Diana Appleby
Mindfulness for Children
'We do not know what specific knowledge our children are going to need ten or twenty or even five years from now because the world and their work, when they come to it, will be so different from ours.
What we do know is that they will need to know how to pay attention, how to focus and concentrate, how to listen and how to learn, and how to be in wise relationship with themselves – including their thoughts and emotions – and with others."
John Kabat-Zinn
About Me
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BA (Hons) in Psychology
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Post Grad. Dip. in Primary Teaching
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Mindfulness Educator (Registered to teach .b, Paws b and Pause, Breath, Smile)
I am a New Zealand registered primary school teacher and certified Mindfulness Educator. Introducing young children to the skills of mindfulness is my passion and through .b and the Paws b programme, I do this in a classroom setting, in a fun and age -appropriate way. I am available to teach in schools throughout Auckland.
Research shows clearly that mindfulness is more effective in schools when taught by an experienced teacher who has undertaken specific mindfulness training, in addition to their own personal mindfulness practice. This ensures teachers fully understand and embody what it means to be mindful, and are better equipped to support students and respond to any questions or responses that arise. It also means teachers are able to guide mindful practices skilfully, from their own experience, rather than reading from a script or relying on pre-recorded mindful practices.
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I am both an experienced primary school teacher and I have my own solid mindfulness background.
In 2004 I studied Psychology at the University of Canterbury and have always had an interest in mental wellbeing. After University I worked as an Account Manager in Advertising, both in Auckland and London, and it was then that I began my mindfulness journey. Fast forward a few years, add a bit more life experience, and I realised that my true passion was working with children and I re-trained at Auckland University in 2009 to become a primary school teacher.
Once in the hustle and bustle of a classroom I soon recognised how beneficial mindfulness would be for my students and began incorporating simple activities into our daily routines, which undoubtedly increased classroom engagement and concentration. As my personal practice developed (I completed an 8 week adult based mindfulness course and began a daily practice), and the pressures on my students seemed to increase (school work, sports teams, music lessons, social pressures, family expectations etc) my interest in teaching young children mindfulness skills strengthened.
Now more than ever I believe all children should be taught the skills of mindfulness, to help them navigate the ups and downs of life, and live life in the present moment – without worry for what has happened in the past or what could come!
I teach primary school classes mindfulness in a fun, age-appropriate way using .b and the Paws b program (developed in the UK by the Mindfulness in Schools Project, in collaboration with The Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice at Bangor University, the first University based mindfulness centre in the UK).
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I also teach the .breath programme, which has been specifically designed for the transition years of school (leaving primary and starting intermediate or leaving intermediate and starting secondary). As well as New Zealand’s only locally designed and researched school based mindfulness programme Pause, Breath, Smile.
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If you are are keen to know more about how I can help you bring mindfulness to your school I would love to hear from you.