Mindful with Me: Connecting with Your Child Through Daily Mindfulness

The first book by Dennehy, a children’s mindfulness teacher, invites caregivers and children ages four through eight to pause and connect. Living in the present with curiosity and kindness are keys to the mindful lifestyle, which Dennehy compares to the cozy feeling of gazing at a sunset or sitting inside on a winter day. The first chapters are devoted to establishing a foundation by creating a physical space conducive to this type of practice. Dennehy offers four types of mindfulness activities: breathing exercises, movement, crafts, and prompts for connection and conversation. Among these are bumblebee breathing, drawing from memory a place visited daily, and making “feeling bracelets” and “kindness rocks” for the community—all with clear instructions. The book’s activities can be deployed with multiple children and in a variety of locations, such as classrooms or a counselor’s office, making this a great resource for parents, counselors, and educators. Many of the chapters are introduced by Martin’s colorful and precious illustrations of caregivers and their children.