Are your kids fidgety? Wound up balls of energy? Are you feeling like there isn’t enough coffee for you to achieve their energy level? These activities will encourage stillness in your children and help them focus on the present moment. If you join in too, it could be a fun family experience. Occasional giggling is permitted!
Children are encouraged to pay attention to their breathing and other sensory experiences.
Find a nice location along the Path, and encourage your kids to sit down and make themselves comfortable. Ask them to sit upright, close their eyes and begin to focus on their senses one by one. You can say the following while they (and you too!) practice this exercise...
Sitting balanced and upright, become aware of the connection between your feet and the forest floor…
Feel the weight of your body making contact with the ground underneath you
Be aware of the touch of your clothes on your skin and the movement of air on your face and hands…
Experience the sense of taste in the mouth…
Be aware of smell…
… and the movement of breath in and out of the body…
Listen to all the sounds, along the Path, in the forest, and beyond…
This activity should be followed by a few moments of sitting still. Children could also be encouraged to practice this technique on other occasions and observe the effect it has on them. Do they feel more relaxed? Are they more aware of their surroundings and how they feel? How do you feel?
We hope you enjoyed this activity, it’s always nice to slow down. As the saying goes “Time flies like an arrow, and fruit flies like bananas.”
