of calm and achieve better overall health and sleep.
We know that kids need the summer break to relax and prepare for a new school year, however, it can also be hard to keep the little ones occupied day in and day out, so we wanted to share some of our favourite activities that you can replicate at home. These activities will give you an opportunity to bond with your kid and practice mindfulness in a fun and engaging way.
Yarn Butterflies
Using a handful of craft items that you may already have at home, you and your child can create a range of beautiful yarn butterflies that look amazing on a bookshelf, wall or corkboard.
Creating yarn butterflies with your kids is a great activity as it’s very hands-on, requiring focus and attention when you’re winding the different coloured yarn around the pop sticks. This time focusing on the task at hand creates a lovely moment of mindfulness.
Download the how-to sheet here.
Colouring in
Colouring in is definitely not a new pastime to anyone, however only recently has it been promoted as a great way to practice mindfulness.
Crayola have some free printable colouring pages to get you started, however we highly recommend getting yourself a copy of Mulganai, a First Nations colouring book by Kaanju, Kuku Ya'u and Girramay artist Emma Hollingsworth. The artwork in the book is so beautiful, you’ll probably want to get a copy for yourself, too!
Calming Jar
Every child experiences moments of stress and anger, and our job as parents is to help teach them ways of regulating and dealing with these big emotions. We have created this calming jar activity as a way for children to design a tool that can become their go-to for when they need to take a moment to regulate their emotions. The jar can be filled with a range of things such as glitter and crystals and can become a personal trinket that is unique to them.
Just as important as the activity is the conversation that goes along with it. Make sure you explain to your child what the jar is for and how they can use it when they need to ‘take 5’ and cool off.
Download the how-to sheet here.
If you and your children make any of these activities across the school holidays, we’d love to see them! Make sure you tag us on social media @shootingstarsaus.
