inner kids methods
The themes and life skills taught in the Inner Kids model are introduced through one of six methods commonly used in education, psychotherapy, and contemplative traditions to develop social, emotional, and academic skills. Learn more about each one below.
Anchoring Games help bring attention to the present moment and assist in developing better concentration and focus.
Visualization Exercises encourage kindness, compassion, and perspective-taking while also developing concentration skills.
Body Scans (not the x-ray type) help develop a more synchronized body-mind connection while augmenting concentration and self-awareness on a deeper level.
Analytical Games help develop clearer thinking, the ability to more effectively disconnect from purely emotional decision-making. They provide children and caregivers a space and tools to look at any given situation with less “static.”
Movement and Awareness Games reinforce and further develop all of the above skills and themes by integrating both body and mind in ways that create new neural pathways and more positive associations.
By giving children and caregivers the tools to gain greater insight into their own minds and bodies, as well as other people, their relationships, and the planet, they gain the kinds of mindfulness tools that can have a lifelong positive impact.
Anchor Games vs. Awareness Games
While it’s not necessary to identify the method that each particular game employs, it is important to note that there is a crucial difference between anchor games and awareness games.
Regardless of age, children have the developmental capacity to play anchor games that ask them to focus on one object and nothing else.
Awareness games require a more open, receptive way of paying attention.
If you are using some of the Inner Kids games or games from the book or card deck, Mindful Games, you will find that awareness games can be modified to become anchor games quite easily. Suggestions for how to adapt them are included in Mindful Games.
Inner kids model
