8 Mindfulness Activities to Do With Your Kids Before Summer Ends
It's the perfect season to practice mindfulness with your little one.
Creating mindful moments with your child has a far greater influence on their life than buying them the latest gadget. You spend less money or even nothing at all, and yet, both you and they receive so much more. Your little ones won’t be this young forever. Now’s the time to create precious memories, and here are eight ways to do so.
1. Looking Over a 4-Leaf Clover
“Touching grass” is glorious, but your little one might get a bit impatient with earthing. Instead, direct their attention by searching for a 4-leaf clover the next time you encounter a patch. Their prize for finding one is the chance to make a wish. However, keep things interesting even if they don’t “win” by asking what other cool things they notice when they examine the world beneath their feet up close.
2. Participating in the Cycle of Life
There’s still plenty of growing season if you haven’t started your garden yet. Plenty of produce sprouts quickly, even if planted in July, meaning you still have time for some fresh, organic corn to ripen before your Labor Day barbecue. Even if you share an urban studio with your little one, a sunny windowsill can support a herb garden, and you and your child can have mindful fun each day waiting for your seeds to emerge and observing them as they grow.
3. Whipping Up a Little Farm-to-Table Goodness
When it’s time to harvest your crops, put them to good use by using them in a delicious home-cooked meal you prepare with your little one. It’s the perfect chance to introduce them to basic kitchen skills while practicing mindfulness. Adding sliced homegrown squash to an English muffin pizza may even inspire your kiddos to eat more veggies. Tune in while you heat things up, asking questions like:
- How did adding that ingredient change the taste of the dish? The color? The texture?
- How does cooking make you feel? Does your mouth water in anticipation? Are you excited to see how others enjoy your dish?
4. Sharing Cocoa at Sunrise
The cost of your vacation matters far less than the memories you make while there. Camping doesn’t cost a bundle and may even be free, depending on where you live. Pull that last row of seats out of your minivan and add an air mattress if the thought of sleeping in a tent makes you nervous and pack plenty of marshmallows. They’re perfect for roasting over the campfire, but even if you run into restrictions, they make your morning cuppa special. Better yet, make yours a mocha while your little one sips cocoa and enjoy the silent stillness of a forest morning together.
5. Writing an Ant’s Life Story
What does an ant think about all day? Introduce your child to theory of mind in a fun way by inviting them to make up stories about the wee critters they see milling about on the ground. Is that one with the big chunk of leaf carrying home dinner for her own ant-children? Is that one wandering furthest from the mound on a top-secret mission? Write a story about it, including what the tiny characters are thinking and feeling.
6. Exploring the Dusty Trail
Spending time in nature has oodles of benefits, among them increasing mindfulness. Additionally, hiking is free in many areas, especially if you walk or bike to the trailhead. Alternatively, go on walks around your neighborhood with your child, as safe pathways can sometimes hide. Who knows? You might find a safer way to commute to your favorite store or park.
While you walk, tune into how the physical activity feels in your body. Teach your child the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 grounding exercise by inviting them to list five things they can see, four they can touch, three they can hear, two they can smell, and one they can taste.
7. Building Sandcastles
Free beaches still exist, while others charge modest fees. Take advantage if you have such a resource near you or plan a combination beach-and-camping vacation. While there, build a few sandcastles, experimenting with different assembly methods until you find one you like best. Write haiku in the sand near the water’s edge and let the tide erase it. Notice how the sand remains but shifts and changes with its surrounding environment.
8. Practicing Yoga in the Park
Yoga knows no age limit — there’s even a pose called “happy baby.” Take your practice outdoors this summer and invite your joyous little one to join you. Download a flow from YouTube or your favorite app and bask in the glorious warmth of the sun and humidity against your skin. Science suggests that yoga helps kids develop emotional regulation, and your fun, mindful day in the sun might result in fewer bedtime tantrums.
Mindfulness Activities to Do With Your Kids
Be mindful of the fact that your kids don’t stay young forever. Forming memories with them matters more than the money spent on gadgets and expensive summer camps. Bond through these activities before summer ends and take advantage of the season’s benefits to tune into what matters most — the connection you feel with the family you love.
