Teaching Mindfulness to Young Children with Autism: Practical Strategies for Self-Regulation

Mindful Minute Autism Cards

Table of Contents

1. The Importance of Mindfulness for Kids, Especially Those with Autism

2. Why Mindfulness Matters

3. How to Integrate Mindfulness into Your Child’s Routine
   

4. Mindful Minute Cards

5. Free Mindful Minute Activities Handout

6. Conclusion

7. References

The Importance of Mindfulness for Kids, Especially Those with Autism

One of the biggest struggles for many children with autism (including my own) is self-regulation. As a parent and educator of autistic children, addressing social-emotional learning is crucial, and one effective way to achieve this is by teaching children mindfulness. But how can we introduce mindfulness to young children or those with autism?

Why Mindfulness Matters

Improves Focus

Regular mindfulness practice helps children develop better concentration and attention skills. This can be particularly beneficial for autistic children, who often struggle with maintaining focus.

Mindful Minute Activity Cards

Reduces Stress

Mindfulness activities can help children manage anxiety and stress by promoting a sense of calm and relaxation. This is crucial for children with autism, who may experience heightened levels of anxiety in various situations.

Enhances Emotional Regulation

Mindfulness teaches children to understand and manage their emotions effectively, fostering greater emotional control and resilience.

Teaching Empathy to Young Children

Fosters Empathy and Kindness

Practicing gratitude and visualization encourages positive social interactions and empathy towards others, which is vital for social-emotional learning in autistic children.

How to Integrate Mindfulness into Your Child’s Routine

1. Create a Calm Down Corner

Set up a calm down corner in your home where your child can go to practice mindfulness. Display a few favorite Mindful Minute Cards on a bulletin board to provide visual cues for mindfulness activities. Rotate these cards weekly to keep your child engaged and introduce new activities.

2. Use a Sensory Basket

Enhance the mindful minute with kids experience by creating a sensory basket. Include objects that match the mindfulness cards, such as:

• Stuffed Animal: Ideal for visualization or comforting breaths.

• Bubble Wand: Perfect for mindful breathing and focus.

• Small Squishy Ball: Great for physical relaxation exercises.

Allow your child to select an object from the basket and find the corresponding card. This tactile interaction supports mindfulness and provides a sensory-rich experience.

3. Establish a Daily Mindfulness Routine

Incorporate mindfulness into your child’s daily routine:

• Morning Mindfulness: Start the day by drawing a card and practicing the activity together, setting a positive tone for the day.

• Bedtime Wind-Down: Use a calming card as part of the bedtime routine to help your child transition to sleep peacefully.
  

4. Create a Mindfulness Album

Use a small photo album to organize the mindfulness cards. Let your child flip through and choose a mindfulness activity. This creates a visual and interactive way to engage with mindfulness practices. Encourage your child to create a "favorites" section for quick access to preferred activities.

Mindful Minute Activity Cards breathing exercise

5. Make a Portable Card Ring

Create a portable ring of mindfulness cards by punching a hole in the corner of each card and placing them on a ring. This makes them easy to carry around or hang on a magnet on the refrigerator. This flexibility ensures that mindfulness activities are always within reach, ready to be used whenever your child needs them.

Mindful Minute Cards

To help parents and educators introduce mindfulness to children, especially those with autism, these Mindful Minute Cards are are an easy solution. These cards feature realistic photos and activities designed to help young children engage in mindfulness. From mindful breathing to visualization, gratitude, and physical relaxation, each card provides a simple and effective mindfulness activity.

You can purchase these Mindful Minute Cards here to bring mindfulness into your child’s daily routine and support their journey to better self-regulation and emotional control.

Get Your Free Teaching Mindful Practices to Young Children

Freebie

Sign up for our email list to receive a free Teaching Mindful Practices to Young Children resource. This guide offers tips and activities to help you incorporate mindfulness

into your child's life, supporting their emotional and social development.

Conclusion

Teaching mindfulness to young children, especially those with autism, can significantly enhance their ability to self-regulate and manage their emotions. By integrating mindfulness activities and games into their daily routine, you provide them with valuable tools for social-emotional learning and promoting relaxation.

Explore our Mindful Minute Cards to support your child's journey toward mindfulness and

Mindful Minute Activity Cards

emotional well-being. Visit our store here to purchase your set today!

References

1. Burke, C. A. (2010). Mindfulness-based approaches with children and adolescents: A preliminary review of current research in an emergent field. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 19(2), 133-144.

2. Greenberg, M. T., & Harris, A. R. (2012). Nurturing mindfulness in children and youth: Current state of research. Child Development Perspectives, 6(2), 161-166.

3. Hwang, Y. S., & Kearney, P. (2015). A systematic review of mindfulness intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 43-44, 139-151.

4. Durlak, J. A., et al. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development, 82(1), 405-432.

5. Schonert-Reichl, K. A., & Roeser, R. W. (Eds.). (2016). Handbook of mindfulness in education. Springer.

6. Semple, R. J., & Lee, J. (2008). Treating anxiety with mindfulness: Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for children. In L. A. Greco & S. C. Hayes (Eds.), Acceptance and mindfulness treatments for children & adolescents (pp. 63-87). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

7. Bögels, S. M., et al. (2008). Mindfulness training for adolescents with externalizing disorders and their parents. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 36(2), 193-209.

8. Zelazo, P. D., & Lyons, K. E. (2012). The potential benefits of mindfulness training in early childhood: A developmental social cognitive neuroscience perspective. Child Development Perspectives, 6(2), 154-160.

9. Flook, L., et al. (2015). Promoting prosocial behavior and self-regulatory skills in preschool children through a mindfulness-based kindness curriculum. Developmental Psychology, 51(1), 44-51.

Feel free to share this blog post with friends, family, and fellow educators. Enjoy your journey to mindfulness!