Time to give kids some breathing space at school

Saturday 21 November 2015

Schools in the UK are making time for it and now there are calls to introduce meditation into classrooms here.

Deputy Louise Doublet, a former teacher, hopes more children at schools across the Island will soon be seeing the benefits of 'mindfulness'.

Pupils across America and in parts of the UK are already taking time out during the school day and practising various 'mindfulness' thinking techniques to help them relax and it's proving to have a positive impact on both their learning and their mental health.

Deputy Doublet said: “Relax Kids is a form of mindfulness, it’s relaxation exercises. They are very effective. I used to use it in my own classroom.

“I was an early years teacher and we used to use it after lunch and use it as a calming down exercise and it was hugely effective.

“Some might say it’s a bit out there, but it’s quite basic. It’s physiology – if their breathing is fast, they can’t focus, if they are relaxed and feeling calm, they are much more able to get on with their day and are much more able to talk to you and I think that’s something schools are making time for.”

Justine Taylor works on giving relaxation, meditation and empowerment skills to youngsters in her Relax Kids and Chills Skills classes, geared at children aged 6-9 and 9-12.

She uses relaxation and meditation techniques (breathing exercises, massage, stretching, focus and concentration games, affirmations and meditation) to show children different ways to self soothe, calm and understand and accept their different emotions and feelings.

She said: “It teaches children in a fun and creative way practical tools and exercises to help them deal with stress and anxiety and helps to increase confidence, positivity and self esteem.

She says she's had very positive feedback after trialling Relax Kids in one of the primary schools and is keen to see her 'mindfulness' teaching on more school timetables.

She said: “The level of childhood anxiety, sleep issues, self esteem and confidence issues is high amongst our youth. Using Mindfulness we can teach children the tools to be able to help them to calm down when upset, be more aware of the present moment and their choices within it and help to improve their concentration and focus.

“It’s important that mindfulness is not confused with always being in a calm state but being aware of the emotions they are feeling and expressing them from a calmer more aware place.

"Schools and teachers have many demands to meet. Children feel these pressures too, they are constantly assessed and leveled, comparing and motoring their progress and attainment.  I hope to offer support in assisting teachers and schools to help children achieve their potential via the continued benefits and calming that mindfulness meditation brings, which can have knock on effects on their school work and happiness.

“Mindfulness for me is the gap in-between the action and the reaction, a moment of peace where you can choose your course of action or non action. It’s a life long thing but it helps you, to be you, and be confident about being yourself. To add it to the timetable would be really amazing."

You can find out more about Justine's classes here.