15 Easy Mindfulness Activities for Kids (toddlers to teens)

By: Mind Panda

​"Keeping kids entertained with wholesome things to do is tough! Mindfulness activities for kids provide an excellent opportunity to engage with young ones while helping them to develop valuable life skills.

In this article, we share the best mindfulness activities for kids of all ages. We’ll start with toddlers and end with early teens. Feel free to skip to your preferred age group.

While we have split these kids mindfulness exercises into age groups, there are no set rules. You can try any of these activities for any age group.

​Mindfulness Activities for Toddlers (1 – 3 years)

If you have a toddler, we don’t have to tell you how difficult it can be to get them to sit still or focus for extended periods!
The most effective mindfulness activities for toddlers are basic sensory recognition exercises – smell, taste, touch, hear, see. The goal is to develop a curious mindset, the basis for mindfulness and mediation.

Mindful Bathtime 
​With fewer distractions, bathtime is a fantastic opportunity to teach a toddler mindfulness. As you’re washing your child, make a point of verbalising what you are doing. 

For example, “washing Jake’s back.” Try to get your child to repeat what you are saying. Use items in the bath like soap, sponge, face cloth, or toys to encourage your child to verbalise things that might otherwise remain in the subconscious. For example, “soap is slimy, or the sponge is soft.”

Mindful Eating
Mealtime is another opportunity for a toddler’s mindfulness activity. Talk to them about the food. Teach your child to describe the flavour, texture, and perhaps aroma of what they are eating. Again, the goal is to make unconscious thoughts and actions conscious.

Mindful Playtime
Most of a child’s early development comes from play. Playtime is a fantastic opportunity to encourage your child to play consciously. Choose games and activities which stimulate the senses.
If you choose an art project, start by getting them to feel the texture of the paint, the bristles of the brush, and verbalise those actions. 
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Through all of these mindfulness activities for toddlers, the goal is to nurture a curious mind. Our goal is to bring the unconscious to the conscious mind. 

​Mindfulness Activities for Preschoolers (4 – 6 years)

As your child progresses from toddler to preschooler, their vocabulary grows, and they begin to start identifying emotions. 
This stage of development is the perfect time to use mindfulness activities to teach your child about understanding and dealing with emotions.

SnapHappy Emotional Awareness Game
MindPanda’s SnapHappy emotional awareness game is perfect for preschoolers but can also be helpful for kids up to the age of 10.

SnapHappy encourages children to think outside the box to help build social skills and emotional intelligence. The game prompts players to describe emotions and why these feelings might occur."

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