Mindfulness for Children and Young Adults

Our mindfulness for children course is designed specifically for younger people — practical tools for exam stress, sleep, social pressure and big emotions, taught in a relaxed, non-clinical way. Small groups, in Devon or online.

Nothing about the sessions asks a young person to sit still and empty their mind. The approach is active, creative and conversational, built around things they can actually use — before a test, at bedtime, or in the middle of a difficult day.

What our mindfulness for children course covers

• Simple breathing and grounding practices that work in a classroom or a bedroom
• Managing exam and revision pressure without pretending it isn’t there
• Winding down for sleep when thoughts won’t settle
• Noticing big emotions early, and having something to do about them
• Navigating social and online pressure
• Creative and movement-based exercises rather than long silent sitting

ALSO AVAILABLE

Drawing and Talking

For children and young people who find it hard to put feelings into words, Sophia also offers Drawing and Talking: a gentle, one-to-one therapeutic technique delivered over twelve weekly sessions, where drawing does the work that talking cannot yet.

Mindfulness for teenagers: exam stress and revision

Exam years bring a particular kind of pressure: long revision days, a mind that will not switch off, and the feeling that everything depends on a few hours in a hall. We teach teenagers short, practical techniques for exactly those moments, such as settling nerves before a paper, getting back on track when focus slips, and taking proper breaks instead of scrolling through them. For parents looking for practical exam stress help for teenagers, this is often where our work begins.

None of it asks them to pretend the pressure is not real. The aim is simply to give them more control over how they respond to it.

Sleep, worry and big emotions

Many young people come to us because worries crowd in at night, or because big feelings arrive fast and leave them overwhelmed. We work on simple wind-down routines, grounding practices they can use anywhere, and ways of noticing emotions early, before they take over.

Practices are short, active and often creative, so they suit young people who find sitting still difficult, including many who are neurodivergent. Sophia holds certificates in autism and in understanding learning difficulties, and sessions are adapted to each young person. Read more about our neuroaffirming approach.

How sessions work

Sessions run in small groups, in Devon or online, and are pitched to the age of the group. What works for a nine-year-old is very different from what works for a sixteen-year-old, so the language, length and activities change accordingly.

Questions parents ask

What if my child does not want to come?

That is common, and it is fine to say so when you get in touch. A short, no-pressure conversation first often helps, and nothing in a session is compulsory.

Will they have to talk about their feelings in a group?

No. Young people can take part fully without sharing anything personal.

Can you work alongside my child’s school?

Yes. We are happy to work alongside school pastoral teams and other professionals already supporting your child.

For parents and carers

Sessions are led by Sophia Roddan, an accredited Mindfulness Now teacher with a background in education, nursing and holistic wellbeing. She works as a Health and Wellbeing Mentor specialising in emotional support, neurodiversity and creative therapeutic approaches, and previously developed inclusive creativity programmes for MIND East Devon.

This isn’t therapy and it isn’t a clinical service. If you’re worried about your child’s mental health, your GP or school’s pastoral team is the right first port of call — and we’re happy to work alongside them.

Before booking, do ask us anything you’d like to know about safeguarding, DBS checks, group sizes, age ranges or how a typical session runs. Full details of our training and accreditation are on the site.

FREE 15-MINUTE CHAT

Not sure what you need? Let’s talk

Book a free, no-obligation 15-minute chat with Sophia. Call or message us on WhatsApp. If we’re not available, leave a voice message or send a message, and we will get back to you.

• Message Sophia

Prefer email? Write to contact@mindfulnessdevon.com, or use our contact form. You can also read about our one-to-one sessions.