Researchers at the University of Colorado taught mindfulness techniques to a class of Denver 4th graders, who practiced it daily during homeroom check-in for 10 weeks. After comparing those students to a similar class without mindfulness, they reported improvements in pro-social behavior, emotional regulation and academic performance for those who practiced it. Their conclusion?
Mindfulness in urban classroom settings as a feasible option for students to help with personal stress and coping, as well as emotional and behavior regulation in schools and at home.
The methods came from two sources of mindfulness curricula for children:
- MindUp, from the Hawn (as in Goldie Hawn) Foundation
- Mindful Schools, which came out of a project in Oakland, California
Related: Mindfulness Goes to School: Things Learned (So Far) from Research and Real-World Experiences.