If you’re a parent, you’re likely familiar with the whirlwind of emotions your kids can experience. One of the toughest aspects of parenting is navigating these intense feelings, especially when they seem to surface uncontrollably. It’s important to remember: all children have their moments of frustration. This doesn’t make you a bad parent; rather, it underscores the need for strategies to help them cope.
Enter the powerful concepts of mindfulness and meditation—buzzwords you may have seen floating around recently. In essence, mindfulness means taking a moment to recognize and experience our emotions fully. Meditation can be as straightforward as reclining with your eyes closed, tuning into the feelings we often suppress.
Recognizing our emotions can significantly aid in managing challenging feelings. Research shows that mindfulness and meditation have tangible benefits for children’s emotional and behavioral health, as well as enhancing their focus and academic performance. But how do we guide our kids to practice mindfulness? What does that look like in action?
Fortunately, the talented team at Wavecrest Films created a stunning short film in 2015 that serves as an excellent introduction to mindfulness and meditation for both children and their parents. Filmmakers Mia and Tom Harris, inspired by their 6-year-old daughter’s kindergarten lessons on emotions and the brain, gathered her classmates and family members to candidly discuss how anger manifests in their bodies and minds and how breathing can help regain control.
The film is entirely unscripted, showcasing kids in their most authentic form—something they excel at. The result? A heartfelt and relatable exploration of emotions.
One boy shares, “When I’m mad, my brain can get a headache, and it can start hurting.” Another girl adds, “When your body can’t control itself, mad just takes over your body.” Such simple and yet profound observations resonate deeply.
One standout moment occurs when a girl uses a jar filled with glitter as a metaphor for anger, explaining, “It’s kind of like if you had a jar, and your jar would be your brain and the glitter in your jar would be how you feel.” She elaborates that when the jar is shaken, the glitter represents how chaotic thoughts can feel.
As the film progresses, these insightful kids share techniques for regaining emotional balance. “First, you find a place to be alone, then you try to relax and calm down,” says one girl, while another reveals, “When I get really angry and want to yell, I just take deep breaths.”
By the end of the video, the children guide viewers to a tranquil resolution, breathing through their feelings, and fostering a sense of calm that’s palpable. One child expresses, “I feel more calm, my brain slows down, and then I’m ready to speak.” The girl who illustrated her anger with the glitter jar concludes that once her anger fades, the glitter settles at the bottom, symbolizing clarity.
It’s enlightening to witness the intelligence and articulation of these children. This film is a valuable tool for introducing mindfulness to your own kids, as they relate to the concept in a way that’s genuine and approachable.
So, take a moment to watch this delightful gem. You might find that your family will be “just breathing” a little more deeply—and happily—afterward. For additional resources on self-care and emotional well-being, check out this guide on pregnancy and home insemination, or explore this informative post about at-home insemination kits. If you’re interested in more tips, consider visiting this authority on related topics.
Summary:
The short film “Just Breathe” effectively demonstrates how mindfulness can aid children in managing their emotions, providing relatable insights from kids themselves. Through candid discussions and metaphors, the children share their experiences and coping strategies, offering a refreshing perspective on emotional regulation that parents can easily adopt.