These would be great for the start of the day, to wake children up or during a lull later in the day. Section four is for energising children when they are feeling sleepy or lethargic. They could be read to children before they sleep or recorded to play in children’s bedrooms. I think these are my favourites and can imagine using them during a rest time for young children, or to calm an older group when they get noisy or over excited. Section three comprises exercises that stretch the imagination. I particularly like how varied the activities are. Some are slow visualisations focused on breathing and others involve following actions, movement and sound.
There are a mixture of activities in this section. Section two promotes concentration and focus. You may need to try a few to find what works best for your child or class. Each section has a variety of exercises and encourages you to choose the one you feel most comfortable with. The children pretend they are a hibernating bear, breathing slowly in and out through their noses. The title “Breathe like a Bear” comes from one such activity. They would be perfect for those days when children have boundless energy but can’t get outside to let off steam. These exercises are designed to encourage children to slow down. It is difficult for children of any age to sit still all day and many children become agitated after a period of time. The first section focuses on calming, for when children feel they can’t sit still. The book’s focus on fun, rather than lots of explanations about the mindfulness message, makes it especially appropriate for young children. Kira provides enjoyable, engaging activities children will love. “Breathe like a Bear” is written by Kira Willey, a children’s music artist and kids yoga expert. The activities are developmentally appropriate for children young and old and might even be useful visualisations for parents and teachers. It is beautifully presented, resplendent with Anni Betts’ vibrant illustrations and contains a variety of simple, fun exercises that won’t make you feel like you are leading a meditation session. I’m glad I did, because this really is a great book. Throwing my scepticism out of the window, I decided to review a new book promoting exercises for children to practice mindfulness, “Breathe Like a Bear”.
It didn’t stop her rolling her eyes when we talked about being mindful but the strategies helped her to focus, make friends and practice self-control. My daughter blossomed during that year, from struggling to cope with anxiety when things didn’t go her way, to recognising her emotions were taking over and seeking ways to overcome them. My views changed last year, when one of my children had a teacher who promoted mindful activities. Being mindful, seemed like a short-term fad, soon to be replaced by another buzz word.
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