Kids who are taught how to be mindful—defined as “paying attention in the present moment without judgment”—are happier, kinder, and do better in math than kids who aren’t. As reported in a recent Vancouver Sun article, UBC researchers uncovered these connections when they studied a group of grade 4 and 5 kids in Coquitlam. Some of these students were randomly enrolled in MindUp, an emotional and social literacy program grounded in neuroscience. It was created in 2005 by actor Goldie Hawn. At the end of the 12-week program, students who had received mindfulness training witnessed marked improvement in math scores as well as in their ability to focus their attention and regulate emotions. They were also less stressed and more optimistic. Their peers also noticed a difference, rating these students as more trustworthy and helpful. Mindfulness can be practiced in all kinds of situations. According to Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl, interim director of the Human Early Learning Partnership at UBC, it can “be as simple as listening to the sound of a chime and focusing on your breath or you could do it while washing the dishes, paying attention to how the water feels and the sound of the water.” Take a moment to slow down and pay attention to your surroundings and to the present moment. Get your children to do the same. They’ll feel happier for it—and do better in school, and life.
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