How do you Feel? What do you Do?
A Children’s Guide to Mindfulness
Teaming up with a team of four Cal Poly Psychology students for their Senior Project, I illustrated and co-wrote a children’s book focused on introducing mindfulness techniques to kids aged 2 to 5. Backed by research, we aimed to provide an accessible way for children to explore the world of mindfulness and meditation from a young age.
Vivid colors and an eclectic jungle scene.
These elements were used to create a fun and engaging world for children to explore while following along on the character’s journey toward mindfulness.
Rhyming phrases and easy-to-follow guided techniques.
These additions make this story not only accessible for children ages 2-5, but fun and exciting to read along to. Children can imitate what the different animals do on each page are demonstrating while learning new mindfulness techniques.
Behind the scenes.
The techniques included on each spread are based on research and studies, which was all covered in the thesis paper written by the Psychology team I worked with.
The colors are intentional: bright and playful with an emphasis on nature, and the text is fluid, so the child’s eyes move around the page whether they’re at a reading age or not. The animals were all strategically chosen as well, so the child can picture taking in a big breath like a frog fills its belly, or rolling up tight into a ball like a roll poly.