0144 - Breathe In and Play: Mindfulness Practice with Children and Adolescents

Course Description

Hours: 12

Today’s fast-paced, ultra-stimulating, achievement-driven world is placing unprecedented stress and pressure on children, teens and families. Even after coming out of pandemic isolation, feelings of loneliness abound in young people. Fears around racial injustice, climate crisis and economic instability are but a few of the realities families face daily. Add to the mix, the fact that we live in an emotion-avoidant society, so many of us bereft of opportunities to explore and process our emotions. How can young people and families thrive, let alone survive, when faced with so much?  

Mindfulness and self-compassion practice provide one way to not only navigate this challenging terrain but build resilience as well. Research shows that mindfulness practice with children and adolescents can reduce stress, improve emotion regulation, strengthen interpersonal relationships, foster academic learning, reduce anxiety, increase executive function, and promote overall well-being. With all these known benefits, it is understandable why adults would want children and teens to practice mindfulness … but young people often don’t feel the same way. By sharing mindfulness in fun, creative and developmentally appropriate ways, seeds of mindfulness and compassion can be planted with young people - seeds that they can then cultivate throughout their lifetime. 

Learner Outcomes

In this experiential professional development course we will explore:

• Practical and playful ideas for sharing mindfulness, self-compassion, emotion-processing and nervous system regulation with children, adolescents, and families. 
• Creative and developmentally appropriate ways to share mindfulness and neuroscience information – i.e. through story, art, music, movement, nature and ‘formal’ mindfulness practices.
• Considerations for sharing mindfulness and self-compassion in a way that is trauma sensitive and holds a deep appreciation for differences in people’s lived experience.
• Ways we can apply an attachment lens to mindfulness and self-compassion practice; drawing on our inherent drive to connect.

In addition to didactic teaching and small group discussions, participants will have the opportunity to lead mindfulness-based practices and inquiry intended for children and families. With step-by-step scaffolding, participants will have the opportunity to further develop their skills and confidence in sharing mindfulness with children and adolescents.
 

Notes

For more information contact the Faculty of Social Work Professional Development office:

Email: fswprofessionaldevelopment@wlu.ca
Phone: 548-889-5128

Cancellations and Transfers
Be sure to carefully review our cancellation and transfer information before registering.

Website: wlu.ca/fswpd

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

• Child and Youth Mental Health Certificate : Child and Youth Mental Health Certificate
• Therapeutic Models of Mindfulness : Therapeutic Models of Mindfulness