Exploring Mindfulness in Children: The Impact of Breath Counting

September 30, 2025 - 16:06

Recent discussions emphasize the need for more diverse measures of mindfulness, particularly for children. Breath awareness plays a crucial role in various mindfulness practices, yet its effectiveness in measuring mindfulness in younger populations has been questioned. A new study investigates the relationship between breath counting and self-reported mindfulness levels in children aged 9 to 13 years.

The findings reveal that breath counting does not correlate with self-reported mindfulness, suggesting that traditional self-assessment methods may not accurately capture the mindfulness experiences of children. However, the study also indicates that children's ability to engage in breath counting improves significantly after participating in mindfulness practices. This suggests that while breath counting may not serve as a reliable measure of mindfulness, it can be an effective tool for enhancing mindfulness skills in children.

As mindfulness continues to gain traction in educational and therapeutic settings, these insights highlight the importance of developing more comprehensive strategies for assessing mindfulness in younger populations.