The Mindful Heart | Mindfulness Curriculum for Preschool

Paul McNamee

Author

Paul has a BA in psychological studies and a higher diploma in psychology. He has been working in education and curriculum design for over 10 years and currently facilitates an online course on Mindfulness and SPHE for primary school teachers.  He also helps manage a meditation retreat centre in Co. Clare where he is involved in organizing various retreats and workshops.  He has a passion for youth mental health issues and believes that education should be about providing young people with the tools to both understand their internal experience and successfully navigate the world around them. Paul has a particular interest in how the primary school curriculum can be developed to be more focused on emotional, social and psychological well being and continues to work towards this goal.

Louise Shanagher

Author

Louise Shanagher is a children’s therapist, mindfulness teacher and Psychology Lecturer from Co. Roscommon, Ireland. Louise has a BA and MSc in Psychology and further qualifications in Play therapy and Mindfulness. Louise is the author of Ireland's first mindfulness book series for children "The Mindfully Me" series published by Lilliput Press. She works with children as young as preschool age and visits primary and secondary schools nationwide, she also regularly gives training workshops for teachers and other organisations who work with children and young people. Louise is passionate about creating a happier and healthier world for children and young people to grow up in, she believes that all children should get the opportunity to learn how to care for and promote their positive mental health from a young age.

ABOUT THE CURRICULUM

This curriculum is an introduction of mindfulness in Irish Primary Schools has been an area of increasing growth in recent years and although many Irish teachers are interested in introducing mindfulness in the classroom they are very limited resources currently available to help them do so. There is currently only one other “Irish” publication which introduces Mindfulness to primary school students
The proposed mindfulness workbook aims to introduce mindfulness to children in a practical, fun, creative and child friendly way. The workbook guides children and teachers in learning evidence based mindfulness practices which will support their emotional well being and positive mental health.
The workbook will contain 10 lesson plans which can be adapted to suit age ranges from junior infants to sixth class. Each lesson plan contains a comic book which complements the learning objectives of the lesson plan. Each lesson plan also contains three workbook pages which can be adapted to suit different class levels. Various art and craft activities are included to reinforce the learning objectives of each lesson.
The curriculum aims to be a practical and easy to follow guide for teachers which simplifies introducing mindfulness to the classroom and integrating it with the SPHE curriculum.
There will be a strong emphasis and guidance throughout the working on supporting teachers own mindfulness practice. Each lesson plan also contains a guide for teachers.