Children’s Books That Teach Mindfulness and Yoga
As adults, we know the importance of mindfulness practices and yoga to help us regulate our emotions better, increase our focus, and reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. We may have even started practicing ourselves and we have seen the benefits when we are overwhelmed by emotions and tempted to overreact. Children’s books that teach mindfulness and yoga are the easiest way to introduce these practices to children.
Teaching children about mindfulness should begin when they are very young, curious, and non-judgmental. Young children have an openness to the world and we should take advantage of this matter-of-fact approach to everything related to life.
I have found that children’s books are the best way to introduce mindfulness concepts. Children receive the information in the form of a story that they can relate to. The beautiful pictures captivate their attention and imagination. Because books are so engaging, children are very eager to begin practicing what they are reading about in the book.
Besides books, I have found a few card sets that I love and I will share them below. They are playful and fun, and you can turn them into a game. Children love having the freedom to choose which card to do and playing with them.
Related: Books That Teach Children About Feelings
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Table of Contents
Books About Being Mindful and Present
Sometimes I like to read a book to my kids that just has a story with no apparent invitation to do anything at that moment. Of course, even these stories teach a mindfulness strategy, but the focus is on the story, which can open up opportunities for great discussions with your child.
The Lemonade Hurricane, A Story of Mindfulness and Meditation, by Licia Morelli
The Lemonade Hurricane shows two very different siblings, a girl who likes to be calm, and her younger brother who becomes wild when he is tired and overstimulated. The sister teaches her brother how to be still in order to calm his body.
This is a lovely story, apart from the fact that I worry about the stereotypes that we have about boys being wild and the danger of labeling that behavior as “bad”. Therefore, when you read this story to your child, make sure you point out that the boy isn’t a “bad” child, but rather he just cannot control his body because he is too tired and has too many things going on.
Then ask your child if he or she ever feels that way, “Do you ever get really active and out of control like this boy when you are tired?” Ask your child how it feels to be out of control, like the boy in the book.
Then explain, as you read on, that sometimes it feels good to find a peaceful place inside, where our true self resides, and that, in the story, this is what the sister is teaching her brother to do.
The Sound of Silence, by Katrina Goldsaito
The Sound of Silence is the story of a little boy who lives in busy Tokyo. The multitude of sounds and movements can be overwhelming, but he learns how to remain calm and happy by enjoying all the little sounds and things around him and paying attention to them one by one. The sounds become a symphony, instead of a cacophony.
The illustrations are rich and beautiful and the children will love to discover all the details of the city spread out on the pages.
Listen, by Holly M. McGhee
Listen is a lyrical book that shows how we can use our senses to pay attention to the world around us and explores the oneness of the universe, and how we are connected to one another and the nature around us. It has beautiful illustrations and it is a perfect bedtime read to unwind, find peace, and settle before sleep.
Layla’s Happiness, by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie
In this poetic book, a little girl named Layla enumerates all the things that make her happy: climbing a tree, the full moon, the color purple, her mom reading poetry to her, etc. Layla’s Happiness is a reminder that paying attention to everything around us and seeing them with love and presence helps us to feel happy. Happiness does not come from buying things or achieving something in the future. Happiness is right here, in the little joys in life.
The book ends with the question, “What is happiness to you?” You can explore this question with your child, helping them to feel gratitude for all the little moments and things that bring joy into their lives.
Related: Children’s Books for Anxiety and Separation
Books for Mindfulness Exercises
Here are a few extremely fun and engaging books with mindfulness exercises, that my kids and I love!
Mindful Moments Collection, by Kira Willey
I really like the books in this collection! We have Breathe Like a Bear but have borrowed others in this collection from our local public library.
Breathe Like a Bear introduces children to different ways to breathe and become centered. The breathing exercises are organized by purpose: there are breathing exercises that help you relax, focus, or become more energized.
Peaceful Like a Panda has exercises divided into times of day: waking up, traveling, brain boosters, playtime, mindful eating, and bedtime. It’s really easy to fit these in several times a day.
The text is short, the images are beautiful, and the exercises are very creative, inviting children to use their imagination. These are definitely not boring “learn how to breathe” books. They are engaging even for parents!
