Mindfulness Activities

Bring Mindfulness

Into the Home

McLean School’s Mindfulness practice is integrated in all that we do. In addition to structured lessons, our Mindfulness Program helps focus attention on the foundational principles of the practice such as gratitude, positive thinking, and empathy.

But we don’t just talk about it — students are accessing these skills every day, from the playing field to test preparation. It’s all part of our commitment to the whole child — because we believe there’s more to a great education than rich academics alone.

Mindfulness helps students tap into who they are and what they need. In the short run, it creates a feeling of ‘I got this.’ In the long term, it develops competence, strength, and resilience.

Mindfulness Activities

Mindful Walking

Purpose: To clear your mind and lower your stress by focusing on the experience of walking while observing your surroundings.

• Look up and notice the sky (cloud shape , color, size, moon, sun).
• Listen to sounds in nature (wind, birds, leaves, movement of animals).
• Feel the temperature of the air and how it moves around you.
• Choose an object of interest, pick it up and observe the shape, size, texture, and color.

DIY Glitter Jar

Purpose: Settle your thoughts and clear your mind as you create the jar and shake, watching the glitter swirl and fall to the bottom. Use again when desired!

Watch this video to follow along. You'll need:

A Bottle • Glitter • Glitter Glue • Clear Glue • Hot Water

Gratitude Rocks

Purpose: Develop an awareness and appreciation of the good in our lives by decorating a rock and using it as a means of focusing on the good.

1. As a family or group, explore the outdoors and collect rocks from your backyard, wooded area, or park; these can be any size but a larger rock could represent the “Family Rock.”
2. Clean and dry the rocks.
3. Personalize the rocks by painting them, writing positive words or messages on them, or covering them with stickers or foil.
4. Create a “gratitude rock garden,” put a rock in a frequently visited area, give a rock as a “thank you” gift or “thinking of you” memento.