My four kids range from toddler to teenager, and I find that no matter their stage in life I am always looking for ways to help them increase their mindfulness. Whether they're processing complicated, difficult emotions in their early teen years, or just learning to practice being still for just a little while (please, for the love...) in their toddler years, mindfulness is at the root of it all.
If you're in the same boat as me and could use some help in this area, try these wonderful children's books about mindfulness. They're all terrific resources to help your kids get centered and ready to face the world.
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Related: 10 growth-mindset books for kids that challenge them to try harder and think bigger
Quiet
The brand new picture book Quiet by Tomie dePaola is peaceful and fresh. It's the kind of book you can pull your preschooler into your lap to read, and it's just...calm. The book ends with the children saying that, when they are quiet, they can think and hear. It's a great conversation starter for finding out what's on your kids' minds.
This Moment Is Your Life
I love that Miriam Gates's new This Moment Is Your Life has just the right amount of fun for a tween who might roll their eyes a little when you mention "mindfulness." It teaches older adolescents how to let go of distractions (from screens to worries) and simply be present. It has plenty of engaging activities for them to complete, including some fun five-day challenges at the end. (Photo via illustrator Libby VanderPloeg's site.)
Just Breathe: Meditation, Movement, Mindfulness and More
Shown at very top, the book Just Breathe: Meditation, Movement, Mindfulness and More by Mallika Chopra (yes, of that Chopra family) is a how-to book for kids 8-12. It's full of guided meditations and breathing techniques. If your kids are having trouble sleeping, dealing with anxious thoughts or struggling to focus on their school work, I think it can help. And the gorgeous illustrations by Brenna Vaughan really make it inclusive and accessible.Related: 3 of our favorite meditation apps to help you keep your chill
What Does it Mean to Be Present?
A longtime favorite children's book about mindfulness for us is What Does it Mean to be Present, the third in the series of author Rana DiOrio's wonderful "What Does it Mean..." series. It's just been reprinted in a new edition that looks beautiful. The book describes how being present is about noticing someone in your class who needs help, or hearing the rain, or actually tasting an orange. Using simple prose accompanied by lovely illustrations by Eliza Wheeler, this children's book on mindfulness provides a clear way to help kids discover their best selves through presence and thoughtfulness.
Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness
If you love the idea of helping your kids connect with the earth, marvel at the natural world, and connect deeply with their emotions, then I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness by Susan Verde and Peter Reynolds is the children's book about mindfulness for you and your family. It's all about being present and experiencing the here and now, with mindfulness principles explained simply for even young children.
My Magic Breath: Finding Calm Through Mindful Breathing
Children's books about mindfulness are often about managing anxiety and worry. And one of the best ways for a worried child (or adult) to calm themselves, is to breathe deeply. For some reason, that's not something that necessarily comes naturally, so for kids who get stuck here, the 2018 release, My Magic Breath: Finding Calm Through Mindful Breathing by Nick Ortner, Allison Taylor and Michelle Polizzi will help. It's interactive and engaging, and there's something cool about thinking of your own breath as a magical cure for a lot of what ails you.
Mindfulness for Kids: 30 Fun Activities to Stay Calm, Happy and In Control
The new Mindfulness for Kids: 30 Fun Activities to Stay Calm, Happy and In Control actually covers way more than a list of activities. Here, authors Carol P. Roman and J. Robin Albertson-Wren present stories about kids in real-life scenarios, like a nerve-wracking presentation at school, losing something important to them, or that moment when you have to tell your parents you've screwed up. Then, they walk readers through each scenario using mindfulness techniques like deep breathing, making a gratitude list, and "counting to calm" to help lessen the anxiety. This is very real-world practical for any kid, not just those who are struggling. And frankly, pretty great for adults, too.
