Child Life Blog Banner (8)

Mindfulness for Child Life Professionals

We're so glad you're here. This mindfulness page has been curated with intention for child life students and professionals. It shares the simplicities and benefits of active awareness, and provides tools for use in your everyday life. Happy exploring.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness does not have a specific, widely accepted definition, as it means something a little different to the many researchers, scholars, and practitioners who have studied it. Mindfulness may be thought of as a term to describe a variety of practices that approach awareness in unique ways. Mindfulness as a Buddhist concept means memory and a clear awareness of what is happening (Bodhi, 2011), a state of being alert and focusing on here and now (Dalai Lama & Berzin, 1997), and an active, engaged, non-reactive process (Rapgay & Bystrisky, 2009). From a more Western viewpoint, mindfulness is paying attention and being aware of the present moment in a non-judgmental and non-reactive way (Kabat-Zinn, 2015), intentionally bringing awareness to the present moment without judgement (Siegel, 2012), and awareness of and open attention to present events and experience (Brown, et. al., 2007). Another concept of mindfulness involves our cognitive abilities; creation of new things, being open to new information, and being aware of more than one perspective (Langer, 1989). 

For our purposes here, we hope to welcome, illuminate, and highlight all concepts of mindfulness to really capture the breadth of mindfulness practice and share many of the positive impacts it has on a variety of users.

Why Practice Mindfulness?

 

As a helping profession, individuals learning and working in child life are susceptible to compassion fatigue, burnout, and difficulty achieving work-life balance (Meadors et al., 2010). This makes the implementation of regular self-care practices essential. Mindfulness is one of many ways to show compassion to yourself. Whether you’re a student or seasoned professional, there are evidenced-based reasons to develop a mindful routine. 

Green List Benefits of White Tea Instagram Story

Mindfulness:

  1. Decreases burnout in health care professionals (Goodman & Schorling, 2012)
  2. Reduces stress, depression, and anxiety in healthcare professionals (Kriakous et al., 2020)
  3. Reduces students’ perceived stress (Maher, 2021)
  4. Helps regulate automatic responses, thereby reducing implicit bias (Lueke & Gibson, 2014)
  5. Improves job performance and reduces turnover (Dane & Brummel, 2013)
  6. Serves as a protective factor in coping and dealing with COVID-19 (Dillard & Meier, 2021)
  7. Fosters creative insight and problem solving (Hester, 2021)
  8. Improves sleep patterns and daytime fatigue (Huberty et al., 2021)
  9. Enhances emotional regulation (Jiménez-Picón, 2021)
  10. Improves attention and working memory (Yakobi et al., 2021)
These are just some of the mental, physical, and socioemotional benefits associated with mindfulness. Another reason to consider embracing mindfulness is that interventions can be brief, and results can be immediate (Kemper, 2017). A few minutes paying attention to your thoughts, movement, breath, feelings, or surroundings is all it takes. In the resources below, you will find a variety of accessible on-the-go, as well as in-depth, mindful practices to incorporate into your daily routine.

Free Online Resources:

Calm. (2022). Mindfulness resources — Calm blog. https://www.calm.com/blog/mindfulness-resources
Free downloadable journals, guidebooks, and calendars to help foster a mindfulness practice in your life.

Hanh, T. N. (2022, January 27). Thich Nhat Hanh on the practice of mindfulness. Lion's Roar. https://www.lionsroar.com/mindful-living-thich-nhat-hanh-on-the-practice-of-mindfulness-march-2010/
Five mindful practices provided by Thich Nhat Hanh - a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, activist, author, poet, and teacher who is recognized as the "father of mindfulness."

Mindful Communications & Such, PBC. (2022). mindful: healthy mind, healthy life. Mindful. https://www.mindful.org/
A large variety of mindful content including articles, script/audio/video meditations, mindful movements, breathwork, and directories for mindful coaches and events. Categories include: How to Meditate, Focus, Calm, Sleep, Movement, Compassion, Kids, and Anxiety.

Newman, K. M., & Ho, J. (2021, March 12). Five free mindfulness apps worthy of your attention. Mindful. https://www.mindful.org/free-mindfulness-apps-worthy-of-your-attention/
5 free mindfulness apps available for download and descriptions of what they have to offer.

Sean Fargo. (2022). Mindfulness exerciseshttps://mindfulnessexercises.com/#
An assortment of free mindfulness exercises in the form of courses, worksheets, video and audio files.

