Like a lot of people I know, I have jumped on the mindfulness bandwagon. I have been surprised to see how much kids enjoy the concepts of mindfulness. I have taught classroom lessons on mindfulness and used the concepts on some of my groups but I really think that the best fit for mindfulness is in individual counseling. I thought it might be fun to create a list of mindfulness crafts for kids.
String Crafts
I purchased the whale string craft in the cover photo from the one spot at Target (I think it was $3) as a craft with my own kiddo. As we were working on it, I was inspired to create a similar version for cheaper to use at school. You could even use pieces of styrofoam or a shoe box. Simply draw an outline of an object and have the student place pins along the outline. Then wrap string around in random order. It's strangely soothing, even for an adult.
Coloring
We can't overlook the power of coloring - it's all the rage for a reason! I love to color while talking with students. You can take it a step further and teach the idea of concentrating on what you're doing and coloring with mindfulness. I can imagine a whole group of students who are working on anxiety coloring peacefully with soft music in the background. Bonus points for beanbags and other comfy chairs.
Play Doh
Counselors often use play doh as a tool for communication but it's also great for mindfulness. Play doh has great textures, smells, colors, and movement to focus students' attention while practicing mindfulness.
Arm Knitting
OK, I've never tried this one but I've heard that it's great for kids. Arm knitting uses yarn and your arms to create chunky knits that are great for scarves. This is a great tutorial for beginners.
- Encourage students to think about textures, smells, and colors.
- Practice breathing in and out with each movement.
- Teach students how focusing on a new skill can help to "turn off" anxious overthinking.
- Help students to do a body scan before and after their mindful crafting. How are they feeling? How do they feel different?
- Role play approaching the craft with curiosity. Students may need support in thinking about what this means.
- When mistakes happen, practice a mantra. It's helpful to create the mantra before you begin. Some examples:
- Mistakes Happen
- That's OK, now my craft looks unique
- I can keep going even when I make a mistake
What do you think? Ready for some mindful crafting in your individual sessions? What a wonderful skill for students to learn that will add to their toolbox of anti-stress strategies!
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