How 5 Minutes of Mindfulness can Calm a Class

Developing and implementing mindfulness education programs in Primary school classrooms has the potential to positively influence the development of children's cognitive, behavioural, and emotional regulatory abilities. There is a study by Exeter University that is the first to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a Mindfulness program; a mindfulness education program for late Primary school students. The program includes seven key ingredients: relaxation and breathing, positive affirmation, remedial stretch, real-world applications, aromatherapy, yoga and daily practice; all of which worked in partnership to provide students with unique skills to use in their everyday lives. Of most importance was examining the potential impact of teaching mindfulness in a classroom on students' cognitive (e.g., executive functioning), behavioural (e.g., aggression), and emotional (e.g., anxiety) regulatory outcomes. As a function of participating in the program, students in t...