General Mindfulness Tips for Parents:

One of the best ways to teach our children to be mindful is to embody mindfulness ourselves.

• Incorporate your own brain breaks three times a day to improve focus, memory and stay calm under stress.
• Think affirmations to yourself like “May I be happy” and “May I be strong.”
• If you need some guidance in mindful breathing, search for various mindfulness apps to follow along with on your phone.
• If you find yourself getting caught up in your emotions or that of others, practice the R.A.I.N. exercise. Recognize what is happening in a calm, accepting manner. Accept life as it is. Investigate how it is making you feel. Non-identification; realize these feelings are fleeting and don’t define who you are.

Mindful parenting can improve parent-child relationships and reduce stress for both the parent and child.

• Limit your phone use when you’re with your child.
• Spend time reading, creating art and talking with your child, rather than watching TV.
• If you’re upset,  S.T.O.P. Stop. Take a breath. Observe. Proceed.  
• Teach and practice forgiveness. It’s important to note and address a problem, but it is also important to realize it is temporary and will pass.

More Resources:

Websites:

• South Bay Families Connected, Mindful Parenting
• Sesame Street Toolkits 
• Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley 
• Child Mind Institute, Mindfulness 
• UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center 

Videos:

• “Developing a Growth Mindset” by Carol Dweck 
• “Teaching the ABCs of Attention, Balance and Compassion” by Susan Kaiser Greenland 
• “Just Breathe” by Julie Bayer Salzman and Josh Salzman 

Articles:

• “Mindfulness for Children” by David Gelles 
• “Is mindfulness meditation good for kids? Here’s what the science actually says.” By Brian Resnick 
• “13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do” by Amy Morin