6 Mindful books to share with your children
When we start talking about toddler and “big kid” sleep, we really can’t work on optimizing sleep until we’ve worked on regulating emotions, and handling big feelings! One tool I love for this is the practice of mindfulness. It can really impact sleep positively in all the age groups, because parents who practice mindfulness pass that calm onto their children through co-regulation.
What is Mindfulness and How Can it Relate to Sleep?
In a nutshell; mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment without worrying about the past or the future, and it’s something that most of us really struggle with. Just think about it. When was the last time you laid down in bed without replaying an event that didn’t go exactly as you had planned that day, or stressing over your to-do list for the upcoming day? Some of us have an easier time than others letting go of these thoughts and drifting to sleep, and it’s the same with our kiddos. That’s where the practice of mindfulness can be super helpful. Focusing on the soft feeling of the sheets on our bed, counting breaths, or visualizing a “happy place” are all practices that can help ease anxiety and allow us to sink more readily into a deep sleep.
Six Books for Introducing Mindfulness to Children
King Calm: Mindful Gorilla in the City by Susan D. Sweet and Brenda S. Miles, and Illustrated by Bryan Langdo
Marvin’s Grandpa wants to roar and beat his chest all through the day, and doesn’t understand his grandson’s slow pace. Marvin takes his grandpa on a journey through the city to help him understand how to savor all of the sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and feelings of the city; ultimately helping his Grandpa understand that it's cool to be calm. This is a really sweet picture book that’s perfect for teaching your little one the importance of slowing down and noticing everything around us. A good reminder for parents to take their noses out of their phones and be present as well.
Mindful Bea and the Worry Tree by Gail Silver, and Illustrated by Franziska Hollbacher
Bea is having a birthday party, and her friends are about to arrive! But instead of excitement, Bea feels anxiety! Her anxiety is like a tree that grows more and more branches as her thoughts multiply. Finding a quiet and calm place to take deep breaths helps Bea tame her worries and come back to the joy of the present moment. This book is great for helping children understand anxiety, which can be a complex feeling to talk about. It introduces the tool of deep breathing, which is a wonderful practice to add to your bedtime routine, and use all throughout the day.
Mindful Mr. Sloth by Katy Hudson
Sasha has one speed and it’s FAST! She rushes from one activity to the next, sometimes abandoning activities before she’s even had a chance to truly enjoy them. The Mr. Sloth comes crashing into her life and forces her to slooooooow dooooooown. At first she struggles to accept a slower pace, but eventually she realizes how much she was missing out on by zooming through life. This book is perfect for the kid who never sits still, but it also speaks to the kids who has been overscheduled, and become used to a rushed pace of life. It’s a great reminder to families to take time to slow down and enjoy the little things. How can you slow down you bedtime routine, or your evenings in general? What can you do throughout the day to prioritize simple moments together?
Breathe like a Bear by Kira Willey
This book is a treasure trove of activities to help you practice mindfulness with your little one. It’s split into categories with activities to help you find calm, practice focus, practice imagination, make energy, and relax. I would highly recommend utilizing some of the calming and relaxing activities into your regular bedtime routine. Always remember to practice mindful activities when your child is already happy and calm. Practice them often enough, and they will become tools you can use when your child is elevated.
Bee Calm; The Buzz on Yoga by Frank J. Sileo, and Illustrated by Claire Keay
Bennett the Bee notices all of his friends practicing yoga poses. At first he’s confused, but his confusion turns into curiosity. Finally, he tries out some poses on his own, and gets educated about the benefits of yoga for the mind, body, and spirit. This book makes a great introduction to yoga practice for kids and incorporates some poses you might want to try out. The yoga poses aren’t illustrated in a way that is super instructional, so you might want to utilize YouTube or some other venue to look up the poses and practice them with your little one, if you are new to yoga yourself. Adding some yoga poses to your bedtime routine can be a good way to stretch the body and calm the mind before bed!
I Am Peace; A Book of Mindfulness by Susan Verde, and Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
This lyrical book shares how mindfulness can help still our worries, and leave us more open to share love and peace with others. It illustrates how using breath and our five senses can calm us and help us feel more grounded in the world around us.
Working on Healthy Sleep with Toddlers and School-Aged Kids
We can’t address healthy sleep for toddler and school-aged kids without addressing the emotional and mental health of our children. Adults and children need tools to sort through big emotions and decompress after busy days and stressful events. Practicing mindfulness together is a great way to build connection and calm; ultimately laying the foundation for better sleep.
These are skills we can work on within my toddler and school aged sleep coaching packages. You can learn more by booking a discovery call at https://calendly.com/slumberbunnies. Or visit www.slumberbunnies.com/sleep-packages to explore sleep packages.
