Mental health is a vital part of children’s overall health and well-being; it includes children’s mental, emotional, and behavioral wellness. According to the American Psychological Association, recent studies have shown that children’s mental health has been negatively affected over the past few years from social media and the Covid-19 pandemic.  Learning to be mindful has had a positive effect on children’s mental health. 

The Hart County 4-H Agent partnered with Family Resource to teach the Mindful Me curriculum during the fall of 2024 to 302 students in the Hart County & Caverna School district.. The lessons focused on skills such as stress management, meditation, and emotional regulation, Activities used were positive affirmations, coloring, breathing exercises, and identifying feelings,  The 4-H Mindful Me curriculum was utilized. 

  At the end of the series, verbal evaluations showed the following as a result of the program:

1. 100% of students said they had practiced on of the skills we had learned. 
2. 100% indicated they planned to use the skills they had learned.
3. 100% indicated that they had " filled someone's bucket"- positive affirmations 
4. 90% said they had used they mini mindfulness jar at home 

One of the teachers stated, "The kids have started bringing their glitter jars to class. They use them if they start to feel overwhelmed." One librarian said " I have had these kids since pre-school. I have never seen them be this quiet. I will be using singing bowl videos more often to help them calm down"