The Inner World Explorers

Back to Mind Explorers (Ages 7-12)

These games help children develop a more flexible and expansive sense of their own awareness. By playing with the idea that external experiences can be felt internally, children learn to shift their perspective and deepen their connection to the world around them. These exercises promote a sense of unity, empathy, and interconnectedness, as children explore the idea that the boundaries between self and other may be more fluid than they initially appear. By engaging with these imaginative practices, children can cultivate a greater sense of wonder, curiosity, and openness to new ways of perceiving and relating to their environment.

Introduction script for the child:

				
					Hey there, young adventurer! Today, we're going to play some exciting games called "The Inner World Explorers." We'll be using our imagination to explore how the world outside of us might be experienced inside of us. It might sound a bit strange at first, but it's a fun way to look at things from a different perspective. We'll focus on sounds, sights, music, and even everything that's happening in the world. Are you ready to embark on this inner journey?

Instructions for the teacher:

Game 1: Outside and Inside Sounds

Take the child to a quiet spot and ask them to close their eyes and listen to the sounds in the environment.
After a few moments, ask the child to describe where they experience the sounds. At first, they’ll likely say the sounds are happening outside of them.
Now, ask the child to imagine that the sounds are actually happening inside of them. Encourage them to play with this idea and notice how it feels.

Game 2: Outside and Inside Sights

Have the child look around their environment and notice the various sights.
Ask the child to describe where they experience the sights. Initially, they’ll probably say the sights are occurring outside of them.
Now, invite the child to imagine that the sights are actually happening inside of them. Encourage them to explore this perspective and observe how it changes their experience.

Game 3: Feeling Music on the Inside

Play a piece of music for the child and ask them to listen closely.
Encourage the child to notice the inner feeling of the music. Remind them that sounds are vibrations and that they can sometimes feel music inside their body.
If the child gets lost in thought about the music, gently guide them back to focusing on the feeling of the music playing inside of them.

Game 4: Experience Everything on the Inside

Ask the child to close their eyes and imagine that everything happening around them is actually happening inside of them.
Start with everything within their vision or earshot, then expand to include everything they know is happening in the world.
Encourage the child to embrace this imaginative perspective and notice how it feels to experience the entire world inside of them.

Follow-up questions for discussion:

What was it like to imagine sounds and sights happening inside of you instead of outside?
How did it feel to experience music as if it were playing inside your body?
What thoughts or emotions arose when you imagined everything in the world happening inside of you?
How do you think these games can change the way we perceive and relate to the world around us?

Follow-up resource:

To further explore the concept of inner and outer worlds, consider introducing your child to the book “The Feelings Book” by Todd Parr. This colorful and engaging picture book helps children identify and express their emotions, which is an essential skill for navigating the complex relationship between the self and the world.

Through vibrant illustrations and simple, relatable language, Parr introduces children to a wide range of emotions, from happiness and excitement to sadness and anger. By encouraging children to explore their inner landscape of feelings, the book promotes emotional intelligence and self-awareness, helping them develop a deeper understanding of their own inner world.

As children learn to recognize and name their emotions, they also begin to understand how their feelings influence their interactions with the external world. The book emphasizes the importance of accepting and expressing all emotions, creating a safe space for children to connect with their inner experience and share it with others.

By engaging with “The Feelings Book,” children can develop a greater sense of empathy and connection to those around them, as they recognize that everyone experiences a similar range of emotions. This understanding helps bridge the gap between the inner world of the self and the outer world of others, fostering more meaningful and compassionate relationships.

Ultimately, by exploring the rich terrain of their own emotions through this engaging picture book, children can cultivate a more harmonious and resilient relationship between their inner and outer worlds, setting the stage for a lifelong journey of self-discovery and growth.

Resource Read Aloud

Song: Inside Out World

Lyrics

Verse 1:
Listen to the whispers, the chirps, and the breeze
Are they out there somewhere, or inside you and me?
Look at all the colors, the shapes that you see
Could they be within you? Let’s turn the world inside out

Pre-Chorus:
It’s a little bit strange, but oh so fun
To flip our perception, till outside and in are one

Chorus:
We’re the Inner World Explorers
Turning everything around
What’s out there is in here
A new world we have found
Sights and sounds and feelings
All playing in our mind
The whole world inside us
What wonders we can find

Verse 2:
Feel the music flowing, not just in your ear
But deep in your body, so close and so near
Now imagine everything, from here to the stars
All happening within you, no matter how far

(Pre-Chorus)
(Chorus)

Bridge:
It’s all just a game, a new way to see
How connected we are to all that can be
Inside or outside, it’s all just the same
When we open our minds to this magical game

(Chorus)

Outro:
Open your eyes now, what do you know?
The world’s not just out there, it’s in you, it shows
We’re the Inner World Explorers, and now we can see
The whole universe lives in you and me