Introduction

Have you ever reached the bottom of a page just to realise that you have no idea what you just read and that you were thinking of the future or the past instead of the task at hand? Mind-wandering, or the tendency to shift attention away from the present moment and toward internal information, seems to be the “default mode” of processing and it is proposed to take up nearly 50 percent of our awake life. Now imagine missing 50 percent of your day at school? And how often have you seen children meltdown or explode with anger or frustration associated with a difficult task or big emotions? Children are growing up in a rapidly changing world with increasing demands and pressures. Knowing how to notice what is happening around and within themselves, before reacting and having the necessary skills to regulate themselves and their emotions, sets them up for success in life and in school. In this course, Tracy Prowse will introduce you to the different concepts in mindfulness and how it applies to children.

Aims

The aim of this course is to increase your understanding of mindfulness, its positive effects in children and the approaches and interventions utilised in its practice.

Outline

This course is made up of videos, reading, discussions and a final quiz. The course content is split into the following sections:

1. Video
2. Reading activity
3. Quiz

Target audience

This course is aimed at Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy clinicians, students and assistants. Other interested professionals such as athletic trainers, occupational therapists, nurses or medical doctors interested in this subject are also invited to participate.