Any change of season or holiday brings with it brand new ideas and inspiration for reinventing old favorites. Adding a bit of the season to these mind-body tools will keep them fresh and fun for your kids. Have a peek at these Valentine's Day themed mindfulness ideas. I think your kids will LOVE them!
1. VALENTINE'S DAY CALMING BOTTLE
Calming bottles are one of the first tools I introduce when I am teaching a new mindfulness group. It's a kid-friendly tool used to calm the body and settle the mind. And because we can get creative with the colors and the glitter, it's absolutely fun, too.
I have all of the basic instructions for you in the mindfulness library. But, my Valentine's Day version has pink glitter and pipe cleaners shaped like hearts. Have a look and be inspired to create your own.
2. VALENTINE'S MANDALA
A mandala is a circle that represents wholeness. It's usually filled with geometric designs that represent the different parts of the whole.
Mandalas can be used as a tool to journey deep into our inner being past the rational mind and unlock the feelings and patterns we are holding within. It's a way to tap into some things about us that might not be obvious and bring them to our awareness.
For this Valentine's Day mandala activity, the mandala represents our heart and the candy represents things that live within our heart. Your kids can use the Valentine's candy to represent the things they hold in their heart including- the things they love, the things they feel, and any grief that lives there, too.
HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED:
- Round paper plate
- Heart shaped or Valentine's Day candy:
- Conversation hearts
- Gummy hearts
- Chocolate hearts
- Red, pink, and white chocolate coated candies
HERE'S WHAT YOU DO:
- Have your kids take a few deep breaths to relax. Have them put their hand on their heart and just notice for a bit. Give them a few minutes to notice their heart beat, as well as any images, sounds, thoughts, or feelings that come up. Ask them what kinds of things they keep in their heart- love, family, pets, memories, favorites, etc.
- Then, instruct them to use the candy hearts to start creating the mandala on the paper plate. Have them use the candy to represent the things they noticed within their hearts during the quiet time. They can use individual pieces of candy or they can group the candy by color, shape, or size to represent the things they noticed.
- They can start with the things they noticed during the quiet reflection time, but encourage them to allow any new feelings and thoughts to creatively flow onto the mandala.
- Once the mandala is complete, use it to start a conversation about what kinds of things they are keeping in their heart. Some things will be obvious, but there might be a few new discoveries, too. If your child notices any anger or grief hiding out in their heart, you can use the Tiny Bubbles Meditation (in the Mindfulness Library) which is designed to help release emotions.
- Mandalas also represent that things aren't forever, so when you are done, the mandala can be taken apart... and eaten 🙂 !
3. BREATHING HEART
The Breathing Heart is a deep breathing tool that can be used to calm the body, the mind, and even big emotions. Your kids can use it during a difficult moment when they need to pause and calm, and they can use it for practice, too. Remember- practice is essential.
You can download a pfd of the Breathing Heart in the Mindfulness Library. Or, click the button below the picture.
4. Valentine's Inspired Labyrinth
Labyrinths are like mazes except there are no dead ends. It's a journey along one path that leads to the center. As you enter and follow the path of the labyrinth to the center, it's like a reflective journey to your own inner being. It's a place to meditate and reflect and find the answers from within.
I did not create a Valentine's labyrinth for you, but I enjoy using these heart-shaped labyrinths myself and with my kids.
Which one will you try this Valentine's Day? Let me know below.
- Dawn
Hi, Sacred content always activates my 3rd eye! Namaste to you for making the effort!