Mindfulness Practice in Schools

One of the first things I teach students when introducing Mindfulness is "Anchor Breath." Just like a ship's anchor keeps the boat from drifting away, teaching children to use their breath to anchor themselves in the present moment is an important building block for living mindfully. For young children you should start with a picture of a boat with an anchor attached. They should pick an anchor spot like their heart or belly to place their hand over to feel their body's response to each mindful breath. In The Way of Mindful Education Rechtschaffen  offers a two-part Anchor Breath Script to teach anchor breathing. Listening to a script or a chime helps students begin to pair listening and breath awareness. Learning to breathe deliberately trains students to think first and then plan a response, enabling mindful behavior.