Back to Mind Explorers (Ages 7-12)
These four simple games help children explore different aspects of mindfulness and present-moment awareness in a playful and accessible way.
The “Try Not To” game encourages children to take a step back from their habitual patterns of wanting, striving, and thinking, and to experience a sense of contentment and ease in the present moment. By practicing letting go of these tendencies even for a short while, children can develop greater mental flexibility and emotional balance.
“The Yes Game” helps children cultivate a more accepting and non-judgmental attitude towards their own thoughts and experiences. By learning to say “yes” to whatever arises in their mind, they can develop greater self-compassion and reduce the power of negative self-talk or self-criticism.
The paradoxical nature of the “Just Non-Do It” game introduces children to the idea of non-doing or effortless action. By catching themselves in the midst of doing and then consciously choosing to do nothing, they can experience a sense of spaciousness and ease that comes from aligning with the natural flow of life.
Finally, the “No Thoughts” game invites children to imagine a state of pure awareness beyond the realm of thought. While it may be challenging or even impossible to actually experience a complete absence of thoughts, the exercise can help children recognize the distinction between their thoughts and the awareness that underlies them.
Overall, “The Mindful Explorer’s Playtime” offers a fun and engaging way for children to experiment with different mindfulness techniques and discover new ways of relating to their own minds and the world around them. By regularly practicing these games, children can develop greater mental flexibility, emotional resilience, and a deeper sense of presence and connection in their daily lives.
Hey there, young mindfulness explorer! Today, we're going to play four exciting games that will help us discover new ways to experience the world around us and the one inside our minds. These games are called "Try Not To," "The Yes Game," "Just Non-Do It," and "No Thoughts." Each game will challenge us to look at our thoughts and actions in a different way and help us practice being present in the moment. Are you ready to have some mindful fun?
1. Introduce the first game, “Try Not To”:
– Encourage the child to take a few minutes to try not to want, get, achieve, plan, do, or think of anything.
– Explain that it’s okay if they can’t completely stop these things, but the goal is to take a short break from them and see how it feels.
– Remind them that they can always go back to wanting, getting, achieving, planning, doing, and thinking later if they want to.
2. Move on to the second game, “The Yes Game”:
– Ask the child to say “yes” to everything that comes into their mind, even if their mind is saying “no.”
– Encourage them to let whatever thoughts come, come, and just say “yes” to them without judging or trying to change them.
3. Introduce the third game, “Just Non-Do It”:
– Have the child catch themselves doing something, and then encourage them to do nothing.
– If they question how playing a game can be doing nothing, acknowledge the paradox and encourage them to “non-figure it out.”
4. Finally, play the fourth game, “No Thoughts”:
– Ask the child to imagine what it would be like to not have any thoughts at all.
– Encourage them to sit with this idea for a moment and notice how it feels.
To further explore the concepts introduced in these games, consider sharing the book “Peaceful Piggy Meditation” by Kerry Lee MacLean with your child.
This delightful picture book follows the story of a young piggy who learns to use meditation to find inner peace and calm in the midst of life’s challenges. Through simple, child-friendly language and charming illustrations, the book introduces basic mindfulness practices such as breath awareness, body scans, and loving-kindness meditation.
As the piggy discovers the benefits of sitting still and turning inward, children learn valuable tools for managing stress, navigating emotions, and cultivating a more accepting and compassionate relationship with themselves and others. The book emphasizes the importance of finding moments of quiet and stillness in daily life, and offers practical guidance for making mindfulness a part of one’s regular routine.
By engaging with this gentle and inspiring story, children can develop a deeper understanding of the power of mindfulness to transform their inner and outer worlds. The book’s wisdom and accessible practices can serve as a perfect complement to the games introduced in “The Mindful Explorer’s Playtime,” reinforcing the value of present-moment awareness, self-acceptance, and the cultivation of inner peace and well-being.
1. What do the piggies in the book learn to do?
a) Build houses
b) Cook meals
c) Meditate
d) Play sports
2. How does the book describe the piggies’ minds before meditation?
a) Calm and quiet
b) Full of thoughts and worries
c) Empty and boring
d) Only focused on food
3. What do the piggies sit on when they meditate?
a) Chairs
b) Cushions
c) Grass
d) Clouds
4. What does the book say the piggies should focus on during meditation?
a) Their favorite foods
b) Their breathing
c) Their problems
d) Their friends
5. How does meditation help the piggies feel?
a) More stressed
b) More hungry
c) More peaceful
d) More sleepy
6. What does the book say can happen to worries during meditation?
a) They get bigger
b) They disappear
c) They turn into balloons
d) They become real
7. Where can the piggies meditate according to the book?
a) Only at home
b) Only at school
c) Only outside
d) Anywhere they want
8. What does the book say about anger when piggies meditate?
a) It gets stronger
b) It turns into sadness
c) It can melt away
d) It never goes away
9. How does the book describe the piggies’ hearts after meditating?
a) Smaller
b) Bigger and kinder
c) Colder
d) Unchanged
10. What is the main message of the book?
a) Piggies are always peaceful
b) Meditation can help manage emotions and stress
c) It’s impossible to be peaceful
d) Only piggies can meditate
Answer Key:
1. c) Meditate
2. b) Full of thoughts and worries
3. b) Cushions
4. b) Their breathing
5. c) More peaceful
6. b) They disappear
7. d) Anywhere they want
8. c) It can melt away
9. b) Bigger and kinder
10. b) Meditation can help manage emotions and stress
Verse 1:
Try not to want, try not to do
Just for a moment, see what comes through
Say yes to thoughts, let them all in
A big welcome party, let the fun begin
Pre-Chorus:
Four little games to play with your mind
New ways of being you’ll surely find
Chorus:
Mind games for little sages
Exploring all the inner spaces
Do nothing, think nothing, say yes to all
In this playground of awareness, have a ball
Verse 2:
Catch yourself doing, then just let it go
Non-do it, non-think it, go with the flow
Imagine no thoughts, not even one
What would that be like? Oh, what fun!
(Pre-Chorus)
(Chorus)
Bridge:
In the quiet, in the stillness
There’s a world of inner brilliance
Play these games and you will see
How amazing your mind can be
(Chorus)
Outro:
So when life gets noisy, and thoughts run wild
Remember these games from your inner child
Mind games for little sages, young and old
Where presence and peace are worth more than gold
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