“The more you practice mindfulness, the easier it will be to be mindful when you are in a stressful situation.” – 4-H club flyer, 2018 (Kentucky)
Dear Lighthouse Trails:
Recently, we took our young children out of 4 -H and not too soon!! I have attached the flyer that came out this weekend to every family here [Kentucky] involved in 4-H. Keep in mind that this is elementary age children! In case it didn’t come through, it’s an entire flyer telling/teaching the children how to practice “mindfulness “ . . .
God bless all you do for us.
D.W.
Lighthouse Trails Comments: There are currently around 6.5 million children (ages 5-21) involved with 4-H throughout the United States. It has traditionally had a conservative focus on wholesome activities such as agriculture, gardening, livestock, pets, quilting, baking, etc. While the flyer that was sent to us is difficult to read, we have posted below links to some other 4-H states that are also promoting mindfulness to 4-H children and teens (see links at bottom of this post on what is mindfulness).
Mindfulness retreat hosted by California 4-H
4-H Mindfulness project – University of California (being used by 4-H in various states)
4-H Primary Mindfulness Curriculum – Developed by the University of California for all 4-H clubs. This document states:
This curriculum will introduce primary youth members, ages 5-8, to some basic concepts in mindfulness practices that include: mindful eating, affirmations (emotional support or encouragement), identification and management of emotions, being present in the current moment [meditation], and yoga. This curriculum has been designed to be delivered in the 4-H Club setting, as well as afterschool programs. In the 4-H Mindfulness for Primary curriculum (ages 5-8), there are ten experiential learning activities which are designed to be delivered weekly by trained teens. Teen training includes an overview of mindfulness, an exploration of neuroscience, introduction to related educational theories, and best practices for teaching primary members.
Mindfulness being offered to 4-H families in Washington State
4-H mindfulness in North Carolina
Mindfulness with 4-H in Michigan
Mindfulness in 4-H in Delaware
Related Articles on Mindfulness, from Lighthouse Trails:
What You Need to Tell Your Local Public School Officials About Children and Mindfulness Meditation
Thank you for your thorough treatment of this issue. The extension programs in land use university programs all over the nation are beginning to incorporate Mindfullness and yoga modalities. This is because of the “science based proof” – thus making them useful in programs like 4-H and many of the family oriented services they offer. I left the board I chaired at my local extension due to these very issues.