Mindfulness is a practice that teaches kids to live in the moment. They are supposed to absorb and reflect on everything they experience in the present. Learning from failures and savoring successes and joyous moments is the motto of mindfulness.
But to inculcate this, kids cannot remain in the hustle and bustle of modern existence. They need to withdraw from all digital distractions and relax in the serene shade of nature, be it in their backyard garden or nearest nature trail or even balcony garden.
The touch of nature is ideal for several reasons. Firstly, when kids are outdoors and breathe in fresh air, they automatically feel less stressed and enjoy the moment. Secondly, spending time in nature, be it via gardening or hiking, ensures your kids get their hands dirty with some mud and soil.
Luckily, soil naturally contains certain microorganisms that are good for their health, like the Mycobacterium vaccae. And thirdly, as you cannot be digitally active as well as in nature, the lack of distractions is ideal for inculcating mindfulness in kids. But what are the benefits of mindfulness for children, especially in nature? Here’s a quick guide to it.
Mindfulness helps children improve their concentration skills. By relieving their minds of all other distractions, when kids engage in mindfulness in nature, they learn to concentrate on one thing at a time. This also enhances their attention span tremendously in a digital era where many are competing with goldfish in terms of memory.
Nature is a place where only the fittest survive. However, every creature respects one another in the wild. This is something your children will acquire in your presence and by practicing mindfulness outdoors. From an earthworm to a blooming dahlia flower bulb, each has value and feels pain. Once this consideration enters your child’s mind, they will appreciate all life forms, even the ones that faze them a little.
Being out in nature liberates kids of a lot of their personal and social inhibitions. For example, your shy kid may sing and skip in the fresh air while your social butterfly may simply wish to sit and listen to the birds sing. Nature brings out something different in everybody, usually a true, free-spirited part of themselves. It is ideal to practice mindfulness in such instances as it helps your kids develop and experience a diverse spectrum of emotions.
Being out in nature automatically lifts the spirit. The soothing greenery and fresh air make all stress melt away in children the moment they begin to run and feel like they are flying! It is also time for a proper introduction to Mycobacterium vaccae. It is a bacterium that helps release the chemical serotonin, which enhances mood and lowers effects of anxiety and depression in kids. As bacteria like this and more are abundant in soil, occasionally getting messy while gardening or enjoying a nature trail is beneficial for kids’ mental health.
Mindfulness is a mental state. Being out in nature enhances it. But mindfulness itself teaches kids many things, including awareness. The moment your kid begins to focus on one thing at a time and does not let distractions come near, they become aware of their own flaws and virtues. Being out in nature and in a mindful state of thought also makes kids realize any wise words their parents might have said recently. As the inhibitions of pride and ego have been cast off in the forest, kids can easily self-reflect and absorb any realizations and epiphanies they arrive at.
Mindfulness is the ultimate exercise for boosting and building mental resilience in kids. Mental health of kids suffers when their willpower is not stronger than their fears and anxieties. Mental resilience is a trait that helps kids face and persevere in the face of any curveball life throws at them. As a result, being focused on improving the present without worrying about future problems develops a kind of mental toughness in kids. While mental resilience is the treasure, mental toughness is one of the easy routes to it.
Children are leading distracted and stressful lives in the 21st century, across the world. School Bags have never been heavier, homework has never felt more challenging, and leisure has never felt so fruitless before for kids. So, it is vital for parents to take their kids out to local gardens, parks, nature trails, and more, for a change of air and area. It is also important to inculcate mindfulness by verbal guidance and sufficient communication. Remember, patience is key, as following this guide on the benefits of mindfulness in nature, will reap its reward in the long run