Mindfulness is a lovely practice that helps bring attention to the present moment. For children, it’s especially helpful: it gives them tools to manage emotions, stay focused, grow empathy and compassion, and boost happiness. Below are some of my favorite books and resources that are great for introducing kids to mindfulness and encouraging regular practice.
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I’ve practiced mindfulness for several years, and 2021 was the year I dove deeper—expanding my own practice and completing mindfulness teacher training. I’m excited to share this wonderful practice with more people and show simple ways it can be woven into daily life.
Why should kids practice mindfulness?
Teaching mindfulness to young children builds a lifelong skill. Habits formed early tend to shape behavior later on. Mindfulness fosters kindness, empathy, compassion, acceptance, and calm. It works the prefrontal cortex—the brain area involved in focus and self-control. By exercising that part of the brain, mindfulness strengthens pathways related to attention, self-regulation, and good judgment.
Mindfulness can reduce stress and increase happiness for both children and adults. It teaches them to stay present without judgment or attachment, which is helpful as they move through life’s ups and downs. It also helps kids understand their thoughts and feelings better, so they can respond more calmly, communicate more clearly, listen better, and build stronger relationships over time.
How do children learn mindfulness?
One of the best ways children learn mindfulness is by watching you. Kids copy adults constantly, so modeling calm behavior and having your own mindfulness practice is key. I’ve shared many simple ways to bring mindfulness into everyday routines on Zulily’s blog—many of those ideas can be adapted for kids with a few tweaks.
Below are some of my favorite books, tools, and resources that are excellent for teaching mindfulness to children.
14 of the Best Mindfulness Books & Tools for Kids:
I Am Peace
From the creators of I Am Yoga, I Am Human, I Am Love, and I Am One, this gentle book shares the heart of mindfulness, encouraging kids to breathe, taste, smell, and be present. Includes a guided meditation.
Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing
Alphabreaths teaches ABCs and the basics of mindfulness through playful breathing exercises. Breaths like Mountain Breath and Redwood Breath connect kids with nature, while Heart Breath and Wish Breath guide them toward gratitude and sending kind thoughts to others. Simple, fun, and beautifully illustrated—perfect for introducing breath awareness.
I Can Do Hard Things: Mindful Affirmations for Kids
This book introduces children to the practice of using mindful affirmations for support and encouragement. It celebrates diversity and is a great addition to home or school social-emotional libraries.
The Breathing Book
Young readers explore mindful awareness through breathing practices and interactive activities that calm the mind, set intentions, and spark imagination. Christopher Willard and Olivia Weisser offer a book that’s more than a book—kids bring it to life by turning pages with focus, balancing it on a belly, tracing shapes, reframing tough thoughts, sending kind wishes, and practicing many repeatable activities. Easy instructions and charming illustrations make this a hands-on tool for breath awareness.
A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles
Created by Zen master and bestselling author Thich Nhat Hanh, this book includes full instructions for pebble meditation—a hands-on way to involve children and connect them to nature. Practiced alone or with family, pebble meditation can ease stress, improve concentration, build gratitude, and help kids handle hard emotions.
My Magic Breath: Finding Calm Through Mindful Breathing
From New York Times bestselling author Nick Ortner comes a lovely picture book that helps children find calm through mindful breathing. In a busy world, My Magic Breath guides kids to a quiet place of self-awareness and balance.
ABC Mindful Me
A fun family read that teaches toddlers their ABCs while introducing mindfulness ideas that promote physical and mental well-being—breathing, compassion, gratitude, and kindness.
Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids
Simple practices to help children (ages 5–12) cope with anxiety, improve focus, and handle strong emotions. Includes a 60-minute audio CD of guided exercises read by Myla Kabat-Zinn.
Listening to My Body
This interactive book helps children name their feelings and recognize the physical sensations that go with them. From wiggly and squirmy to rested and still, Listening to My Body builds a sensations vocabulary so kids can express what they’re feeling. Kid-friendly mindfulness activities throughout make it a great social-emotional tool for parents, counselors, and teachers.
I Am Yoga
Illustrator Peter H. Reynolds and author Susan Verde team up to celebrate yoga, creativity, and self-expression. I Am Yoga invites children to explore yoga and mindfulness and open their hearts to the world around them.
Breathe Like a Bear: 30 Mindful Moments for Kids to Feel Calm and Focused Anytime, Anywhere
This beautifully illustrated collection offers 30 short, simple breathing exercises and movements kids can do anywhere—on car rides, during busy homework nights, or at school—to help manage their bodies, breath, and emotions.
Mindfulness Tools for Kids:
Mindful Moments: Guided Exercises and Mantras for Kids
This card deck introduces mindfulness in a hands-on way, helping children learn new ways to breathe, move, and use their senses. The daily exercises and empowering mantras aim to boost emotional intelligence, focus, resilience, and calm, while reducing anxiety. It’s easy to add to a bedtime routine or use to ground a child after a long day. You can purchase it here.
Mindfulness Journal for Kids
This journal is filled with writing prompts, simple exercises, and inspiring quotes to make practicing mindfulness easy and fun for kids every day.
Mindful Maze Boards
These sensory maze boards are great for calming and refocusing while reinforcing mindfulness skills. Finger tracing helps pace the breath and reconnect attention. Each set includes three double-sided mindful maze boards.
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