Mindfulness Resources

Resources for Teaching Mindfulness to Children

The following books represent some of the most practical and accessible resources for introducing mindfulness to children. Each offers a slightly different approach, allowing educators and caregivers to choose methods that best fit their context, goals, and the developmental needs of the children they serve.

Sitting Still Like a Frog — Eline Snel

This widely used introduction to mindfulness for children presents simple, engaging practices that help build attention, calm, and emotional awareness. Using relatable metaphors, such as a frog sitting still yet alert, Snel makes mindfulness approachable for young children. The book includes guided exercises like breathing practices and body scans, often supported by audio recordings, making it easy to implement at home or in the classroom.

Age Range: Approximately 5–12
Strengths:

• Extremely accessible and child-friendly
• Ready-to-use guided practices
• Excellent entry point for beginners

Best Use: Introducing mindfulness to young children in both home and classroom settings.

Teach, Breathe, Learn — Meena Srinivasan

Written by an educator, this book emphasizes that mindfulness in the classroom begins with the teacher. Srinivasan provides a clear framework for developing personal mindfulness while also offering practical strategies for integrating mindfulness into daily classroom routines. The book includes lesson ideas, reflection prompts, and tools for building a calmer and more responsive classroom environment.

Age Range: Primarily elementary through high school (teacher-focused)
Strengths:

• Strong focus on teacher self-awareness
• Practical classroom applications
• Integrates mindfulness into teaching practice, not as an add-on

Best Use: Educators seeking to build both their own mindfulness and a mindful classroom culture.

Growing Up Mindful / Teaching Mindfulness Skills to Kids and Teens — Christopher Willard

Christopher Willard’s work provides a flexible, developmentally sensitive approach to mindfulness for children and adolescents. His books offer a wide range of brief, adaptable practices designed to fit different ages, personalities, and attention spans. He also addresses common challenges such as anxiety, stress, and attention difficulties, making his work especially useful in both educational and clinical settings.

Age Range: Approximately 6–18
Strengths:

• Highly adaptable and flexible practices
• Strong developmental perspective
• Useful for children with anxiety, stress, or attention challenges

Best Use: Educators, counselors, and practitioners working with a wide range of ages and needs.

 Mindful Teaching and Teaching Mindfulness — Deborah Schoeberlein

This book offers a comprehensive framework for integrating mindfulness into both teaching practice and the broader classroom environment. Schoeberlein emphasizes the importance of embodying mindfulness as a teacher and outlines key elements such as attention, intention, and emotional awareness. The book provides both personal practices for educators and strategies for introducing mindfulness to students.

Age Range: All ages (teacher-focused)
Strengths:

• Holistic, systems-oriented approach
• Strong emphasis on teacher presence
• Connects personal practice to classroom culture

Best Use: Teachers and school leaders looking to integrate mindfulness deeply into their work.

The Mindful Child — Susan Kaiser Greenland

This book takes a playful, activity-based approach to mindfulness, making it especially engaging for younger children. Greenland emphasizes attention, balance, and compassion through games, short exercises, and interactive experiences. Her approach helps children develop awareness without requiring long periods of stillness, making it ideal for active learners.

Age Range: Approximately 4–12

Strengths:

• Play-based and highly engaging
• Short, adaptable activities
• Excellent for group settings

Best Use: Early childhood and elementary classrooms; introducing mindfulness through play.

Planting Seeds — Thich Nhat Hanh & Plum Village Community

This gentle and holistic resource introduces mindfulness through stories, songs, and simple daily practices. Rooted in a compassionate and relational approach, the book encourages children to develop awareness, gratitude, and connection to others. It is particularly effective when used in family or community settings where mindfulness can be practiced together.

Age Range: Approximately 5–12

Strengths:

• Warm, relational, and values-centered
• Integrates mindfulness into daily life
• Includes stories and group activities

Best Use: Families, classrooms, and communities seeking a shared mindfulness practice.

The Way of Mindful Education — Daniel Rechtschaffen

This book presents a broader vision of mindfulness in education, connecting it to social-emotional learning and whole-child development. Rechtschaffen offers practical strategies for integrating mindfulness into curriculum, classroom management, and school culture, while also addressing larger educational goals such as empathy, resilience, and interconnectedness.

Age Range: All ages (educator-focused)

Strengths:

• Big-picture educational framework
• Connects mindfulness to social-emotional learning
• Practical strategies for implementation

Best Use: Schools and educators interested in system-wide integration of mindfulness.

Learning to Breathe — Patricia C. Broderick

This structured curriculum is designed specifically for adolescents and provides step-by-step guidance for teaching mindfulness in classroom settings. Organized around themes such as body awareness, thoughts, emotions, and compassion, it offers clear lesson plans and activities that support emotional regulation and stress management.

Age Range: Middle school through high school

Strengths:

• Clear, structured curriculum
• Age-appropriate for adolescents
• Easy to implement in classrooms

Best Use: Secondary educators seeking a ready-to-use mindfulness program.

A Still Quiet Place — Amy Saltzman

This book presents an eight-week mindfulness program designed to help children and teens develop awareness, emotional balance, and resilience. It includes guided practices, scripts, and exercises that support both individual and group work. Saltzman’s approach emphasizes kindness, curiosity, and self-acceptance, making it particularly valuable for children experiencing stress or emotional challenges.

Age Range: Approximately 6–18
Strengths:

• Structured program with clear guidance
• Strong focus on emotional well-being
• Includes scripts and practical tools

Best Use: Classroom, counseling, or therapeutic settings.

These resources reflect a growing recognition that mindfulness is not simply a technique to be taught, but a capacity to be cultivated, one that shapes how children experience themselves, others, and the world around them.