Take the Time: Mindfulness for Kids
TIP: Teach children breathing techniques to give them concrete ways to slow down and calm down when needed. Introduce yoga poses as another way to practice mindfulness.
Hayagriva Mandala, 1996. Created by monk-artists of Seraje Monastic University, India: Geshe Thubten Sonam (b. 1965, Tibet), Sonam Woser (b. 1964, Tibet), Lobsang Lungrig (b. 1974, Tibet). Sand mixed with mineral pigments. Denver Art Museum purchase with funds from the Asian Art Association, Mr. and Mrs. Yale H. Lewis, NBT Foundation, Fay Shwayder, and the Asian Art Department Acquisition Fund. 1996.54
Tibetan Sand Mandala
Sand mandalas are important symbols in Tibetan Buddhism and are used in meditation. They are made by monks and are destroyed when they are finished. The mandala at the Denver Art Museum was created by Tibetan monks in 1996. The monks gave special permission for the mandala to stay in the gallery as a gift to the people of Denver
Design by Janet Strickler
Mandala Coloring Sheet
Download the mandala coloring page to practice mindfulness after reading the book. Take time to look at the Hayagriva Mandala made of sand that inspired the coloring page.
Take Your Time
- Creating a mandala takes a lot of patience. The artist must work on one area at a time.
Focus
- Take deep breaths. Focus only on the part of the mandala you are coloring.
Prompting Questions
- How can you slow down in your everyday life?
- What will you do next time you feel like you need to slow down?
- How does coloring a mandala help you take time and focus?
Related Creative Activities
Before You Go…Travel Recommendations from the Experts!
By making their own Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone drawings in small groups, students will develop a better understanding of the scope and size of the original painting. They will then use the painting as inspiration for writing creative travel guide entries.
Poetry with Natural Similes and Metaphors
Students will examine the artistic characteristics of Summer; make comparisons between physical features of the figure portrayed in Summer with items from the natural world; and create poems using similes and metaphors comparing a person’s physical appearance with items from the natural world.
Making the Commonplace Distinguished and Beautiful
Students will learn how William Merritt Chase aimed to portray commonplace objects in ways that made them appear distinguished and beautiful. They will then create a written description of a commonplace object that makes it appear distinguished and beautiful.
How Coyote Came to Shuffle Off to Buffalo
Students will use Harry Fonseca’s painting Shuffle Off to Buffalo #V to spur their imaginations. They will write their own stories about how Coyote came to dance on stage dressed up as Uncle Sam.
Creating a First-Hand Detailed Description
Students will examine the artistic characteristics of the Mummy Case by journeying into an ancient tomb. They will then create a detailed written piece describing a portion of the Mummy Case.
Adventures in Toyland
Students will watch a short clip from the Disney-Pixar movie Toy Story and compare it to the toy in Richard Patterson’s painting If. Inspired by adventures in the movie, they will brainstorm a list of ideas that describe how Patterson’s toy might have ended up under layers of paint. They will then write a creative short story documenting the adventures.
