Mindful Moments: Understanding and Practicing Mindfulness for Kids (Grades 2-5)

Author: Kate Nelson

Updated: October 12, 2025

Brief Project Intro:

I am creating a short educational video series called “MIndful Moments” to introduce mindfulness to children in Grades 2-5. I am working independently on this project.

I chose this topic because, in my experience working with children across different learning environments, I’ve consistently noticed how difficult it can be for them to calm down and express their emotions when upset. There are many existing resources that support families and educators in introducing mindfulness to children and helping them approach challenges such as trauma, anxiety, and stress. Two that have particularly inspired me are Headspace for Kids and Families – which offers guided meditations for calming down, managing anxiety, and winding down, and The Acceptance and Mindfulness Toolbox for Children and Adolescents by Gordon and Borushok – which provides developmentally appropriate exercises for teaching emotional regulation and awareness.

My goal for this project is to design three one-minute videos that blend education and guided practice, in a mix of explainer and how-to videos. I want them to feel approachable, calm, and relatable for children across this age group – simple enough for younger students but not too ‘young’ for older ones.

In this process, I’ve been experimenting with combining Powtoon animations and hand-drawn iPad illustrations while narrating in my own voice. The process has required a lot of thought around pacing, tone, and accessibility to make sure the concepts are engaging and meaningful for students.

Understand (Discover, Interpret, Specify)

DESCRIBE THE CHALLENGE:

Many children struggle to regulate emotions, calm their bodies, and express how they feel during stressful moments. They need simple, accessible strategies to practice mindfulness and learn emotional self-regulation.

CONTEXT AND AUDIENCE:

My intended audience for this project is children in Grades 2-5, typically ages 7-11. This age group is often curious, imaginative, and increasingly aware of their own emotions and experiences, which makes it a great stage to begin exploring mindfulness in a simple, age-appropriate way. The videos will use calm narration, storytelling, and clear visuals to make mindfulness concepts approachable and enjoyable rather than instructional or overly serious.

Within this age range, there’s a wide variety of learners. Typical cases might include children who are learning how to handle everyday frustrations, distractions, or feelings of stress. More extreme cases could include children who experience higher levels of anxiety, emotional sensitivity, or neurodiverse traits such as ADHD or autism spectrum conditions. The videos are not meant to serve as therapeutic tools for these experiences but instead offer gentle, accessible introductions to breathing, awareness, and calm focus – ideas that can benefit a range of learners.

Although the project is primarily designed for children, I hope that teachers or families may see value in sharing it with their own students or children. My intention isn’t to provide expert advice, but to create a fun, creative, and meaningful entry point into mindfulness – something that helps kids pause, breathe, and reflect for just a moment in their day.

POV STATEMENT:

An elementary student who feels overwhelmed or frustrated during the school day needs simple, guided mindfulness strategies so that they can calm their mind and body, refocus, and communicate their emotions more effectively.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

The “Mindful Moments” video series is designed to help children begin understand and practice mindfulness in a simple and engaging way. The main learning objectives are for learners to recognize mindfulness as paying attention to the present moment with curiosity and kindness, understand how breathing can influence the brain and body during moments of stress, and try short mindfulness activities – like breathing exercises or sensory awareness – to calm their minds and refocus.

Beyond these surface goals, the videos will also aim to promote deeper learning outcomes. By gently encouraging reflection, children can begin to notice how they feel before and after practicing mindfulness, helping them build self-awareness and patience. These ‘secret’ goals include developing an early sense of emotional regulation, curiosity about their own thoughts and feelings, and empathy for others who might experience similar emotions.

Plan (Ideate, Sketch, Elaborate)

IDEATION:

I brainstormed ways to present mindfulness in a short, meaningful format that balances explanation and participation. I decided on three different concepts expressed in each video:

1. What mindfulness is,
2. How breathing impacts the brain, (with inspiration and learning from the ASAPScience video)
3. How to practice mindfulness in the moment.

My most promising prototype uses narration and illustration together, allowing the viewer to listen, watch, participate. The tone is warm and calm – something a child could follow independently or with an adult.

STORYBOARD OR SCRIPT:

Video 1 – “What is Mindfulness?”

• Intro: “Have you ever felt your mind racing or your body buzzing?” -> animation of a fast-moving stick figure.
• Middle: Explains mindfulness as paying attention to the present moment, noticing sounds, sensations, and breathing.
• End: “Try noticing one thing around you right now – what do you see or hear?”

Video 2 – “How Breathing Helps Your Brain”

• Intro: “When we’re stressed, our brain thinks there’s danger – even if there isn’t.”
• Middle: Illustrate a brain and lungs, explaining how slow breathing calms the body.
• End: Guide viewers through one cycle of box breathing (inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4).

Video 3 – “Try a Mini Mindful Pause”

• Intro: “Let’s try a one-minute mindful pause together.”
• Middle: Guide a “3-2-1” awareness practice: “3 things you can see, 2 things you can hear, 1 you can feel.”
• End: “Take one deep breath. How do you feel now?”

PRINCIPLES APPLIED:

In designing the “Mindful Moments” video series, I am applying several of Mayer’s Multimedia Learning Principles to make the content clear, engaging, and accessible for children. The coherence principle guides my decision to include only visuals that directly support the narration, keeping the screen simple and free of distractions. Following the modality principle, I will use my own narration paired with illustrated visuals rather than on-screen text, allowing learners to process information through both visual and auditory channels without becoming overloaded. The signalling principle will appear through the use of arrows, highlights, and pacing to draw attention to key concepts, such as the rise and fall of the breath or the difference between a tense and calm brain. I will also apply the segmenting principle by dividing information into three short, focused videos – each covering one main idea into manageable, one-minute segments. Finally, the personalization principle will shape the narration style: calm, friendly, and conversations, modeling mindfulness and creating a relaxed tone that feels approachable for students. Together, these principles will help make the videos more effective by maintaining focus, supporting comprehension, and encouraging active participation in each mindfulness practice.

• Explain the principles guiding your solution, referencing the Educational Multimedia Design Principles explicitly.

Important Note: Complete drafts of Phases 1 and 2 before starting your prototype.

Create and Share the Prototype

At this stage, I have not yet created the videos themselves, but I’ve outlined the structure, tone, and style that will guide their development. My prototype consists of the scripts, concepts, and design plans for each of the three short videos, which I plan to bring to life using Powtoon and my iPad illustrations with Apple Pencil for animation. Each video will include narration by me, along with pauses and counting to encourage viewers to follow along in real time.

The third video, “Try a Mini Mindful Pause,” will likely serve as the first completed example for my final submission, since it includes a practical mindfulness exercise that can be tested for flow and timing. Although I’m submitting this prototype later than planned, I’ve put significant thought and care into the design process so far. I’m looking forward to feedback from my peers on how the concept, pacing, and narration style might best support learning and engagement in the final product.

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