Mindfulness and leadership coach Mihaela Berciu believes that mindfulness for children equals wellness for adults. But in order for them to understand the meaning of mindfulness, it’s best for parents to lead by example.
Mindfulness helps parents to become more aware of feelings and thoughts, tune into their child’s needs, reduces impulse reactions and strengthens the bond between parent and child.
See Mihaela’s top tips on mindful parenting below
1. When you have negative feelings beginning to surface, whether they are irritation, disappointment, boredom or frustration – step away from the space that you are sharing with your child immediately. If you can, step into another room. If not, move into a different space so that you are on your own.
2. Take some long deep breaths, focusing on each breath as it moves through your body. Now listen to the sounds around you and feel your shoulders, arms, feet relax.
3. As you feel yourself calming down and gaining perspective, step back into the room. Watch your child, notice each movement, the hair on their head, their breathing. Marvel at the wonder of the child in front of you that you have been blessed to help travel through life.
4. Now think again about the problem or frustration and look at it from your child’s point of view. Calm and thinking rationally, require yourself to be open-minded and non-judgmental. With a new child’s point of view of the issue, you will feel empathy and love. With a new measured and supportive mindset, you are now ready to return to the shared space.
5. Listening attentively to your child, discuss what happened (if it was something that your child needs guidance with) and discuss what your child could do next together to solve the problem. If the issue was your own emotion from within, have the conversation with yourself, and decide what you can do to solve the problem.
Mindful parenting makes us more compassionate, calm, joyful and healthy parents – an essential ingredient if we want to raise happy, balanced, healthy and caring children.
Spark Your Bloom is a mindfulness subscription service offering advice on how to practice mindfulness and meditation in your day to day life. For more information, visit www.sparkyourbloom.com.
I love mindfulness. It is so important to take a step back, breathe and assess the situation. I have had so many times where I have got angry and then taken myself out of the room and thought things through.
It takes time and practice doesn’t it, it’s something that I am working on too but I feel so much better when I achieve it.
Some great tips here, I thinking stepping away can be good for both you and the child
Definitely, this is something that we are working on to try to calm some battles with the children. Some days are more successful than others.
Definitely important to me to leave the room and regroup so the kids don’t pick up on the negativity. Often those things that seem like a huge deal at the time blow over as quick as they came
You’re right, time really helps to get focus on a situation.
Great advice, this is something I need to work on now that my toddler has started to throw tantrums. Sometimes I find myself getting stressed which only adds to the problem.
It’s not always easy is it, but as long as we are trying that’s what counts x
These are definitely great tips and agree with Mihaela’s tips.
I am pleased you found them useful.
Mindfulness is so important. Kids can’t learn it early enough!
I am trying to help my children with it now, hopefully, it will help them in the future.
Stepping away is definitely sometimes the only thing to do. Especially when your kid is having yet another tantrum.
Tantrums aren’t easy are they but stepping away definitely helps.
Great advice. When I had my twins after my first son I had to learn all of the above! It did wonders for me and my kids. We can now chat about things and not shout in the heat of the moment.
Oh wow that’s brilliant news 🙂
I sometimes forget you need to step away from a situation to ghet clarity. Good tips. x
I think sometimes it can be difficult when you are right in the middle of it, hindsight is a great thing. I have been working hard on my patience x