The pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health and wellbeing of many people, and now one Newcastle mum is committed to calming the minds of children.
Pre-school and primary school-aged children have been isolated from learning and socialisation, leading to issues of anxiety, panic attacks, and increased levels of stress.
Newcastle mum, teacher, and businesswoman, Erin Visser, created her business Calm Hearts Mindfulness in a bid to address the increasing prevalence of anxiety and depression in pre and primary school-aged children.
Erin, through Calm Hearts Mindfulness, delivers a range of programs across Australia, facilitated through face-to face programs locally and virtual programs which can be accessed online.
“There is a need for children to be taught emotional regulation and resilience, and mindfulness is a particularly effective way of developing these skills,” Erin said.
“My own daughter suffers from anxiety, and I began to find that deep breaths, positive affirmations, and gratitude helped her. It wasn’t until later that I discovered this was a thing – mindfulness,” she said.
Erin has been teaching mindfulness programs since 2019 and has now created her own exclusive programs, including embracing Indigenous perspectives.
She has witnessed first-hand the impact her strategies, tools, and techniques have on children.
“When I teach these programs, I notice calmness and increased resilience as the main benefits,” Erin said.
“Mindfulness fosters a range of positive health benefits, including improvement in sleep, stress reduction, and a reduction in anxiety.
“Providing children with the right tools and strategies improves and strengthens their mental health and wellbeing, and they are habits which can be embraced and utilised throughout life,” Erin said.
Calm Hearts Mindfulness will officially launch in Term 1 of 2022 and focuses on children aged 3-6 years of age, and primary students from Kindergarten to Year 6.
The program is currently available face-to-face however online options are available so the program can be taught in schools across Australia.
IMAGE | Founder of Calm Hearts Mindfulness, Erin Visser.