A unique mindfulness program developed at Western has led to greater empathy and self-regulation among kindergarten children. Photo courtesy of Western University. A unique mindfulness program developed at Western has led to greater empathy and self-regulation among kindergarten children. Photo courtesy of Western University.
London

Teaching kids kindness, empathy lowers classroom stress: study

Kindergarten students taught how to self soothe and empathize with peers act out less and lower the overall stress level in the classroom, according to a new study from Western University.

Researchers at Western’s Centre for School Mental Health, had teachers implement a mindfulness-based social and emotional learning program, called MindUP, in 23 kindergarten classrooms within the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB). They then compared the behavior of the children in those classes with students in 10 other traditional kindergarten classes.

What researchers found were students who learned how to foster empathy and understanding for their peers showed greater kindness and improved self-regulation.

"There have been so many benefits of MindUP – children are able to describe their response to stress, and even the neurophysiology of it, and use calming strategies to settled themselves,” Claire Crooks, director of the Centre for School Mental Health, said in a statement. “Teachers see improvements in individual children’s behaviour, but also report the whole classroom climate being calmer and more settled."

Students taught the mindfulness approach showed an overall improvement in adaptive skills and a reduction in internalizing composite -- such as feeling sad or withdrawn.

In addition to the social and emotional skill development, MindUP could also improve academic results.

"When you think about what kids need to be good at math – the ability to tolerate frustration, good stress coping skills, communication and relationship skills for group work – those are all social and emotional skills,” added Crooks.

Students were also said to be using the new social behaviour techniques learned in the classroom in their everyday lives.

"Parents were not included in this study, but anecdotally they report seeing children use the calming strategies and language at home," said Crooks.

The study has been published in the journal, Mindfulness.

Following the success of the study, the London District Catholic School Board is looking to not only bring the MindUP program back, but expand it to include students from Kindergarten to Grade 3.

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