Mind Bubbles: Exploring Mindfulness With Kids, by Heather Krantz
What I like about Mind Bubbles is that it normalizes having lots of thoughts and feelings. It shows that some are pleasant, and some are less pleasant. But they all come and go, just like bubbles. It teaches children how to watch feelings and thoughts and not get overwhelmed by them. It’s an easy and fun read, and the visual of the bubbles is something that children can draw on in moments of stress.
What Does It Mean to Be Present, by Rana DiOrio
The word “present” has many meanings, and this book goes over them briefly in a very fun way. The children will appreciate these amusing pictures and descriptions in What Does It Mean to Be Present. I like how the author gives multiple examples of how children can be present and mindful throughout their day, like listening carefully when someone else is speaking, waiting their turn patiently, noticing when someone needs help, and so on.
Books for Yoga Exercises
Yoga can be a lot of fun for children and I really love these three books! The reason why I love them is that they get my kids to do the poses without me feeling like I am “making them do it”.
Dinosaur Yoga, by Mariam Gates
Dinosaur Yoga used to be my son’s favorite book when he was younger. It is great for dinosaur lovers. The book shows different dinosaurs stretching and doing various yoga poses in a story format. Kids will surely have a few giggles as they are invited to “breathe in through your snout” or to “press palm to palm, claws pointed to the sky”. At the end of the book, some of the dinosaurs are shown with names and fun facts.
Good Night Yoga, by Mariam Gates
Mariam Gates has two other great books that introduce yoga to children, Good Morning Yoga, and Good Night Yoga. These are two of my children’s favorites. They are both short and simple, with eleven yoga poses told in the form of a story. The illustrations are dreamy and the pages are thick and lustrous. The children will quickly learn the moves associated with the story. After a few reads, they will be able to move from pose to pose as you read the story to them.
Related: Picture Books for Helping Kids With Anger
BONUS: Mindfulness and Yoga Exercises Cards
I have looked so long for a set of cards with different mindfulness and yoga exercises that I could use with my kids! Books are great, but a card deck offers more flexibility and opportunity for play. I wanted the set to contain more than twenty cards with exercises, to be sturdy, and to come in a storage box. Finally, I have found two sets that I absolutely love and wholeheartedly recommend!
Mindful Kids, 50 Mindfulness Activities for Kindness, Focus, and Calm
The first set of cards I want to share with you is Mindful Kids, 50 Mindfulness Activities for Kindness, Focus, and Calm, by Whitney Stewart and Mina Braun. What I love about these cards is that they are durable and very well made. I have been using them with my kids since they were very young, and they stood the test of some pretty rough handling.
The set contains breathing exercises, mindfulness games, and visualizations. The cards are organized into different categories. There are exercises to start your day, find calm, increase focus, open your heart, rest, and relax. The front of each card has a cute picture and on the back, there are step-by-step instructions to complete the activity. The set comes with instructions that show you how to use the cards and how you can adapt the exercises to different ability levels.
Yoga Pretzels, 50 Fun Yoga Activities for Kids & Grownups
The other set of cards that my kids are just crazy about is Yoga Pretzels. The set contains 50 yoga poses in fun, colorful pictures. This set is also very sturdy and is the same size as the Mindfulness card deck.
The yoga poses are organized into nine sections: breathe, game, balance, stand, forward bend, back bend, twist and stretch, partner, and time-in. This set also comes with instructions that give yogi tips and explain how you can mix and match the exercises. Each card has a pose on the front with a beautiful quote or inspiring words. On the back, it has four pictures that explain the steps for how to get the pose on the front. My kids have a lot of fun choosing different cards and practicing the poses.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve read all these children’s books that teach mindfulness and yoga, and your child does not seem interested in becoming more mindful, do not worry. Remember, there should be nothing forceful or complicated about this.
Just have the books available, read them occasionally, and talk about these practices. Slowly your child will learn to incorporate them into his/her day in a natural way. You are the model for your child. Practice and apply mindfulness to your life, so your child sees the benefits.
Related: The Simple Way to Get Kids to Meditate
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