Mathematics, science and history: students in England already learn about traditional subjects… But thousands of children – in more than hundreds of schools – will extend their own curriculum with a new course: mindfulness.

A huge number of Children will be subjected to mindfulness lessons at school to help them deal with the pressures of a modern society. Running until 2021, the trial will be the largest of its type in the world. The project will run in 370 Primary and Secondary schools in the UK to analyze how the different techniques could improve children’s Mental health. Not only practice in UK schools: children will also have the opportunity to participate in some meetings with mental health experts. During these sessions, students will learn relaxation techniques, breathing exercises and other methods to help them regulate their emotions. The program also included others several tactics, including training teachers to hold role-playing exercises, teaching relaxation practices and inviting professionals for group discussions.

via GIPHY

The move is part of the Government’s efforts to improve mental wellbeing among pupils. The initiative comes months after a survey commissioned by the National Health Service (NHS) found that one in eight children in England between the ages of 5 and 19 suffer from at least one mental disorder at the time of their assessment in 2017.

The survey, which was published in November 2018, also indicated a slight increase in mental disorders in five to 15-year-olds, which rose to 11.2 percent in 2017 from 9.7 percent in 1999. Disorders like anxiety and depression were the most common, affecting one in 12 children and early adolescents in 2017, and appeared more often in girls.

via GIPHY

Specialist believe meditation can bring beneficial effects on children’s emotional, mental and intellectual development helping students to tune into themselves, sleep better and cultivate their social skills. According to NHS, mindfulness exercises – including meditation – could reduce anxiety and improve emotional control in children. Meditation can also help enhance memory, improve behaviour and encourage kids to manage with new and difficult situations.

Meditation has grown hugely in popularity over recent years because it helps focus the brain on the present, quiet the mind, reduce fear and anxiety, increased creativity and expand consciousness: mindfulness exercises are already taught in many schools worldwide, but now it’s UK turn!

Ommmmmm!