The mind of a child is truly incredible – it’s always at work watching, retaining and learning information. That’s why it’s so important we’re mindful of what we allow our children to be exposed to because the things they watch, read, listen to and experience have a deep-seated impact on who they become, and what they believe.
Studies show children who are exposed to violent programming (TV, books, games, music etc.) grow up to become more anxious and aggressive. They also may view the world as a scary and unsafe place. In contrast, children who are exposed to mindful books, activities and practices grow up to become calmer, happier less anxious adults.
Fortunately, you can control what you’re children and exposed to starting with what they read!
Here are 11 children’s book that encourage happy, mindful kids for every parent and children to enjoy together:
1.) Breathe Like a Bear: 30 Mindful Moments for Kids to Feel Calm and Focused Anytime, Anywhere $10.55
Breathe Like a Bear is a beautifully illustrated collection of mindfulness exercises designed to teach kids techniques for managing their bodies, breath, and emotions. Best of all, these 30 simple, short breathing practices and movements can be performed anytime, anywhere: in the car to the grocery store, during heavy homework nights at home, or even at a child’s desk at school.
Based on Kira Willey’s Parents’ Choice GOLD Award-winning CD, Mindful Moments for Kids, this one-of-a-kind book is sure to help kids find calm, gain focus, and feel energized during the day, and encourage families to establish a fun and consistent mindfulness practice, whether at home or on the go.
2.) I Am a Peace: A Book of Mindfulness $7.47
When the world feels chaotic, find peace within through an accessible mindfulness practice from the bestselling picture-book dream team that brought us I Am Yoga. Express emotions through direct speech. Find empathy through imagination. Connect with the earth. Wonder at the beauty of the natural world. Breathe, taste, smell, touch, and be present.
Perfect for the classroom or for bedtime, Susan Verde’s gentle, concrete narration and Peter H. Reynolds’s expressive watercolor illustrations bring the tenets of mindfulness to a kid-friendly level. Featuring an author’s note about the importance of mindfulness and a guided meditation for children, I Am Peace will help readers of all ages feel grounded and restored.
3.) I Am Yoga $8.59
An eagle soaring among the clouds, a star twinkling in the night sky, a camel in the desert, or a boat sailing across the sea . . . Yoga has the power of transformation. Not only does it strengthen bodies and calm minds, but with a little imagination, it can show us that anything is possible. New York Times bestselling illustrator Peter H. Reynolds teams up with author and certified Yoga instructor Susan Verde in this book about creativity and the power of self-expression. I Am Yoga encourages children to explore the world of Yoga and make room in their hearts for the world beyond it.
4.) What do You Do With an Idea? $11.05
This is the story of one brilliant idea and the child who helps to bring it into the world. As the child’s confidence grows, so does the idea itself. And then, one day, something amazing happens. This is a story for anyone, at any age, who’s ever had an idea that seemed a little too big, too odd, too difficult. It’s a story to inspire you to welcome that idea, to give it some space to grow, and to see what happens next. Because your idea isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s just getting started.
5.) My Magic Breath: Finding Calm Through Mindful Breathing $10.49
Do YOU have the magic breath?
Let’s see…Take a deeeeeep breath in…and BLOW it out…
…and like magic, you can feel better just by breathing! Sometimes it’s hard to feel happy. But with this interactive picture book, children breathe along as they learn how to make angry or sad thoughts disappear.
In a world that is sometimes too busy, with too many things going on, My Magic Breath will help steer children into a serene space of mindfulness, self-awareness, and balance
6.) The Prayer Who Searched For God $17.99
This imaginative, heartfelt story for ages 4 to 8 follows the adventures of one special prayer as she travels on a single breath to the edge of the universe to find God.
Beautifully illustrated, this book, which is part of the Conscious Bedtime Story Club collection, is a sure-fire winner for parents seeking conscious parenting tools. This one-of-a-kind book will help children to use prayer and breath to find God within themselves. The book ends with Breathe Your Prayers, a short exercise to provide children an easy way to pray.
7.) The Boy Who Searched For Silence $17.99
This charming story for ages 3 to 8 follows the adventures of the hero, The Boy, as he runs from the noises and busyness of life, hoping to find golden, peaceful, blissful silence. Luminously illustrated, this book, which is part of the Conscious Bedtime Story Club collection, is a sure-fire winner for parents seeking conscious parenting tools.
This one-of-a-kind book will help children to use meditation and gratitude to help with the stress and constant stimulation of the outside world. The book ends with The Gratitude Spiral, a short exercise to help children to raise their awareness of help children change their perspective and also to relax and sleep.
8.) Maybe: A Story About the Endless Potential in All of Us $12.99
You are the only you there ever has been or ever will be. You are unique in all the universe. Just the odds of you being here at this exact place and this exact time are so great and so rare that it will never happen again.
Written by New York Times best-selling author Kobi Yamada, this is a story for everything you will do and everything you can be. It’s a story about all the possibilities ahead of you. It’s for who you are right now and it’s for all the magical, unbounded potential you hold inside. With its beautiful visual storytelling and timeless message, Maybe is an inspiring story for kids of all ages.
9.) What Do You Do With a Problem? $9.31
This is the story of a persistent problem and the child who isn’t so sure what to make of it. The longer the problem is avoided, the bigger it seems to get. But when the child finally musters up the courage to face it, the problem turns out to be something quite different than it appeared.
What Do You Do With a Problem? is a story for anyone, at any age, who has ever had a problem that they wished would go away. It’s a story to inspire you to look closely at that problem and to find out why it’s here. Because you might discover something amazing about your problem… and yourself.
10.) Seeds and Trees: A Children’s Book About The Power of Words $11.99
In Seeds and Trees, discover a young prince who gathers seeds both green and dark from those he encounters, and then gifts them forward. He faithfully plants and waters all those seeds daily, but comes to realize that the dark trees harm the green ones. With the help of a kind friend he discovers he can cut down, uproot, and then replace those dark trees with green seeds, creating a beautiful vibrant garden. Seeds and Trees will help encourage your children to offer kindness towards themselves and others.
11.) The Giving Tree $8.99
The Giving Tree, a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein, has been a classic favorite for generations.
Since it was first published fifty years ago, Shel Silverstein’s poignant picture book for readers of all ages has offered a touching interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another’s capacity to love in return.
How do you practice mindfulness with your kids? Leave your answer is the comments below!
Xx,
Antasha
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About Antasha Durbin: Antasha is a spiritual writer and life-long student of the universe. Her website, cajspirituality.com, is dedicated to simplifying the spiritual experience and making it attainable for everyone. Follow her for free, easy-to-digest and highly actionable advice on spirituality, mindfulness and empowered living.
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Thank you for sharing. Great mix of modern and classics. It was neat reading each concise introduction to each book. All very calming and peaceful introductions compared to what some children are sadly exposed to on TV, video games, books etc. It does make a difference.