Carrcroft Elementary School Mindfulness Trail
Date
2019-12
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Abstract
Description
Today, many school-age children face a lot of challenges that come along with the anxiety of a progressively complex modern society. Children may suffer
from stress, bullying at school, issues from home, and being overwhelmed by social media. According to Sheen and Dudley (2017), anxiety suffered by children
may result in children finding it difficult to go to school. A study supported by the National Health Service (NHS) found that one out of eight children in England
between the ages of five and 19 experienced one mental disorder during evaluations in 2017. According to a recent New York Times article, surveys show the
number of mental disorders in five to 15-year-olds has increased from 9.7 percent in 1999 to 11.2 percent in 2017. (Magra, 2019).
The need for mindfulness training early in life starts to become increasingly important. Mindfulness is defined as an awareness that develops from
intentional, nonjudgmental attention toward a current personal experience. I am interested in designing spaces where mindfulness is considered as part of the
design process because I believe intentionally design outdoor spaces can benefit individuals who are in need of therapeutic services. Studies show that
nature-based therapy, including therapeutic woodlots, enhances the effectiveness of the therapy treatments that patients receive (Hayes, 2004). Experts advise
that various purposeful gardens should be designed to allow children to participate in different mindfulness
activities, specifically quite space, active space, and engaging space. Mindfulness education helps a group understand the value of engaging in and reflecting
on various activities.
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Keywords
Carrcroft Elementary School, Wilmington, DE, Mindfulness (Psychology), Mindfulness education, Stress in children, Meditation, Landscapes Therapeutic use