Mindfulness for Children

The Paws b course is the UK’s leading mindfulness curriculum for 7-11-year-olds. The lessons are flexible and varied and can be taught as six, one-hour lessons, or twelve 30 minute lessons. Learning from all of the lessons is encouraged to be connected to other aspects of the school curriculum where and when appropriate, such as music, sport, art, drama, queuing to come into the classroom, school and residential trips, to name just a few possibilities.

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Teach Happy are trained to teach the Paws b curriculum and can deliver the following lessons to your Key Stage 2 children:

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Lesson 1 – Our Amazing Brain

·         Learn about the prefrontal cortex, and how it works with other parts of the brain.

·         Explore how we can train our minds to be more efficient.

·         Begin this training through practices focusing on the breath.

·         Recognise the choices we make each day and the impact these have on our lives.

Lesson 2 – Puppy Training

·         Explore how the attention can move around, narrow down or broaden out in focus.

·         Learn how the attention is like a puppy, but can be trained with kindness and patience.

·         Experience the difference between ‘mindful’ and ‘mindless’ behaviours.

·         Learn about the role of the hippocampus and how it links new experiences to old ones.

Lesson 3 – Finding a Steady Place

·         Recognise that we all ‘wobble’, and explore ways to steady ourselves.

·         Explore practices that steady our attention in the lower half of the body.

·         Learn about the Insula’s role in recognising emotional states in ourselves and others..

Lesson 4 – Dealing with Difficulty

·         Explore the idea of reactivity – what it looks and feels like.

·         Learn how to nurture attitudes of curiosity, kindness, and openness to experiences.

·         Understand the importance of taking responsibility for keeping ourselves safe.

·         Noticing that we can choose to respond in some situations, rather than react.

·         Learn about the amygdala and its role in ‘fight, flight or freeze’.

Lesson 5 – The Storytelling Mind

·         Discuss what a thought is, and learn to recognise them as they arise.

·         Learn about how thoughts can be connected to body, emotions and urges/actions.

·         Notice some of the unhelpful habits of our mind – e.g. over-thinking problems.

·         Explore ways to steady and be present moment focused when the mind is busy/scary.

Lesson 6 – Growing Happiness

·         Discuss how we can best nurture ourselves and others.

·         Explore specific ways to savour happiness.

·         Understand how we can sometimes create space and choices around happiness.

·         Learn about how happiness, kindness and gratitude are connected.

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