30 raring2go.co.uk Raring2go! WELLBEING A Mindful Start to the New Year After the chaos of Christmas - the wrapping paper tornado, sugar rushes, and endless to-do lists, January feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s the perfect time to slow down, press pause, and enjoy life’s simple moments again. Mindfulness doesn’t have to mean silence and yoga mats; it’s simply about noticing the little things, being present, and finding calm together as a family. Here are some lovely, free ways to start the year with a little more peace and presence. Take a Mindful Family Walk Wrap up warm and head out to one of our beautiful local spots - Bradgate Park, Beacon Hill, Burbage Common, Knighton Park... As you walk, challenge everyone to use their senses: What can you see? (frost on leaves, a squirrel, your breath in the air) What can you hear? (birds, wind, footsteps) What can you smell? (fresh air, pine, maybe someone’s Sunday roast!) This simple “five senses” walk helps children tune in to the world around them and gives parents a moment of calm, too! Make a “Good Things” Jar Find an empty jar and some scraps of paper. Every week, each family member writes down something good that happened - big or small, and adds it in. By next New Year’s Eve, you’ll have a whole jar of happy memories to read together. Reflect on the Year Gone By One rainy afternoon, snuggle up and ask everyone to share their favourite memory from last year. You could even draw or write them on paper and hang them up. It’s a simple way to celebrate your wins and remember how much joy there was in the everyday. Try “Tiny Moments of Calm” Mindfulness doesn’t need hours - it’s found in little pauses throughout the day. Take three slow breaths together before school or bedtime. Notice one thing you’re grateful for each morning. Spend 10 minutes together without any screens, just chatting or cuddling. Small, consistent moments make a big difference. Start a Family Tradition of Reflection Once a month, take a few minutes to talk about what’s gone well, what you’ve learned, or what you’re looking forward to. You’ll be surprised how much children enjoy these little moments of connection. However you begin 2026, remember - mindfulness isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about noticing the good that’s already there. Sometimes, the best family memories are made when you simply stop, breathe, and enjoy each other’s company.
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