In the Media

With 14% of Australian children aged between four and 17 having mental-health problems, and one in 10 children experiencing intense anxiety at some point during their childhood, teaching mindfulness to children has become a way to teach them to better deal with stress and anxiety.

Research shows that mindfulness training in children increases connectivity in the frontal lobe of the brain, which is linked to improved attention, memory processing and decision-making abilities. Mindfulness training increases children’s ability to self-regulate their emotions, especially those difficult emotions such as fear and anger!

Local Bayview artist and author, Kylie Johnson has aimed to do just that with her new book, Mindfulness colouring with affirmation for kids and adults. Kylie created this book after a few traumatic experiences in her own life including multiple rounds of IVF, the loss of her marriage and her mother passing simultaneously, left her in a place where she was searching for solace and healing. She found the practice of mindfulness and creativity invaluable not only for her but for her young daughter as they came to terms with their new normal. The book is designed to enable loved ones to connect in the present moment together – as well as to bring awareness to children about the power of positivity and the practice of positive self-talk through affirmations.