For a refresher in the mindfulness “what and how skills” take a look back on recent blog posts that help outline these skills that can be helpful to review with your teen at home.
http://creativehealingphilly.com/blog/what-skills
http://creativehealingphilly.com/blog/dbt-how-skills
Now these write ups are good information on what skills your teen learns in group. But how can you implement mindful practices at home?
In today’s blog, we are going to offer some ways of incorporating mindfulness into your everyday routine with your teen. We know life gets busy, but mindfulness can help you and your teen slow down and connect.
Check these ways to include mindfulness practices into your day to day:
Drink hot tea or coffee in the morning for 5 minutes together. Notice how spending 5 extra minutes in the morning to sit down together can be helpful in starting your day off. Not morning people? That is okay too. Try establishing a nighttime routine with your teen to help unwind for the day. Sharing a small nighttime snack before bed can be a helpful way to be present in the moment with your teen.
Have a dog? Take a mindful walk together with your teen even if it is just around the block to let the dog out. Don’t have a four-legged family member? Thats cool too. Just take a short walk down the block to take a few moments to get some fresh, cool air with your teen. This may be challenging considering we are entering the winter months, but take advantage of any mild days that may be sprinkled into the upcoming weeks.
In the car together? Turn off the radio for a few minutes and encourage your teen to notice their breath. Take a few deep breaths together and talk about any observations you both noticed.
Download a free mindfulness app and practice together. Lately, our teens have been testing out the Stop, Breathe, Think app where they can note how they are feeling mentally, emotionally and physically. The app then provides recommendations for a guided mindfulness exercises that can be helpful to do together or separately which can spark conversation for a later time.
Try purchasing a mindfulness “deck of cards”. Amazon has a great selection which can always be a great holiday gift for your teen. Using a mindfulness deck of cards can be a fun, interactive and creative way to engage your teen with this skill. Not to mention can be a great addition for a family game night!
Try one suggestion at a time. Oftentimes, we try to add new activities into our routines, which can be overwhelming. Test out one new thing from this list and notice how it impacts you, your teen and your family as a whole.