How You Can Explain Mindfulness To Kids In A Way They Will Understand, Remember And Enjoy
The Importance Of Mindfulness
When we don’t know how to help ourselves during times of anxiety and stress, life can be unbearable. Particularly as children, we are at our most vulnerable. While we are taught ways to protect ourselves from physical danger, often we are not taught how to help ourselves through psychological suffering.
Moreover, kids may not know how to ask for help or understand when they need it. In fact, I experienced this myself as a child and I strongly believe that explaining mindfulness to kids can really help them move through life with ease and confidence.
It wasn’t until my twenties that I learned about mindfulness. Eventually, I was able to withstand the emotional storms I experienced and feel at peace. For this reason, I started this blog; to share what I have learned with the hope of helping others. Although this blog is for adults, this article is for those of you who are interested in explaining mindfulness to children.
The Short Story Every Kid Needs To Hear: “Be Still Little Tree, Be Still”
It seems mindfulness has become very popular and I am happy to report that there is an author teaching children in schools about their emotions, and explaining how they can use mindfulness. Now, I want to introduce him and the children’s book he has written.
To be clear, the message in the book is for everyone, not just kids. It is, however, a story written in a clever way that children can understand and learn about the importance of mindfulness.
Not only is it a good tale, but you can read it for free and I am going to share how!
About The Author: Shawn Elliot Russell
In the early stages of my quest to find peace, I connected with Shawn and we spoke on a few occasions. Over the years, I have learned a lot from him. He has even guided me through some powerful exercises to help me overcome my fears because he has been there too.
In fact, it was from his personal experience that this short story emerged. Now, Shawn has been traveling and sharing “Be Still, Little Tree, Be Still” at schools, and the response from students and teachers has been remarkable.
When I first heard the tale of “Be Still, Little Tree, Be Still”
One day, Shawn said he wanted to share a story with me that he had written. I had no idea what to expect and the irony of the first time I heard, “Be Still, Little Tree, Be Still”, was that it really moved me. All I could think was, “wow, I wish someone read this to me when I was a kid.” Likewise, my inner child was screaming “YES! THANK YOU!” and I knew then that this was going to be big.
Even hearing the story as an adult was incredibly powerful, I wanted to cry. I related to the story so much and over the years I have shared it with many people of all ages.
The Book
The story is about a little tree who started his life out in a nursery. When he is finally planted outdoors, he must overcome his fears of the storms. Little Tree is a character many will relate to. He learns to be brave in what he views as a scary world.
Interestingly, the parallel between the Little Tree and the storm is the perfect metaphor for our inherent peace remaining undisturbed, despite emotional turmoil. It captures the essence of mindfulness practice with seamless rhymes and effortless flow.
If you have ever wanted to explain mindfulness to your kids or know anyone that suffers from anxiety and depression, I highly recommend this story.
Two Ways To Get It For Free And Share
The eBook
It is evident how much the author cares about the young lives he impacts. After all, Shawn has even said that this isn’t about him, it’s about the kids. Consequently, the eBook is available for free and you can download it from the Be Still, Little Tree, Be Still website. Personally, I had to get my hands on a hard copy, which you can also order.
The Video
Finally, my favorite part is the animated YouTube video. Shawn eloquently raps the story to a catchy beat and shares imagery from the book. In brief, it is fresh, unique, and carries a powerful message for our youth. You can check it out here:
I hope you enjoy the story and will share it with all the brave little trees out there!
Thank you for reading, and thank you, Shawn, for sharing your light,
With Love & Gratitude,
Ravelle
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To learn more about mindfulness take a look at this article:
Discover The Full Power Of Mindfulness
You can also read this short story about the experience of depression and anxiety here: