Question 1

What is Mindfulness?

Accepted Answer

Mindfulness can be seen as a set of basic life skills that can improve performance in most areas of life, including school, sports, arts, and social interaction.   Mindfulness provides children with simple, practical tools to work directly with their nervous systems, helping them regulate emotional states and focus attention.   When children practice focusing skills, they become aware of what their minds are really up to. Mindfulness practice helps children deal with tough emotions and even improves impulse control. It replaces impulsive reactions with thoughtful responses.   Without mindfulness, we tend to be reactive, whereas with mindfulness we can respond in a more balanced, rational way. ​

Question 2

What does Mindset mean?

Accepted Answer

Mindset is the set of attitudes held by someone.   The noun mindset was first used in the 1930s to mean "habits of mind formed by previous experience."   A person's usual attitude or mental state is his or her mindset. ... Sometimes, a mindset spreads between people in a group and colours the entire group's outlook — psychologists call this groupthink. This can happen very easily in schools and clubs and not always with positive effect.   Having a growth mindset (the belief that you are in control of your own ability, and can learn and improve) is the key to success. Yes, hard work, effort, and persistence are all important, but not as important as having that underlying belief that you are in control of your own destiny.   Our coaching and classes enable children to notice and better understand what they are thinking. When we notice what what we are thinking we can decide if that thinking is true and helping us...or maybe not.  It's all about balance.

Question 3

What happens in your Mindfulness classes?

Accepted Answer

Games and activities....lots of them!    Children’s mindfulness training starts with learning focusing skills. When we learn to focus on just one thing, like taste, sound or our own breath, our mind calms down and grows stronger.   Mindset magicians has developed a unique way to introduce Mindfulness to children. The focus is on equiping each child with a set of tools or practices they can use whenever they feel the need.  When life throws up challenges.   Your child will practice breathing and focusing skills as a group. Your child will be encouraged to work in smaller groups or with a partner.  You child will feel comfortable and safe practicing and working on their own.

Question 4

Why should children learn to practice mindfulness?

Accepted Answer

Mindfulness gives children the tools to focus their minds, calm down and reflect on a situation when they need to make a choice.  
With mindfulness practice, we can create space between the things that happen and how we react to them. We respond in a more balanced way, without hurting our own feelings or the feelings of others. ​ As we create more emotional balance, we are less easily knocked down by our emotions, and in moments when we are knocked down, we bounce back more quickly. ​ Most adolescents deal with strong emotions, and mindfulness skills can really make a difference.   Mindfulness programs in schools are becoming more and more widespread. According to research conducted by the University of California in conjunction with Mindful Schools, a program that aims to integrate mindfulness into classrooms, benefits of mindfulness practice for young children include: ​ Improved focus Improved grades Decreased stress Emotional regulation Increased compassion Increased conflict-resolution skills ​ Additionally, mindfulness techniques are used by some of the world’s most successful athletes, musicians and other individuals who have to perform under extreme pressure. Students today are increasingly placed into high-stakes environments, and mindfulness practice can help.   Some areas that students can improve by practicing mindfulness include: ​ Test-taking Public speaking Sports Music Peer interactions Family life ​ Mindfulness can be seen as a set of basic life skills that can improve performance in most areas of life, including school, sports, arts, and social interaction.   Last but not least, positive qualities that can develop as a result of mindfulness practice include empathy, kindness, well-being, generosity, and compassion.

Question 5

Is Mindfulness just meditation?

Accepted Answer

Yes.....and then no.   Your child will NOT be expected to sit still for long periods of time meditating.

Question 6

Why is Mindfulness good for confidence?

Accepted Answer

When we become aware or mindful of our thoughts and feelings we build awareness and  can slowly start trusting what our brain and body really need.   Psychologists have found that practicing mindfulness can help us to transform a lack of self-esteem into inner confidence, self-acceptance and self-belief becuase it enables us to meet, greet, and make friends with ourselves.    Mindfulness is something we rarely do when we are on autopilot. We are constantly focusing on “what’s next” or what happened in the past, which leads to little awareness about what we really need.   Adding in small doses of mindfulness is an awesome tool to get us in a calmer state of mind. It’s a way of paying attention to whatever is happening in our lives, which brings us more control.   When we slow down, we actually make better decisions and feel more confident in our choices.   It doesnt stop life's pressures but, with practice, it can help us respond to them in a calmer way.

Question 7

Can Mindfulness improve concentration?

Accepted Answer

Children’s mindfulness training starts with learning focusing skills. When we learn to focus on just one thing, like taste, sound or our own breath, our mind calms down and grows stronger. ​ Refined concentration skills, in turn, translate to improved performance. It helps children do better in sports, school or arts, and it will help them score higher on tests.   We always do better when we’re able to pay attention to what we’re doing.

Question 8

How long do the classes run for?

Accepted Answer

Each class runs for 60 minutes.   We practice mindfulness exercises for approx 45 minutes and 5-7 minutes at the beginning and end of each session for welcoming and reflection.

Question 9

Do you run classes for older children or adults?

Accepted Answer

Mindset Magicians offers classes for all ages.    Please use the contact form on this site if you are interested in these classes and would like to be contacted when they are available.

Mindset Magicians

Maths, Mindset and Mindfulness

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