A number of years ago as an intern at a therapeutic daycare here in Chicago, I had themprivilege of working with a few children who had a number of behavioral issues, including extremely aggressive behavior, from severe attachment issues with their caretakers/parents. A few things were paramount to their progress, including extremely structured routines that had the young children not surprised about what was coming next, and wood cubbies that acted as safe shelters for them to find their peace among the other children.

An absolutely vital key to their development was the usage of yoga, done a few times a week, for roughly 20 minutes a session. The children would hold various poses that resemble animals, and work on deep breathing. They were asked how their bodies were feeling, and to let thoughts flow in and out without any sense of judgment. The children truly enjoyed morphing their bodies into a wild animal, yet the calmness and focus the children displayed for 30-60 minutes afterwards was truly remarkable. These observations are not surprising given what we know about mindfulness in children. Mindfulness encourages a non-judgmental attitude towards one’s thoughts, emotions and sensations, allowing them to arise and pass without any added stress. These children were likely more able to refocus their thoughts on the present moment, and be less distracted by outside noise they were typically burdened by.