University of California, San Diego. (2022). Mindfulness & compassion resources. Centers for Integrative Health. https://cih.ucsd.edu/mindfulness/mindfulness-compassion-resources

Poetry, meditations, body scans, and mindful movement offerings. Some resources available in various languages.

Winston, D. (2011-2021). Guided meditations. Guided Meditations - UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center - Los Angeles, CA. Retrieved from https://www.uclahealth.org/marc/mindful-meditations#Mandarin An assortment of guided meditation audio/scripts in English, Armenian, Cantonese, Farsi, Filipino, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Mixtec, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese, and American Sign Language.

References

Bodhi, B. (2011). What does mindfulness really mean? A canonical perspective. Contemporary Buddhism, 12(1), 19–39. doi:10.1080/ 14639947.2011.564813.

Brown, K. W., Ryan, R. M., & Creswell, J. D. (2007). Mindfulness: theoretical foundations and evidence for its salutary effects. Psychological Inquiry, 18(4), 211–237. doi:10.1080/ 10478400701598298.

Dalai Lama, & Berzin, A. (1997). The Gelug/Kagyu tradition of Mahamudra. New York, NY: Snow Lion.

Dane, E., & Brummel, B. J. (2013). Examining workplace mindfulness and its relations to job performance and turnover intention. Human Relations67(1), 105-128. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726713487753

Dillard, A. J., & Meier, B. P. (2021). Trait mindfulness is negatively associated with distress related to COVID-19. Personality and Individual Differences179, 110955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2021.110955

Goldstein, E. (2013, May 29). Stressing out? S.T.O.P. Mindful. https://www.mindful.org/stressing-out-stop/

Goodman, M. J., & Schorling, J. B. (2012). A mindfulness course decreases burnout and improves well-being among healthcare providers. The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine43(2), 119-128. https://doi.org/10.2190/pm.43.2.b

Hester, D. M., Jr. (2021). The role of mindfulness in creativity and problem solving (Order No. 28321176). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (2513201519). Retrieved from https://proxy.lib.umich.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/role-mindfulness-creativity-problem-solving/docview/2513201519/se-2?accountid=14667

Huberty, J. L., Green, J., Puzia, M. E., Larkey, L., Laird, B., Vranceanu, A., Vlisides-Henry, R., & Irwin, M. R. (2021). Testing a mindfulness meditation mobile app for the treatment of sleep-related symptoms in adults with sleep disturbance: A randomized controlled trial. PLOS ONE16(1), e0244717. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244717

Jiménez-Picón, N., Romero-Martín, M., Ponce-Blandón, J. A., Ramirez-Baena, L., Palomo-Lara, J. C., & Gómez-Salgado, J. (2021). The relationship between mindfulness and emotional intelligence as a protective factor for healthcare professionals: Systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health18(10), 5491. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105491

Kabat-Zinn, J. (2015). Mindfulness6(6), 1481–1483. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-015-0456-x

Kemper, K. J. (2017). Brief Online Mindfulness Training. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 22(1), 75–80. doi: 10.1177/2156587216639199

Kriakous, S. A., Elliott, K. A., Lamers, C., & Owen, R. (2020). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the psychological functioning of healthcare professionals: A systematic review. Mindfulness12(1), 1-28. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01500-9

Langer, E. J. (1989). Mindfulness. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press

Lueke, A., & Gibson, B. (2014). Mindfulness meditation reduces implicit age and race bias. Social Psychological and Personality Science6(3), 284-291. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550614559651

Maher, C. (2021). The benefits of mindfulness for University students. Building Healthy Academic Communities Journal5(1), 42-57. https://doi.org/10.18061/bhac.v5i1.7735

Thera, N. (1968). The power of mindfulness. Wheel Publication, 1-75.

Rapgay, L., & Bystrisky, A. (2009). Classical mindfulness: an introduction to its theory and practice for clinical application. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1172, 148–162. doi:10.1111/j.1749- 6632.2009.04405.x.

Scott, E. (2020). How to become more mindful in your everyday life. Verywell Mind, 13 July 2020, www.verywellmind.com/mindfulness-exercises-for-everyday-life-3145187.

Siegel, D. J. (2007). The mindful brain: reflection and attunement in the cultivation of well-being. New York, NY: Norton.

