Teaching young kids mindfulness skills can improve test results and boost wellbeing: experts

Parents and teachers have ranked managing anxiety among primary school children as being equally as important as achievement in the classroom. It comes as a staggering 75 per cent of Aussie kids surveyed revealed they experience anxiety.

• Suffering teens told ‘you’re too complicated’
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Parents and teachers have ranked managing anxiety among primary school children as being equally as important as achievement in the classroom.

Education experts say teaching young children mindfulness skills can improve NAPLAN performance, boost mental wellbeing and help students feel better about learning.

About 75 per cent of Australian primary students now experience anxiety, according to research by classroom resource ClassDojo.

A shocking 75 per cent of kids have experienced anxiety according to a recent research. Picture: iStock

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Of the 1047 families and 891 teachers surveyed, about two- thirds said helping primary students learn how to manage feelings of anxiety was equally as important as school work, while about 31 per cent said it was “more important.”

Parents who said they practised “mindfulness” with their kids at home reported children were calmer, less anxious, more focused, empathetic and better at handling emotions.

The widespread concern for the mental health of young children comes as the NSW Government pledged $1.2 million during the recent state election to roll out a mindfulness program among primary schools.

Teaching kids how to be deal with their mental health has been ranked as just as important as their school work.

Liam Don, who co-founded ClassDojo — a school communication app used by half of Australia’s primary schools — said despite the high level of concern many families and teachers did not know where to turn for help.

The company created a 15-minute lesson plan with relaxation techniques and breathing exer­cises children could complete at home or in school.

Former primary teacher and Matific education expert Brent Hughes said stress among young children can spike during ­NAPLAN testing.

“There are a lot of things that you can avoid which will help them focus on what they need to, including remaining calm and centred yourself so your child doesn’t pick up on any negative or anxious ­energy,” he said.

Originally published as Teaching young kids mindfulness skills can improve test results and boost wellbeing: experts