How to use feathers and bubbles as a mindfulness practice

Here are two super quick ideas for busy parents and teachers to help your children mindfully breathe.  The practices are so much fun you will want to do them too!

Feather blowing – This involves a lot of concentration and laughter, both of which help to regulate the body and mind. It is even said it improves the immune response and lowers stress hormones in the body.

Gather up a feather or two, you don’t need a whole duck, and blow it up to the sky or the ceiling. Try keeping it off the ground for 10 seconds. My students were in fits of giggles over this one. Mayo Clinic on laughter benefits.

Sending out loving-kindness.

Slow it down by making bubbles (recipe below) and a wand or just buy some from the Dollar Store. Have each member of your family think of a someone they would like to send happy wishes out to. Blow the bubbles out and watch them rise to the sky. When they pop, think of the person you were sending bubbles to smiling.

Bubble recipe

1 cup warm water

2 tablespoons liquid dish or laundry detergent (some people recommend “Joy”)

1 tablespoon glycerin

1 teaspoon white sugar

How to make bubbles: Stir all ingredients together and let the fun begin.

Bubble wands can be made from many things from coated wire hangers to bent pipe cleaners. Experiment and have fun.

Moment by moment, drop by drop, add to your bucket of mindfulness practices.