Mindfulness quotes for kids: nurturing calm and focus in young minds
In today’s fast-paced world, teaching mindfulness to children has become more important than ever. It is perhaps the best way to help kids stay present, manage emotions and develop resilience. Thích Nhất Hạnh described mindfulness as the energy of being aware of what is happening in the current moment. When paying attention to what’s happening within them, kids can learn to quiet their minds and notice their thoughts and feelings more. This then creates a sense of space in which they can decide what they want to do about these, rather than acting immediately.
One simple yet powerful tool to introduce mindfulness to kids is through memorable quotes that inspire calm and thoughtful reflection. In this post, I first share tips on how to use these sayings in their daily life, followed by some of the best quotes that they can put into practice.
Why Mindfulness Matters for Kids
Mindfulness is more than just sitting still or meditating. Ultimately, it’s a means of creating distance between the practitioner and the anxiety of life. This can include disturbing thoughts, the noise of other opinions, and intense emotional reactions. Although it is by no means a new phenomenon, many adults will have grown up without these kinds of tools at their disposal. Only now are they benefitting from having them to hand.
It is therefore in every parent’s interest to have at least some form of mindful practice in place for their children today, if only to give them a head start. Where young children are concerned, mindful activities can have a profound impact on their developing executive functions. These inlcude:
- paying attention and remembering information
- shifting between various tasks without distraction or overwhelm
- behaving appropriately with others.
The big question pervading this subject, however, is how to go about teaching children. How do we make mindfulness accessible to young minds?
Well, as it happens, very young kids like my 2-year-old are predisposed to live entirely in the moment. Hence, getting them to pay attention to what they’re doing and explain how something feels, tastes or smells is a fairly straightforward task. These are the beginnings of mindful practices. As children grow into the pre-school age, so will the number of tools and activities that we can introduce. Among these are quotes.
How to Use Mindfulness Quotes with Kids
Quotes are an excellent prompt to motivate kids to be more mindful. Not only do they come pre-loaded with wisdom to make the reflection process easier, but they’re also quite fun and often involve imagery or plays on words. Combined, these elements make for interesting and memorable sayings that could be used in the following ways:
- Morning Affirmations: Start the day with a mindful quote to set a positive attitude for your child’s daily routine. You can repeat the quote together, helping them feel empowered and ready to embrace the day’s challenges with a calm mind.
- Creative Projects: Encourage kids to write their favourite mindful quotes on a colourful poster or in a journal. They can decorate it with drawings or stickers, turning it into a fun and reflective activity that reinforces the message every time they see it.
- Discussion Prompts: Use quotes as conversation starters to explore feelings and thoughts. Ask your child what the quote means to them and how they might apply it in everyday life, fostering deeper understanding and emotional intelligence.
- Bedtime Reflection: Share a calming quote before bedtime to help kids unwind and find a sense of inner peace. This can become part of a bedtime ritual that makes them feel safe, relaxed, and connected as they drift off to sleep.
- Mindful Activities: Pair quotes with mindful breathing exercises, yoga, or nature walks. For example, as they breathe deeply or observe the world around them, you can remind them of a relevant quote, helping them connect the words to mindful practices.
Top 25 Mindfulness Quotes for Kids
These quotes are simple, relatable, and perfect for encouraging mindfulness in young minds:
1. Be where your feet are. –Scott O’Neil
A gentle reminder to stay grounded in the present moment and appreciate where you are rather than constantly looking ahead to the next thing.
2. Take a deep breath. It’s just a bad day, not a bad life. –Unknown
Encourages children to recognise that tough times are temporary and manageable.
3. The mind is like water. When it’s turbulent, it’s hard to see. When it’s calm, everything becomes clear. –Prasad Mahes
Highlights the clarity that comes from staying calm and collected, even in difficult situations.
4. Smell the flowers, blow out the candles. –Unknown
This mindfulness technique is a fun way to teach conscious breathing to young children. Taking deep breaths can be so beneficial, particularly with lowering stress levels. Another fun one is “Hot chocolate breathing,” in which you cup your imaginary mug, take a long, deep inhale to smell the hot chocolate, and exhale slowly through your mouth to cool it down.
5. Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day. –Alice Morse Earle
Encourages kids to focus on and appreciate the little things in each day that bring joy.
6. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. –Buddha
Teaches children to embrace the process of growth and to find contentment in the present.
7. You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf. –Jon Kabat-Zinn
A reminder that while challenges are inevitable, and many things may be out of our immediate control, learning to adapt is key to persevering and finding our way.
8. Quiet the mind and the soul will speak. –Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati
Emphasises the peace and insight that come from moments of quiet reflection, i.e. giving ourselves the time and space for our best thinking to emerge naturally.
9. Breathe in calm, breathe out worry. –Unknown
A simple mantra that introduces children to a powerful benefit of using mindful breathing as a calming tool.
10. Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from doing what you can do. –John Wooden
Motivates children to focus on their existing abilities and their potential to discover new strengths, rather than on their immediate limitations.
11. The present moment is the only moment available to us, and it is the door to all moments. –Thích Nhất Hạnh
Encourages mindfulness by reminding children to live fully in the now.
12. Mindfulness isn’t difficult. We just need to remember to do it. –Sharon Salzberg
A gentle nudge for children and adults alike to make mindfulness a habit.
13. A mind is like a parachute. It doesn’t work if it is not open. –Frank Zappa
This highlights the value of keeping one’s mind open to new learning, different perspectives and emotional shifts. It also hints at the dangers of keeping it closed.
14. Stay hungry, stay foolish. –Steve Jobs
Inspires creativity and resilience, reminding children to remain ambitious and curious, whilst also accepting that failure is an essential part of life’s journey.
15. Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. –Albert Einstein
Teaches perseverance and its place in achieving progress, even when it feels slow.
16. Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love. –Mother Teresa
A touching reminder that small acts of kindness can have a big impact on the people around us.
17. You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. –Maya Angelou
Promotes a positive mindset of resilience and strength for facing life’s challenges.
18. Mind is a flexible mirror; adjust it to see a better world. –Dr Amit Ray
A metaphor for reshaping one’s mindset to shift paradigms and uncover new possibilities.
19. Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. –Dalai Lama XIV
Emphasises that happiness is a state of being that we can create through our own choices.
20. The more you are motivated by love, the more fearless and free your actions will be. –Matthieu Ricard
Inspires kids to instinctively act with kindness, courage, and compassion.
21. I never lose. I either win or learn. –Nelson Mandela
Teaches resilience through embracing a fully positive attitude centred around learning from the consequences of one’s actions.
22. Step with care and great tact, and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. –Dr. Seuss
A whimsical reminder to approach life thoughtfully, intentionally and mindfully.
23. When we stop distracting ourselves, we are open to the richness of the actual moment. –Tara Brach
Encourages children to fully embrace and enjoy how they experience the present moment.
24. A moment of gratitude makes a difference in your attitude. –Jack Kornfield
A simple phrase to remind children of the transformative power of thankfulness.
25. The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. –Walt Disney
Motivates children to quiet the mind and take action in order to make the most of the present moment.
Mindfulness Quotes for Kids – Final Thoughts
As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The first wealth is health,” and mindfulness is a great way to bolster mental health in today’s rush. Often, however, we’ll overthink the subject when trying to teach mindfulness to kids. That, in itself, can lead to our own undue stress as parents. But it needn’t be so complicated!
Within these quotes are simple yet powerful words of wisdom, which you can use to introduce mindfulness in ways that feel natural and enjoyable. Whether it’s through daily affirmations, conscious breathing or mindful practices, these quotes can inspire calm, focus and positivity in young minds. Start small, stay consistent and watch your child’s mindfulness journey unfold. Remember, taking the time for little moments of mindfulness, even for what might seem like tiny matters, can make a big difference.
What is your favourite mindfulness quote for kids? Share it in the comments below!
P.S. For more ideas on ways to introduce mindfulness to kids, here are 7 from the people behind the Calm app.
