Mindfulness in Education

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kids sitting cross legged in a class room

kids meditatingThe practice of mindfulness promises a number of benefits for both students and teachers.

For example, there is growing evidence that mindfulness training improves our ability to:

  • Regulate emotion (which also helps us think more clearly!)
  • Improve attention   
  • Enhance executive function (a set of mental operations that involve focus, attention, problem solving, planning, and working memory)
  • Increase motivation and learning  
  • Enhance empathy and promote prosocial behavior
  • Reduce stress and improve wellbeing

While studies that look specifically at the effectiveness of mindfulness in a school setting are still somewhat limited, it is clear that the skills listed above offer advantages for increasing teachers’ efficacy and students’ academic success.