Exercise of Directing a Child's Focus

OK, Nicole, while you’re lying still, move your eyes around the room. Even without moving your head, you can see the lamp over on the table. Now look over at your baby pictures. See them? Now look at the bookcase. Can you see the big Harry Potter book there? Now look back at the lamp. Do you see how you have the power to focus your attention all over this room? That’s what I want to teach you about, but we’re going to focus your attention on what’s going on inside your mind and body. Close your eyes, and let’s focus on your thoughts and feelings and senses. Let’s start with what you hear. I’m going to be quiet for a few seconds, and you pay attention to the sounds around us. What do you hear? That car going by? The dog barking across the street? Do you hear your brother running the water in the bathroom? You’re aware of those sounds simply because you got still and focused on hearing them. You listened on purpose. Now I want you to notice your breathing. First, notice the air coming in and out of your nose.… Now feel your chest going up and down.… Now notice the way your stomach moves each time you breathe in and out.… I’m going to be quiet again for a few seconds. During that time, stay focused on your breath. Other thoughts will come into your mind, and you’ll probably even think about the recital. That’s fine. When you notice that your mind is wandering and you’re thinking about something else or starting to worry, just go back to focusing on your breath. Follow that wave of the in-breath and the out-breath. After a minute or so Andrea had Nicole open her eyes and sit up. Andrea explained that this technique is a powerful way to calm the mind and body. She told her to keep this exercise in her pocket for when she needed it—for instance, just before the recital. If she began to feel her heart pounding just before she played her violin, she could return to thinking about her breath coming in and going out, even with her eyes open.

An example of teaching a child how they can direct their attention at will.