Mindful Games: Sharing Mindfulness and Meditation with Children, Teens, and Families

by Susan Kaiser Greenland

A playful approach for cultivating mindfulness in kids, with sixty simple games to develop attention and focus, and identify and regulate emotions--by the author of The Mindful Child.
Playing games is a great way for kids to develop their focusing and attention skills and to become more mindful. Susan Kaiser Greenland has had a lot of success bringing mindfulness to the classroom, and in this book she shares her experience, showing how parents, caregivers, and teachers can cultivate these qualities at home or in a school setting. She includes fifty mindfulness games that develop what Greenland calls the "new A, B, C's" for learning and for a happy and successful life: Attention, Balance, and Compassion. In a playful way, the games introduce kids to breathing practices and techniques for developing focus, concentration, and sensory awareness, and identifying and self-regulating emotions, among others skills. They include "anchor" games that develop concentration; visualization games that encourage kindness and focus; analytical games that cultivate clear thinking; and awareness games that develop all of these qualities and give greater insight into ourselves, others, and relationships. Greenland contextualizes each game and offers guidance for the parents/caregivers throughout.
Even though the games are written for kids, they can be just as fun and transformative for adults. Greenland encourages parents and caregivers to develop their own attention, balance, and compassion and explore the universal concepts that she presents. She points out that as caregivers, our own mindfulness has a powerful effect on everyone in our lives, especially our children. They notice when we're calmer, more composed, and more joyful, and learn by our example."

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Psychology, Buddhism, Education, Meditation

216 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2016

About the author

Susan Kaiser Greenland is a bestselling author, globally recognized mindfulness innovator, leader, and mentor. Her new book, Real-World Enlightenment: Discovering Ordinary Magic in Everyday Life, showcases her trademark accessible and joyful approach to life with 50 transformative ideas to help navigate the pressures of modern everyday life. Drawing from global wisdom traditions and scientific insights, Susan also shares stories from her lifetime of being a seeker, wife, and mother, into digestible strategies for everyone.

Her pioneering work in mindfulness education for both children and adults is showcased in her widely translated books, The Mindful Child and Mindful Games as well as the Inner Kids model for schools, teachers, parents and other caregivers.

Many of her guided meditations and resources are accessible on popular apps like Insight Timer and Ten Percent Happier, as well as on her website. Featured in media such as The New York Times and CNN, Susan continues to advance mindfulness globally, and as an Advisory board member at the Tergar Schools Project in Nepal.

Reviews

[Cariadne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like where this book is trying to go and I liked some of the stories used to illustrate a point. but the exercises or "games" are meh and not going to help bring it home for me and the children. Again, the stories -- which do not originate from the author -- shared are gems and I think if the author was to leverage these with the guided questions, I think that would have been more powerful. DNF.

[Brooke Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Applicable and easy to implement knowledge and techniques!

[Michele Iwanus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of introductory practices that would work for adults new to mindfulness. I love how the author talks about getting in tune with our physical feelings as well as thoughts and emotions. The "Table of Themes" will make for great affirmations for the adults I try to teach. I use some of the techniques for breathing with adults to share with their children- it often motivates them to practice when they see differences in someone they love.

[AJourneyWithoutMap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mindful Games: Sharing Mindfulness and Meditation with Children, Teens, and Families by Susan Kaiser Greenland is a delightful, enlightening and life-changing book that seizes and translates on to the reader the importance and spirit of mindfulness in a way that very few people can. A delight to read the book and a fun to engage in the activities, the book is primarily targeted at people working with children, but is bound to be enjoyed by any age-group and people from all walks of life.

Featuring carefully conceived thirteen chapters which are divided into five part, the book is certain to bring about transformation in the lives of many readers. The five parts of the book are Part One: Quieting, Part Two: Seeing and Reframing, Part Three: Focusing, Part Four: Caring and Part Five: Connecting. What is at the heart of the book is the author’s desire to bring about mindfulness into a child’s life. And this transformational process must start with adults.

Author Susan Kaiser Greenland is not only qualified to talk about the subject as she is an experienced practitioner and teacher, but she is also imbued with the desire and insights which is there for all to see. Undoubtedly, Mindful Games: Sharing Mindfulness and Meditation with Children, Teens, and Families is a wonderful resource for all even if you do not agree with her on all counts.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by an elementary school counselor from my positive psychology program to support my final project working with teenage boys on headspace. I loved this book and wish it were around when my children were younger to have been able to teach them early on about the power of mindfulness and meditation. The book is well designed about the following six life skills - Focusing, Quieting, Seeing, Reframing, Caring and Connecting. Every skill is touch with simple mindful games that address the life skill being taught, the target age, step by step instructions and even tips on changing up or adding on to the exercise. Here is an example of a game i use with adults at work and through coaching: "Three Gates" We ask ourselves three questions to check that something we are about to say is helpful and kind: Is it True? Is it Necessary? and Is it Kind? (you can add, "Is it the right Time?")

