This document discusses mindfulness with young people and its benefits. It describes a youth mindfulness program that teaches lessons on attention, attitude, intention, resilience, kindness, gratitude and more. Research shows mindfulness can reduce aggression, anxiety, stress and behavioral problems while improving emotional regulation, attention, self-acceptance and social/emotional competencies. The program has shown encouraging early results and positive student feedback. The document argues for integrating mindfulness training into education to teach young people skills for living peacefully and harmoniously.

1. MMiinnddffuullnneessss wwiitthh yyoouunngg
ppeeooppllee
MMiicchhaaeell BBrreeaaddyy yyoouutthhmmiinnddffuullnneessss..ccoo..uukk

2. What do schools teach?

3. What do you wish for your
children?

4. There is a crisis of ill-being.
Wellbeing is supportive of other
desired outcomes.
Wellbeing has an intrinsic value.

5. WWhhaatt iiss wweellllbbeeiinngg??
“A combination of feeling good and
doing well.”
courage
confidence
wisdom
resilience
forgiveness
compassion
kindness zest
leadership
gratitude curiosity
leadership

6. ““AAllll oouurr lliiffee,, ssoo ffaarr aass iitt hhaass
ddeeffiinniittee ffoorrmm,, iiss bbuutt aa mmaassss ooff
hhaabbiittss..””WWiilllliiaamm JJaammeess

7. ““……wwee aarree wwhhaatt wwee rreeppeeaatteeddllyy ddoo..
EExxcceelllleennccee,, tthheenn,, iiss nnoott aann aacctt bbuutt aa
hhaabbiitt..””
WWiillll DDuurraanntt oonn AArriissttoottllee

8. Can we influence this process?

9. Mind and brain

10. NNeeuurrooppllaassttiicciittyy
"the single most important
change in our understanding of
the human brain in 400 years."
~ Norman Doidge, Colombia University

11. WWhhaatt iiss mmiinnddffuullnneessss??
Intention Attention Attitude

13. YYoouutthh MMiinnddffuullnneessss KKiiddss
PPrrooggrraammmmee
16 lessons
50-60 minutes each
Delivered twice weekly

14. Art of happiness Art of suffering
Purpose
15 & 16
Kindness to others
Kindness to self
Gratitude
13 & 14
Resilience
7 & 8 9 & 10
Attitude
Intention
2 & 3
14
Attention
1
4, 5, & 6
11 & 12

15. “Everyone in the world should get
mindfulness, everyone would be happy.”

16. “Mindfulness is amazing…it helps you
calm down.”

17. “Mindfulness makes me think
before I act.”

18. “Mindfulness will make me a
better person.”

19. “When you do it, you feel more
open. It also helps with anger,
sadness, irritation, and lots more
stuff.”

20. “A mindful mind is calm, gentle
and kind.”

21. “Mindfulness is the best way to
stay calm and happy.”

22. “I am now more peaceful and I
don’t get as frustrated or angry
as I used to.”

23. “I was quite tense and we did
mindfulness and I felt all relaxed
and happy for the rest of the
day.”

24. “When I got angry I nearly
punched someone then I did
mindfulness, calmed down and
everything was better.”

25. RReesseeaarrcchh
Early stages
There are encouraging signs:
Reductions in:
•Aggression
•Hostility
•Anxiety
•Stress
•Behavioural problems
Improvements in:
•Emotional regulation
•Attention
•Self-acceptance
•Executive function
•Social and emotional
competencies

26. Mindfulness wwiitthh YYoouunngg OOffffeennddeerrss
IInnnneerr SSttrreennggtthh PPrrooggrraammmmee
Ten 90-120 minute weekly sessions
Key factors
Relationship
Respect
Positive emotion
Consistency

27. “…its going to sound kind of cheesy but it
felt like I was safe when I was coming to
these mindfulness classes.”

28. TToowwaarrdd aann
eeccoollooggiiccaall mmooddeell ffoorr
wweellllbbeeiinngg

31. “Our children learn reading, writing, math, science, and other
subjects in school that can help them earn a living. But very
few school programs teach young people how to live – how to
deal with anger, how to reconcile conflicts, how to breathe,
smile, and transform internal formations. There needs to be a
revolution in education. We must encourage schools to train
our students in the art of living in peace and harmony. It isn’t
easy to learn to read, write, or solve math problems, but
children manage to do it. Learning how to breathe, smile and
transform anger can also be difficult, but I have seen many
young people succeed. If we teach children properly, by the
time they are around twelve, thet will know how to live
harmoniously with others.”
- Thich Nhat Hanh