Why Mindfulness should be taught in schools

Asked by Anoymous
Answered
05/03/2021

Mindfulness should be taught in schools because it can help students practice taking the time to process their thoughts and feelings in the present moment. Mindfulness is effective research and evidence-based technique that children and teachers can use to decrease mental, emotional, and social problems, issues, and concerns. Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can be taught in schools to help students recognize that their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. Students can learn techniques and strategies to improve their behaviors by stopping to take the time to become mindful of processing their thoughts and feelings before they engage in a negative or unwanted behavior out of impulse. Taking the time to process emotions can also allow students to calm down and access the situation, issue, problem, and or concern that is causing them emotional and/or mental distress. 

Students need to develop an understanding that all of our behaviors serve a purpose to manage our needs. Therefore, Mindfulness can be used at the moment to allow a student the tools to take a break to truly work on changing the behavior once they are given the time to process how they think and feel without judgment, ridicule, and or bias. Taking the time to process their thoughts can allow students to think about the pros and cons of their behavior. Students need to remember that all behaviors have consequences. Mindfulness is very similar to any other life skill, technique, coping skill, and or strategy; students need to be aware that they will get something out of Mindfulness if they practice and put forth the effort to take the time to stop and think before they act out of impulsive. With continued and consistent practicing, students can develop and implement effective coping skills to decrease negative and or irrational thoughts and thinking patterns that can lead to negative and or uncomfortable circumstances or situations for students. Change starts with determination and commitment, so Mindfulness should be taught in schools to allow students to take a break and work on changing for an overall healthy emotional and mental well-being.

(EdS, LPC-S, NCC, BC-TMH)