Yakobi, O., Smilek, D., & Danckert, J. (2021). The effects of mindfulness meditation on attention, executive control and working memory in healthy adults: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Cognitive Therapy and Research45(4), 543-560. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-020-10177-2

Leave a comment

Leave a comment
  1. sa | Jan 29, 2026
    Baccarat and online slots website. Easy to play via mobile on all systems, 24 hours a day. xpro88
  2. <a href="https://www.srriskmanagement.com/">Private Investigator Malaysia</a> | Jan 28, 2026
    SR Risk Management Private Investigator certified in various types of private investigation in Malaysia like matrimonial, infidelity, matrimony detective.
  3. seo | Jan 27, 2026
    td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}The k beauty b2b sourcing platform provides excellent visibility into the supply chain.
  4. sa | Jan 27, 2026
    Welcome to LIT Sex Dolls! We offer 100% secure credit card payment and discreet, free delivery. mini poupée sexuelle
  5. sa | Jan 27, 2026
    Nitric Boost is a male performance supplement formulated to increase nitric oxide (NO) levels in the body. Nitric boost
  6. sa | Jan 27, 2026
    Derila is an orthopedic memory foam pillow engineered to adapt to the natural curves of your head, neck, and shoulders. derila pillow review
  7. sa | Jan 27, 2026
    This video is for anyone curious about manifestation methods, mindset training, or personal development programs. THE LAST WISH PROGRAM REVIEW
  8. sa | Jan 27, 2026
    Flash Burn is a dietary supplement designed to support fat burning, metabolism, and daily energy levels. FLASH BURN REVIEW
  9. sa | Jan 27, 2026
    Lulutox Detox Tea is a herbal tea formulated to support digestion, detox processes, and overall gut health. LULUTOX DETOX TEA REVIEW
  10. sa | Jan 27, 2026
    The Genius Wave is an audio-based brain program designed to help stimulate specific brainwave patterns linked to focus, creativity, and mental performance. THE GENIUS WAVE REVIEW
  11. sa | Jan 27, 2026
    RingZen6 is a dietary supplement formulated to help support hearing health and ear function. RINGZEN6 REVIEW
  12. sa | Jan 27, 2026
    Honey Trick for Memory is a natural method that claims to support memory, focus, and cognitive clarity using simple daily habits inspired by natural ingredients. HONEY TRICK RECIPE
  13. sa | Jan 27, 2026
    Blue Salt Trick is a quick, easy, and surprisingly effective way to feel more confident, energized, and in control. I DISCOVERED THE CELTIC SALT TRICK FOR MEN
  14. sa | Jan 27, 2026
    The Salt Trick is a simple yet powerful natural method designed to improve male vitality and stamina using Blue Salt for Men — a rare mineral-rich salt known for boosting circulation and energy. TRICK WITH BAKING SODA AND SALT FOR MEN
  15. sa | Jan 27, 2026
    Nitric Boost is a dietary supplement designed to support nitric oxide production, which plays an important role in blood flow, energy, and overall physical performance. NITRIC BOOST ULTRA REVIEW
  16. sa | Jan 27, 2026
    The Matsato Knife has been gaining attention as a Japanese-style kitchen knife designed for precision, durability, and everyday performance. MATSATO KNIFE REVIEW
  17. sa | Jan 27, 2026
    The Brain Song is an audio-based experience designed to help support focus, relaxation, and mental clarity using specific sound frequencies. THE BRAIN SONG PROGRAM REVIEW
  18. sa | Jan 27, 2026
    Hire a Certified Professional Ethical White-Hat Hackers That base on Premium Hacker Services. hire a phone hacker
  19. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    Our mission is to make premium mushroom products accessible while prioritizing safety, quality, and honesty. shroom bros
  20. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    When you order from Naked Cannabis, you are becoming one of our own and we welcome you open arms to our family. naked cannabis
  21. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    As a Canada-focused brand, Naked Cannabis is built to serve customers who value simplicity and clarity. Every product on our platform reflects our commitment to doing things properly, from sourcing to presentation. naked cannabis
  22. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    Its formula blends plant-based extracts with key vitamins and minerals to help support energy, mood, and male vitality over time. men balance pro
  23. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    Citrus Burn is a daily wellness supplement designed to support the body’s natural ability to manage stored energy and promote a leaner, more balanced body composition over time. Citrus burn
  24. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    The Honey Trick Ingredients are surprisingly simple — usually just natural honey and sometimes warm water, lemon, or herbs. Honey Trick for Memory
  25. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    The Honey Trick is a simple natural wellness method that involves using pure, high-quality honey in a specific daily routine. Honey Trick for Alzheimer’s
  26. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    The Honey Trick for Men is positioned as a simple flavour-packed formula utilising honey and natural ingredients to support men’s sexual wellness. How the Honey Trick for Men
  27. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    A huge part of lottery-related search demand comes from people curious about lottery loopholes. LOTTERY PREDICTION SYSTEM WITH AI
  28. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    One of the main differences highlighted in LipoVive reviews is how it avoids harsh side effects. Lipovive
  29. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    Boostaro is a powerful supplement designed to support male vitality and overall health. Does boostaro work​?
  30. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    LipoVive is marketed as a natural fat-burning formula designed to target stubborn belly fat, boost metabolism, and balance hormones without stimulants. Lipovive
  31. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    The Genius Wave is a digital theta wave audio designed to activate 6 Hz theta brainwaves, proven to stimulate higher creativity, learning, intuition, and subconscious transformation. The Genius Wave Review
  32. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    This article delves into the world of best male enhancement gummies, shining a light on a discreet and convenient solution-Alpha Surge. AlphaSurge Results
  33. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    In this detailed video, we’ll explain what Nervolyn is, how it works for nerve pain relief, the ingredients behind its formula. Nervolyn reviews
  34. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    Memory Lift is a natural nootropic supplement designed to support memory, focus, and overall brain health. Memory lift ingredients
  35. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    In this review, you'll discover what the Genius Wave is, how it works, and if it really delivers results. The Genius Wave
  36. sa | Jan 26, 2026
    Nitric Boost Ultra is a premium nitric oxide supplement specially formulated to support male vitality, performance, and stamina. Nitric boost ultra ingredients​
  37. sa | Jan 25, 2026
    Enjoy a secure casino bet experience with licensed casinos, fair play, and generous welcome bonuses. golden plus
  38. sa | Jan 25, 2026
    Make a casino bet today to experience fast gameplay, bonuses, and high odds at trusted platforms. bk8thai
  39. sa | Jan 25, 2026
    Place a casino bet online and enjoy thrilling games, secure payouts, and exciting real-money rewards. 79mb
  40. sa | Jan 24, 2026
    Online casino bet options provide flexible stakes, live dealers, and immersive gaming experiences. 8x8bet
  41. sa | Jan 24, 2026
    Master casino bet techniques to improve winning chances while enjoying safe and responsible gambling. 82pg
  42. sa | Jan 24, 2026
    However, the same advantages that make air freight appealing can also make it expensive if you are not familiar with how to ship from China correctly. That is why having an experienced air freight partner like DDPCHAIN Freight Forwarder can make a huge difference. With a strong global network that connects China to more than 180 countries, DDPCHAIN helps customers save money and secure reliable space on the cheapest available flights from major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Xi’an. air freight from China
  43. sa | Jan 24, 2026
    Discover the best casino bet options with high payouts, exciting bonuses, and secure online platforms. เมก้าเบท
  44. sa | Jan 24, 2026
    Make your casino bet count by choosing reliable platforms, fair odds, and responsible betting strategies. sathu88
  45. sa | Jan 24, 2026
    A casino bet lets players test luck, strategy, and skill across popular table games and slots. queen club 88
  46. sa | Jan 24, 2026
    Place a smart casino bet and enjoy thrilling games, big rewards, and nonstop online gambling excitement. ถอนชัวร์168
  47. sa | Jan 23, 2026
    The Brain Song for Memory is perfect for classrooms, helping students learn and remember faster. THE BRAIN SONG REVIEW
  48. sa | Jan 23, 2026
    This video is for anyone curious about lottery tools, number systems, or probability-based strategies. LOTTO CHAMP REVIEW
  49. sa | Jan 23, 2026
    This video is for anyone curious about online income systems, financial education programs, or modern wealth strategies. DUBAI WEALTH SECRET REVIEW
  50. sa | Jan 23, 2026
    The Salt Trick is a simple yet powerful natural method designed to improve male vitality and stamina. BLUE SALT TRICK FOR MEN RECIPE

    Child Life Profession