Mindfulness Practices and Activities for Children Ages 6-10
Mindful Kids PDX is currently paused. If you’d like to be notified when registration opens for the next session, please click below to get on the waitlist.
One parent or caregiver must be on site while their child attends each class.
Mindful Kids PDX welcomes children of all gender identities, races, ethnicities, cultures, backgrounds, and types of neurodiversity.
Did you know mindfulness is a superpower?
The goal of Mindful Kids PDX is for kids to develop mindfulness and kindness practices through engaging activities, stories, games, and art while making friends and having fun! In this six-week class for kids ages 6-10, Mindfulness Teacher Noelle Wittliff shares powerful tools to help kids with focus, emotional balance, and resilience. Participants will learn to connect with their breath and body, notice their thoughts and feelings, and engage joyfully in the present moment.
Mindful Kids PDX helps children with:
‣ Emotion Regulation
‣ Impulse Control
‣ Family or Friendship Dynamics
‣ Focus and Concentration
‣ Stress Reduction
Children are born with an inherent capacity for presence and kindness. When they’re intentional about practicing these skills (their superpowers!), these practices become more intuitive and accessible.
Mindfulness has been clinically shown to:
‣ Bring more awareness to difficult feelings
‣ Develop skillful strategies to respond to challenges
‣ Strengthen the ability to pay attention and focus
‣ Build resilience
‣ Cultivate kindness toward self and others
‣ Increase empathy within relationships
‣ Improve sleep habits
We’ll learn the essentials of mindfulness through:
❀ Meditation: short, guided, accessible sitting and walking meditations incorporating breath, sound, and visualization
❀ Mindful Play: movement activities including charades, freeze tag, balance beam, and parachute games
❀ Movement: gentle seated and standing stretching and yoga poses
❀ Arts & Crafts: we’ll make glitter jars, drawings, painted stones, lanterns, and clay creations
❀ Discussion: each class will include opening and closing circle time, sharing, and connecting
Appreciation from the Community
Our children love Noelle’s mindfulness classes and the warmth she brings to the shared space. Her class activities are creative and nourishing, and our children leave with meaningful ways to amplify kindness in our community.
— Caroline (Mother of Two)
“My daughter found this class enjoyable as she’s entering an age where she’s processing all these emotions that are more complex than ever. I hear her using some of these techniques and she even asked me to stay in the present moment—which totally impressed me!”
— Paige Y., Portland, OR
I wondered if the class would hold my son’s attention, since he hadn’t shown a lot of interest in mindfulness exercises in the past. I shouldn’t have worried, though! He was excited to go and enjoyed himself each time. I would definitely recommend it to others. The class was varied and engaging.
—B.A., Portland, OR
Noelle, you are the perfect person to teach these skills to kids. The kids loved the class and you have a natural ease and warmth to you that is infectious! Since taking this class, we have more words and skills to call on when we are moving through life and dealing with hard feelings. Mindfulness and self-regulation are such important skills that we don’t teach or practice enough in society. Thank you, Noelle, we very much appreciate you!
—Jaq L., Portland, OR
I so appreciate your willingness to do this class, Noelle. My son LOVED it! I feel so fortunate he had this opportunity. Introducing kids to these concepts and ideas is hugely beneficial. I loved having the recap emails so I could carry over some of what he was learning at home. He loves mindful eating and has spontaneously coached me through it at dinner multiple times. Thank you so much for all the work you do!
—Kat B., Portland OR
Every time I’ve heard Noelle speak, I’ve felt calmer and more able to navigate big feelings or experiences. She’s got a gift and we’re very lucky she’s part of our community.
— Kristin L., Village Home Education Resource Center
Noelle taught mindfulness at our school and the students loved the story writing activity, body map, breathing exercises, and 5-4-3-2-1 shake it out activity. We all can use extra tools in our emotional learning buckets and it’s nice for students to have exposure to multiple strategies. Empowering humans is always a helpful practice. We genuinely appreciate Noelle’s tone, talent, and resources.
— Leah K., Village Home Education Resource Center
Meet Teacher Noelle
Noelle Wittliff, LMFT
Noelle is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, and mom of two. For the past 20 years, she has supported children, teens, and families through her therapy practice and mindfulness teaching. She is certified to teach mindfulness to youth through Peace in Schools and certified to teach yoga to children through Little Flower Yoga.
Her teaching experience includes serving as Lead Teacher of the children’s program at Portland Insight Meditation Center, facilitating youth mindfulness workshops at My Voice Music, teaching youth mindfulness classes at Village Home Education Resource Center, and leading her Mindful Kids PDX, Mindful Tweens PDX, and Mindful Teens PDX programs.
Noelle is passionate about making mindfulness and compassion practices accessible, engaging, and inclusive for people of all ages. Her teaching style is warm, engaging, and grounded in creating a sense of belonging for every child. She welcomes children of all backgrounds, identities, and neurodiverse experiences.
Learn more about Noelle’s work:
Class Calendar & Themes
Each class will incorporate a story and art activity related to that week’s theme, as well as mindful games, movement, and tools for calming and relaxing. Here’s what your child will learn during the six-week class:
6/14 : What is Mindfulness and How Can it Help Us?
6/21 : Mindfulness of Thoughts
6/28 : Mindfulness of Feelings
7/05 : Grounding and Calming Tools for the Mind and Body
7/12 : Mindfulness of Friendship and Empathy
7/19 : Kindness and Compassion Practices
Mindful Kids PDX welcomes children of all gender identities, races, ethnicities, cultures, types of neurodiversity, and backgrounds. My priority in offering this class is for every child to experience a sense of belonging and inclusion. This is a core value of my teaching. I strive to be as inclusive as possible while also ensuring a safe and welcoming space for all participants. In order to create a safe space for learning, parents and caregivers are welcome to stay with their child in class if their child is in need of additional support. One parent or caregiver must be on site at the park while their child attends each class.
I hope you’ll join us!
Childhood is a time of curiosity, wonder, exploration, and big feelings! I created this class to help kids learn gentle practices to bring more ease and balance into their lives. I look forward to welcoming your child to Mindful Kids PDX, where they’ll get to connect with other kids in an inclusive and encouraging space. Let’s make the world a kinder place, one mindfulness practice at a time!
Warmly,
Noelle
Register for Mindful Kids PDX
$300 / Student
Limited to 15 Participants
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Refund & Cancellation Policy
Price ($300 per student) is for the entire 6-session class, regardless of how many sessions are attended. Sessions cannot be purchased individually.
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Please email Noelle at noelle@mindfulparenting.com with any questions.