[Ángel Javier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fácilmente, el mejor y más práctico libro de todos los que he leído sobre la forma más idónea de aplicar la atención plena y la meditación en el ámbito escolar. La mayoría de las actividades que componen este libro son fáciles de llevar a cabo en el aula, y resultan amenas e interesantes. Por supuesto, hay ejercicios orientados para niños y adolescentes de distintas edades, así que la autora ha etiquetado convenientemente de esta manera cada uno en la descripción del mismo, con lo que resulta fácil ya de base discriminar entre los que nos van a ser útiles y los que no, según los chicos y chicas a los que nos dirijamos. Además, las instrucciones están escritas de la manera más sencilla y comprensible posible. En definitiva, me ha parecido ejemplar para cualquier docente interesado en llevar a las aulas los beneficios de la atención plena.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book in the spring, left it in my classroom over the summer (which was inaccessible), and then had to restart again in August, but I'm glad I did.

I've been doing more mindfulness activities in my high school classroom as a way to start off class or respond to stresses I see in my students. The Mindful Educators Essentials class from Mindful Schools was a good foundation, but I don't find myself clicking with the tone of their lessons as quickly as I hoped, despite how much I have prepared . However, I've tried several of the "games" in this book with very little prep, and they have all gone wonderfully. I think I might stick with these exercises for a while.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is lots of great reference material in this book. Greenland organizes the games around certain themes. There is a deck of large cards with all the games on them that I purchased separately after borrowing this book from the library. Her website also has some free resources that are useful for introducing mindfulness to children (as well as adults). I’m still interested in reading her other book The Mindful Child.

If anyone is interested both Greenland and Annaka Harris (Sam Harris’ wife) did an interview on the 10% happier podcast also.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of games to subtly teach mindfulness to children through making them aware of both their physical bodies and the nature of their own minds.

My only criticism: each game has an age rating, and most of the time it says 'all ages'. Maybe I'm being too literal, but I have a 14 month old. I would have liked more guidance on a lowest age to begin (even if the answer is a range like 4-6).

Otherwise brilliant book. Will pay huge dividends in their future.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teaching isn't a skill exclusively owned by teachers and administrators.

This book should be required reading in schools everywhere. Only if teachers were trained to do this which isn't affordable or scalable.

At the end of the day, it will require parents to teach their children around meditation and mindfulness. How do we as a society make this happen?

I feel my mind calming already!

[Patsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book during my wakeful periods in the middle of the night, and then practiced mindfulness to help me fall back to sleep. Though written with the intent of teaching mindfulness to children, this book was extremely helpful to me. A great tool for parents who want to hone their own mindful skills and share them with their children.

[Nicole Drake · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn’t what I thought it would be. It has some great ideas, but the layout was a little odd. The games blended in so much with what they were saying that I still didn’t really understand the 5 different components. But I was also more focused on the “games” which are not games at all. Just activities or meditations.

[Sarah Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Susan Kaiser Greenland for the free copy of Mindful Games. I have been enjoying using this with my clients and their families during our mental health outpatient therapy sessions. I specially have enjoyed the various exercises we do in sessions and the tips at the end of each exercise to prompt further discussions.

[Michael MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent for all ages.

While the book is aimed at parents and teachers to help kids and teens, there’s enough wisdom here to be useful to most open-minded people.

Quite worthwhile.

[Frederic Vandaele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some nice mindful games. Well explained with context & quotes.

[Relyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book to use in the library and for my teachers to use in their classrooms. I think it is going to be a great resource.

[Shira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and straightforward resource for sharing mindfulness with children. Susan is certainly a leader to follow in this effort to support young children.

[Antonio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice perception and advices from the author to implement mindfulness. I believe that several of this game will perfectly fit with adults too.

[Carrie Froese · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great source of ideas to engage children of all ages in mindfulness activities.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of great ideas to use in counseling or the classroom. I can't wait to implement them.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love!

I really loved this book. I have been trying to incorporate mindfulness and !meditation more into my own life and feel like this book had some great tips for introducing it to my children, as well as children in my class at school.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book. I’m definitely going to recommend this.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way for parents to teach elementary-age kids some important character skills of focusing, quieting one's mind and heart, kindness and compassion for others, restraint, patience, appreciation, and acceptance.

[Lisa]

A+
This book is well thought out, to the point, research based, and current. The activities are easily integrated into classroom, small group, or individual counseling practice. You can skim and begin using the games immediately, or read thoroughly and have the scaffolding to continue to build on your lessons. Students get it, they enjoy the games, and learn through play (my philosophy for 2 decades of school counseling and class lessons).

Am using this with my emotionally disabled (ED) caseload (5 boys grades 1st - 5th) and - along with a solid series of coping strategies - it works like magic to help students understand, gain control, and regulate of the emotional landscape. The 5th grader has only been to the principal once this year versus 27x last year. He used to have to remove himself from the class whenever a sub was in for his teacher as a means to prevent incidents, but this book has helped him not need to do that.

[Lyz]

This book sat on my desk at school for over a year. It was good, but the logistics of the daily grind got in the way of me fully completing it. (That in itself is telling, isn't it..?) I since ordered the Mindful Games activity cards, which seem to have the same thoughts/activities. They feel more bite-sized and manageable for me, given where I am in life right now.