With 14% of Australian children aged between four and 17 having mental-health problems, and one in 10 children experiencing intense anxiety at some point during their childhood, teaching mindfulness to children has become a way to teach them to better deal with stress and anxiety.
Research shows that mindfulness training in children increases connectivity in the frontal lobe of the brain, which is linked to improved attention, memory processing and decision-making abilities. Mindfulness training increases children’s ability to self-regulate their emotions, especially those difficult emotions such as fear and anger!
Local Bayview artist and author, Kylie Johnson has aimed to do just that with her new book, Mindfulness colouring with affirmation for kids and adults. Kylie created this book after a few traumatic experiences in her own life including multiple rounds of IVF, the loss of her marriage and her mother passing simultaneously, left her in a place where she was searching for solace and healing. She found the practice of mindfulness and creativity invaluable not only for her but for her young daughter as they came to terms with their new normal. The book is designed to enable loved ones to connect in the present moment together – as well as to bring awareness to children about the power of positivity and the practice of positive self-talk through affirmations.
Kylie is passionate about creating art and books that will inspire adults and children to live more mindfully. She has always led her life with a strong passion for doing what she loves and a belief that life does not have to be ordinary. As well as spending 20 years modelling, she spent eight years working in the homeware design industry. After that she designed a range of kids clothing and decor called Meemini, based around using children’s clothing to deliver inspirational messages to little ones to wear and share. She is also an artist whose passion is to photograph treasured moments, and then paint everything captured on film.
The book is suitable for children from 5 years and up and will appeal to anyone who understands mindfulness and to parents who want to spend more quality time with their children through mindful activities.
You can purchase Kylie’s book and art via her website, http://www.kyliejohnsonart.com.