Mindfulness is a word you might hear a lot these days—on social media, in schools, and in therapy sessions. But what does mindfulness actually mean for kids and teens? Simply put, mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment, on purpose and without judgment. It’s about noticing what’s happening around and inside us, without labeling it as good or bad.
Why Mindfulness Matters for Your Child
For children and adolescents, mindfulness is foundational. Imagine when your child feels overwhelmed by a big emotion, like anger or sadness. Mindfulness helps them pause and observe what they’re experiencing rather than immediately reacting. This creates a calm space where they can make choices instead of being carried away by their feelings.
Even little children can practice mindfulness in ways that feel natural. For example, noticing how their feet feel on the ground or the colors of leaves on a walk. These simple moments bring attention to what’s happening right now and help build emotional awareness.
Mindfulness Skills Made Easy
In DBT, mindfulness involves two main parts: the “what” and the “how” of being mindful.
- The “what” means observing, describing, and participating in the moment. For instance, noticing your breath or describing the sound of birds outside.
- The “how” means doing these things without judgment, being fully present, and doing so effectively.
One fun and helpful mindfulness skill is called “thought diffusion.” Kids learn to imagine their thoughts as leaves floating down a river. Instead of getting caught up in a thought like “I’m bad” or “I can’t do this,” they see the thought floating away. The idea is to create distance between themselves and their thoughts, so those thoughts don’t control their feelings or actions.
How Families Can Practice Mindfulness Together
Mindfulness isn’t just for kids in therapy—it’s a tool families can use anytime. You might try a simple “5-4-3-2-1” grounding exercise at home, where you all name:
- 5 things you see
- 4 things you feel
- 3 things you hear
- 2 things you smell
- 1 thing you taste
This helps pull everyone back into the present moment, especially when stress or conflict rises.
Mindfulness Builds Resilience
By practicing mindfulness regularly, your child or teen will develop greater emotional control and resilience. They’ll be better equipped to notice and handle difficult moments without feeling overwhelmed. This skill is a gift they can carry through childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood for a lifetime of calmer, clearer experiences.
Marble Wellness therapists integrate fun, developmentally appropriate mindfulness practices tailored to your child’s age and personality. If you want to learn more about how mindfulness can transform your family’s emotional life, stay tuned for our next post, where we’ll dive into distress tolerance—the DBT pillar focused on surviving tough moments with strength and calm.
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About Our St. Louis Area Therapists
The St. Louis area therapists at Marble Wellness are licensed mental health professionals serving clients in Ballwin, Lake St. Louis, and throughout the greater STL area, with online therapy in Missouri available across the state. Each member of our expert therapist team brings advanced training and extensive experience in areas like anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, life transitions, and relationship concerns.
When you reach out, you are matched with a therapist whose background, specialties, and style align with your goals so you can have both practical tools for right now and deeper insight for long-term change. To learn more about the therapists at Marble Wellness, visit our Meet Our Team page to read individual bios, specialties, and locations, and to take the next step toward the calmer, more fulfilling life you’ve been wanting.
Additional Counseling Services at Marble Wellness in St. Louis, MO
Marble Wellness Counseling services are designed to help set you on a path of living a more fulfilled, calm, and happy life. Our St. Louis area therapists have a variety of training backgrounds and areas of expertise. We have child and play therapists, therapists for teens, EMDR therapists, men’s mental health experts, couples therapists, and more! We specialize in anxiety, depression, grief, chronic illness, trauma & PTSD, life transitions, and maternal overwhelm. Our practice also specifically helps new moms with various postpartum concerns, moms in the thick of parenting, and moms with teens. We can also chat from wherever you are in the state with online therapy in Missouri. No matter where you are in your journey, we are here to help you thrive!
