The .b program (pronounced dot be) is a classroom-based mindfulness curriculum best suited to ages 10 – 12 years old. .b stands for ‘stop and be’, a simple practice at the heart of this course. The program is offered formally as a series of eight lessons, each around 60 minutes. Each lesson teaches a specific mindfulness skill that can be integrated into a child’s daily life.
What makes .b distinctive?
.b was carefully crafted by the Mindfulness in Schools Project (MISP) to engage everyone, including the most cynical of teenage student audiences. It is taught with striking visuals, film clips and activities that bring mindfulness to life without losing the expertise and integrity of classic mindfulness teaching. The lessons are fun and engaging! Feedback from students who take part in the .b program is very positive. You can read here to see what past students have to say.
What are .b’s objectives?
The aim of .b is to give students mindfulness as a life skill. Students use it:
- to help cope with stress and anxiety
- to support concentration and learning
- to fall asleep more easily
- to relate more skillfully to others
- to support performance such as music and sport
- to feel happier, calmer and more fulfilled
How is .b structured?
This 8-week course (adapted to fit into a South African school term) is structured in the following way:
- Week 1: An Introduction to Mindfulness
- Week 2: Playing Attention
- Week 3: Taming the Animal Mind
- Week 4: Recognising Worry
- Week 5: Being Here Now and Moving Mindfully
- Week 6: Stepping Back
- Week 7: Befriending the Difficult
- Week 8: Taking in the Good and Putting it All Together
If you are interested but require a little more to convince you (or your head of school!) then please click here for the research evidence that supports the benefits in mindfulness training for young people.
Please feel free to contact me at bianca@mindfulnesspractice.co.za to discuss how the .b program can be delivered in your school.
Past Pupils' Comments:
