Mindfulness in Youth Can Help Teens Manage Emotions

A recent article by Psych Central discussed how mindfulness in youth can help teens manage emotions and reduce risks of common mental health disorders. Mindfulness has been found to be beneficial for stress reduction, anxiety, and depression, dietary challenges, addiction recovery, and many other conditions. In certain schools, teachers are using mindfulness to help in the classroom and teach children how to manage emotions and stay calm.

The ‘Calm Classroom’ Strategy

The strategy ‘Calm Classroom’ is being used by teachers in Los Angles classrooms, the students they are implementing mindfulness in youth range from transitional kindergartners to fifth graders. The students are being guided by teachers three times during the school day through three-minute mindfulness exercises. The drills call on students to refocus their attention on deep breathing, relaxation, and body awareness.

The movement to create mindfulness in youth was created by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Center for Child Anxiety Resilience Education and Support (CARES), which sponsors schools and other programs that support mindfulness in youth. The schools who are participating seem to be having positive results with their ‘Calm Classroom’ strategy. Many have noted that they see the largest number of positive results in the younger students who participate.

How to Practice Mindfulness

The students practice mindfulness by doing stretching, focused listening, guided breathing, and body awareness exercises. These mindfulness exercises are most effectively led by teachers when students are going through times of transition—after lunch, at the beginning or end of the day, or even before a quiz or test. While they have seen the best results at these times, teaching mindfulness can ultimately be done at any time.

If you or your child are dealing with mental health issues and mindfulness hasn’t helped, there are programs that can help.

Asheville Academy Can Help

Asheville Academy, a residential treatment center in a traditional school setting for girls 10-14, helps teen girls struggling with anxiety, depression and other emotional and behavioral issues. If your daughter’s struggles have escalated recently, consider sending her to Asheville Academy, a therapeutic boarding school. With a caring staff and a clinically based program, Asheville Academy can help your daughter find success.

For more information about Asheville Academy, contact us today at 800.264.8709