Having time to be mindful, relax, and take some deep breaths is very important for preschoolers who have very busy, full, and active days. Having relaxation, breathing, and calming breaks helps children to not feel overstimulated or overwhelmed by busy, fun, and full days in preschool. I just love to incorporate a part of a story that is calming and peaceful in mindfulness activities with young children, or making up a story with the children about something that is calming, peaceful and relaxing.
The beautiful children’s book Anna Hibiscus’ Song by author Atinuke is a lovely story that I find lends itself very well to mindfulness or a spontaneous relaxing story time. This story is about a little girl who feels so happy she doesn’t know what to do, so she askes different members of her family what they do when they feel very happy.
After reading the story and looking at the lovely illustrations, I ask each of child in turn what they like to do when they feel very happy. As a calming activity, we all close our eyes, take a deep breath, and then imagine doing what each child just described. This activity also helps young children to develop the social skill of listening while others are speaking and taking turns to talk.
If lots of the children talk about similar things that they like to do when they feel happy, then we can make up our own story together that includes those things which engages them as well as making stories meaningful for them.