In an age of rapid technological advancement and frequent distractions, teaching mindfulness to our youngest learners is essential. Educators are now recognizing the myriad benefits of incorporating mindfulness practices into the classroom, particularly for preschoolers. It’s not just a buzzword; mindfulness can genuinely help young children manage their emotions, focus better, and cultivate empathy. This blog offers a simple lesson plan to seamlessly integrate mindfulness into your preschool classroom, complete with no-prep activities and a free mindfulness video lesson for preschoolers titled “Wiggling Body Scan”.

Understanding the Importance of Mindfulness

Before diving into the activities, it’s crucial to understand what mindfulness is and why it’s beneficial for preschoolers. Mindfulness involves paying full attention to the present moment without judgment. For preschoolers, this means helping them stay grounded in the current activity or experience, fostering a sense of presence.

Benefits for Preschoolers:

1. Emotional Regulation: Recognizing and managing emotions becomes simpler.
2. Improved Focus: Children can better concentrate on tasks at hand.
3. Enhanced Empathy: Mindfulness fosters understanding and compassion towards others.

Mindfulness Lesson Plan for Preschoolers

Introduction: Discussing Feelings and Emotions

Begin by talking about feelings. Using simple terms, ask children how they feel today. Use visuals, like emotion cards or faces, to aid this discussion.

Activity 1: Breathing Buddies

Materials: Soft toys or stuffed animals.

Instructions:

1. Have each child lie down and place a soft toy on their belly.
2. Guide them to watch the toy rise and fall as they breathe in and out.
3. Ask them to pay attention to the movement of the toy, focusing solely on their breath.

Activity 2: Listening to the Bell

Materials: A soft bell or chime.

Instructions:

1. Ring a bell or chime and ask the children to listen closely.
2. Have them raise their hand when they can no longer hear the sound.
3. Discuss what they felt or noticed while listening.

Activity 3: Wiggling Body Scan

And now, for a more interactive experience, let’s dive into the “Wiggling Body Scan” activity. This activity, demonstrated in our Wiggling Body Scan video sample, involves both movement and attention to different body parts.

Instructions:

1. Play the video for the children. As the narrator mentions a body part, the kids will wiggle that part.
2. After wiggling, they’ll be guided to pause and notice how that body part feels.
3. The activity ends with a full-body wiggle and relaxation.

Sample Video

Students learn best from watching real students their own age model skills. Try out this sample video-modeling lesson below. We offer our entire Social-Emotional Learning platform free for 30 days here!

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