My Favorites: My favorite mindfulness activity for kids

Why I love bubbles as a mindfulness tool for kids

Mindfulness practice can be hard to sustain as an adult - with the mental load most people carry, it’s sometimes difficult to tune everything else out and simply tune in to ourselves.  Yoga classes can help, and the time to settle, and breathe and move, without outside interference, is probably my most favorite part of any yoga class.  

For kids, practicing mindfulness can be challenging for a different reason; the concept of just being aware, noticing and accepting feelings, sensations, and thoughts in the present moment can be pretty abstract.  Often, we rely on guiding kids to notice their physical senses as an introduction to mindfulness. Blowing bubbles is my all-time FAVORITE tool for cultivating mindfulness in kids.

Why?

-Blowing bubbles requires you to focus on and control your breath.  I usually guide kids to experiment with different types of breathing to see what effect it has on the bubbles; they can be free to get creative and silly, but they’re practicing breath-work and maintaining awareness on the bubbles.

-Bubbles are short-lived.  The fleeting presence of bubbles requires us to stay in the present moment and enjoy them before they disappear.

-Bubbles are constantly changing.  When you take a look at a bubble, you notice colors swirling on its surface as it drifts away.  Asking kids to notice and name the colors they see helps them maintain focus in the moment.

Ready to practice some mindfulness with your kids?  Below is a recipe to make some bubble juice (that’s what everyone else calls it, right?) at home.  You can make wands from wire, pipe cleaners, the ring lid of a mason jar, or even straws.

Combine 2 cups warm water with ⅓ cup of dish soap; gently stir to combine. You can also add ¼ cup corn syrup - this addition will make longer-lasting bubbles, but will dull the colors. You could even try it both ways to add another mindful element for your kids to notice.