Benefits of Mindful Awareness
The M. E. Program (Mindfulness Education)—also called attention training—teaches students to become more aware of their own state of mind, at any given moment. Teachers and parents recognize that academic success, as with success in life, rests on a foundation of social and emotional competencies. A growing body of research suggests that teaching children skills of mindfulness-based awareness, actually improves academic performance, and bolsters confidence, optimism and enthusiasm for learning.
The M. E. Program (Mindfulness Education) reduces behavior problems and enhances brain cognitive development and function. Teachers who have introduced similar programs report such dramatic changes as a 90% reduction in student detention, and a 59% reduction in office referrals for behavior problems. (Source: Community for Children, Second Step: A Violence Prevention Curriculum)
According to studies by leading researchers including Jon Kabat-Zinn (Founder, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction), mindfulness-based techniques are proven to decrease anxiety, stress and depression, as well as increase resilience and optimism in adults and in children. Among the many benefits, mindfulness techniques may:
- Sharpen and ready the mind for active learning
- Train children to stay calm and centered, with sustained attention
- Give children more control over themselves and their choices
- Help overcome challenges of academic and peer pressures
- Heighten student readiness for academic performance
- Create a feeling of connectedness and compassion
- Increase self esteem, confidence and joy.
Want to find out more? Click here to read the scientific studies that have proved the positive effects of mindfulness.
Source: “Promoting Children’s Social-Emotional Competence in School: Initial Findings for the Mindfulness Education Program” by Kimberly A. Schonert-Reichl and Molly Stewart Lawlor, University of British Columbia.
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