Mindfulness: A Gift for Every Child
Support children in developing life-long skills for calm, focus, and happiness.
For Parents: Building Emotional Resilience at Home
As parents, you play a crucial role in nurturing your child’s emotional well-being. Mindfulness offers simple yet powerful techniques to help children develop the skills they need to manage their emotions, focus their attention, and build resilience in the face of life’s challenges. Through the characters of Ziggy and Zen, your child can learn to slow down, notice their feelings, and respond thoughtfully to their world.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment. It’s about noticing how you feel, what’s happening around you, and connecting with the world in a calm and focused way. For children, mindfulness can:
- Foster a sense of gratitude and joy in everyday moments
- Improve focus and concentration
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Enhance emotional regulation
- Build empathy and kindness
How Ziggy & Zen Can Help
en are not just characters in a story; they are guides who encourage children to embrace mindfulness in their own lives. In each book, children are invited to take part in mindfulness activities, such as:
- Breathing exercises to calm their minds.
- Gratitude practices to notice what they are thankful for.
- Noticing walks to engage their senses and become more present.
Through these fun and relatable stories, your child will see how easy and enjoyable mindfulness can be.
Practical Tips for Introducing Mindfulness at Home
1. Set aside time for mindfulness activities.
It doesn’t have to be long — even just 5-10 minutes a day of mindful breathing or guided relaxation can make a difference. Use a Ziggy & Zen book to kick off a mindful moment or follow along with one of the free activity sheets.
2. Be a mindful role model.
Children learn by observing their parents. Practice mindfulness yourself and share your experiences with your child. You might say something like, “I’m going to take a few deep breaths to calm myself before we start this task.”
3. Integrate mindfulness into everyday routines.
Mindfulness doesn’t always need to be a separate activity. Try making it part of daily routines:
- Take a few deep breaths before dinner or bedtime.
- Encourage your child to pay attention to their surroundings on a walk (what they see, hear, and smell).
- Practice gratitude at the dinner table by sharing something you’re thankful for each day.
4. Create a calming space.
Having a special space for mindfulness practice at home can make it feel like an exciting and welcoming activity. It could be a corner with soft cushions, calming lights, or a favourite book to help your child transition into a mindful state.
Ziggy and Zen 