Conscious Kids comes to Otsiningo Park, teaches children mindfulness

BINGHAMTON (WBNG) -- It can be tough to manage the daily stressors brought into our lives. To help children learn coping mechanisms at an early age, Conscious Kids sessions were developed this June at Otsiningo Park.

“We like to start with a mindset or mantra,” said Lindsey Webb, the mindfulness and academic growth facilitator. “Then we do a meditation, which for the younger children is usually some breathing techniques. I usually go over a couple and we practice them throughout the class and then we do movement.”

Webb’s hope is that attendees practice and internalize these concepts and apply them to situations for the rest of their lives. “You’re going to be able to use that in your life for the rest of your life,” said Webb. “We don’t have a lot of control over the outside forces, but when we learn how much control we have and how much power we have within ourselves, that’s the best lesson in the world to me.”

During her instruction, she also uses props, such as bubbles and bean bags, to internalize concepts of breathing. “When we really learn and practice these things, we can find a way back to center and just process the emotion for what it is and let it go and move on,” she said.

When it comes to her hands-on approach, Webb wants the techniques to be accessible to anyone. “So these are donation based. Pay what you can or nothing at all,” she said. “A lot of us didn’t have have this information, parents didn’t, when they were growing up. Now that we have this information, I like to spread it as much as possible.”

Come July, Conscious Kids will happen Tuesdays at 6:15 p.m. instead of Thursdays. To register your child, send a text or call 607-778-0299.

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