L has a very busy mind and is always on the go. This means she struggles to relax and finds it hard to go to sleep. She tells us her mind is too busy with things flying around her head. We have tried things like having a brain dump and writing her thoughts down before bed and reading, and talking about it, but they haven’t really worked for her. The Mindful Lil Minds Breathing Meditation Buddy we were kindly sent to review from GP Flair has helped her to calm and relax more. It is never too early to promote self-care and mindfulness. I wish I knew more about it when I was younger.
Dottie has been referred to the Autism Pathway by her paediatrician, but there is a 2 year waiting list. So in the meantime, we are learning techniques and ways to help her. She is a sensory seeker and loves to touch, soft toys so the Mindful Lil Minds Breathing Meditation Buddy is perfect for her. It’s a cuddle sensory koala that is designed to help children become more present, offering them strategies to manage their emotions in stressful situations. As we are preparing Dottie for reception in September, it is very important to help her learn calming techniques so it’s not completely overwhelming for her.
*She is holding a plastic spoon in the image below. She always has to hold something in her hand as a comfort. It is nothing to do with the koala!
How Mindful Lil Minds Breathing Meditation Buddy Works
Press the koala’s paw to begin a 5-minute breathing meditation. I must say this is the perfect amount of time to allow L to calm down without losing interest. Dottie at 4 years old found the length of time a little long. Her attention span is very short, however, she was happy pressing the koala up to her face and feeling its’ fur.
The koala breathes with your child. Its diaphragm expands and retracts in time to the guided meditation. L loved this when the koala was on her tummy! It’s ideal to provide a physical breathing guide for children to follow.
The breathing meditation buddy has a slightly scented tummy of eucalyptus which both girls loved to smell. Eucalyptus has soothing aromatherapy properties which can help to reduce anxiety and encourage relaxation in meditation.
The koala has floppy limbs and a weighted beaded bottom which is designed to further lower anxiety, especially for those on the autism spectrum. Dottie keeps moving the arms to cover its eyes when she hears the bear say close your eyes.
Mindful Lil Minds Breathing Meditation Buddy is suitable for ages 3+
Requires 2xAA batteries (Included)
Ways To Play/Use with Mindful Lil Minds
The Mindful Lil Minds Breathing Meditation Buddy can be used in four different ways:
1. Sitting Individually. Sit down alone in a quiet spot with the toy sitting next to or in front of you. Press the right paw and the meditation will begin. Sit with your eyes closed and listen.
2. Sitting in a group/classroom. The cuddly koala is great for classrooms or group meditations. Sit or lay on your back with the toy facing the group. Press the right paw and the meditation will begin. Close your eyes, listen and relax.
3. Laying down with the toy on your chest. Lay down on your back with the toy on your chest. Press the paw to begin the meditation. Place your hand on the koala’s belly to feel it move up and down, move your belly up and down along with the toy.
4. Sit down and hold the soft toy up to your face. Press the paw to begin the guided meditation and inhale the calming smell of eucalyptus as you meditate.
Our Thoughts
We love our Mindful Lil Mind Buddy. It helps both girls to calm down and relax reducing their anxiety. They have been using it on their tummies, sitting in front of them in the classic mediation pose and also cuddling by the face. Dottie is non-verbal so finds it extremely hard to communicate her wants and needs. So having a verbal buddy who will guide her helps extremely well. With the koala being a multisensory toy it helps all around to balance and self-regulate when she becomes dysregulated, she likes to give it tight cuddles! I would highly recommend the Mindful Lil Minds Buddy to not only SEN children but to neurotypical children as well. In fact, both I and Mr B have found it useful for 5 minutes of meditation. A fantastic asset to our family!
Where Can I Buy the Mindful Lil Minds Breathing Meditation Buddy?
Available online at Amazon & in-store in your local independent stores.
