Mindfulness and mindful parenting: Strategies for preschoolers with behavioral issues

Abstract

The behavior issues of preschoolers are closely related to their parents' parenting styles. This editorial discusses the value and strategies for solving behavior issues in preschoolers from the perspectives of mindfulness and mindful parenting. We expect that upcoming studies will place greater emphasis on the behavioral concerns of preschoolers and the parenting practices that shape them, particularly focusing on proactive interventions for preschoolers' behavioral issues.

Key Words: Mindfulness; Mindful parenting; Preschoolers; Behavioral issues; Parenting strategies

Core Tip: Mindfulness fosters health-promoting behaviors by focusing on the present moment and adopting a nonjudgmental attitude, which helps children develop self-regulation skills, enhance concentration, and improve emotional intelligence. Mindful parenting, the practical application of mindfulness in the parent-child relationship, emphasizes fully engaging in interactions, cultivating emotional awareness, and exercising self-regulation during the parenting process. Mindfulness and mindful parenting are vital pathways to address behavioral issues in preschoolers and enhance their overall well-being.

INTRODUCTION

Parenting style refers to a set of attitudes and behaviors that parents exhibit towards their children, creating an emotional climate in which these behaviors are expressed[1]. The preschool stage provides a unique opportunity for children to learn to understand and regulate emotions, attention, and behavior, with parenting style playing a pivotal role in shaping their development[2]. Preschoolers are at a critical stage in their development, particularly in socioemotional behaviors[3]. The primary, and sometimes only, learning object for preschoolers is their parents. Thus, the parenting style experienced by preschoolers significantly impacts their physical, social, emotional, motor, and cognitive development[4,5]. Previous studies have reported that parental behavior is a significant risk factor for children's behavior and is often associated with their misbehaviors[6,7]. Parenting skills refer to the specific competencies and abilities that parents utilize to adequately and effectively support their children's emotional, physical, and developmental needs. However, in many regions and countries, a shortage of education and training on parenting skills results in parents, particularly first-time parents, inevitably affecting preschoolers' behavioral issues under the influence of their personal mental and behavioral traits[8,9].

We are interested in the original article published in the coming issue of the World Journal of Clinical Cases[10]. The author outlined the most prevalent behavioral disorders among preschoolers and contended that parenting was the most productive factor in shaping the development and persistence of this critical issue in young children. The author further recommended that future research should continue to identify effective intervention strategies for children's problematic behaviors and developmental challenges. We concur with their perspective. This editorial, grounded in the above-mentioned article, discusses the value and strategies for addressing preschoolers' behavioral issues from the vantage point of mindfulness and mindful parenting. We anticipate that this will aid in drawing further attention from researchers to the study of parenting and preschoolers' behavioral issues and will positively contribute to the enhancement of parenting practices and the management of preschoolers' behaviors.

MINDFULNESS AND MINDFUL PARENTING

Mindfulness, a practice rooted in ancient meditation techniques, is defined as directing one's focus to the current moment with an attitude of acceptance, and it is linked to participation in various health-promoting behaviors[11]. The term "trait mindfulness" is used to assess the average level of mindfulness or the frequency of being in a mindful state, such as the ability to observe experiences, describe inner experiences, act with awareness, and remain nonjudgmental and nonreactive towards experiences[12,13]. Given that an individual's level of mindfulness and skills often have a significant impact on his behavior, various mindfulness-based training and intervention methods have been developed, including mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, mindfulness-based dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy[14-16].

In the context of the ongoing development of mindfulness research and its applications, mindful parenting has gained increasing attention. Mindful parenting involves the practical application of mindfulness in the parent–child relationship, integrating such elements as fully engaging with parent–child interactions (encompassing active listening, emotional responsiveness, and physical involvement), adopting a nonjudgmental and compassionate attitude towards oneself as a parent and the child, cultivating emotional awareness of oneself and the child, and exercising self-regulation within the parenting relationship[17,18].

STRATEGIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS WITH BEHAVIORAL ISSUES

The reasons for emphasizing mindfulness and mindful parenting in children's behavioral issues are multifaceted. Mindfulness involves cultivating moment-to-moment awareness, often through meditation practices focusing on breath, body sensations, and thoughts without judgment. For preschoolers, mindfulness is adapted to be age appropriate, usually incorporating playful and imaginative activities[19]. These activities help children develop self-regulation skills, enhance their ability to focus and improve their emotional intelligence. Previous studies have shown that self-regulation interventions for children, such as mindfulness interventions, are effective. Compared to control groups, most children in the intervention groups have shown improvements in various health and behavioral outcomes, including academic performance, mental health, social skills, and the frequency of school suspensions[19]. From the perspective of parents' mindfulness levels, our team has also found in previous studies that mindfulness levels have a full mediating effect on the relationship between family relationships, marital conflict, and postpartum anxiety and depression[20]. These situations, in turn, can directly or indirectly lead to behavioral problems in preschoolers. Mindful parenting is a parenting approach that integrates mindfulness principles into daily interactions with preschoolers[17]. It involves being fully present and attentive during interactions, responding to children's needs with compassion and understanding, and maintaining a calm and balanced demeanor even in challenging situations. This approach can be particularly beneficial for preschoolers with behavioral issues, as it helps in addressing the root causes of their behavior, such as stress, anxiety, or sensory overload. Higher levels of mindful parenting are also associated with less negative parenting. Therefore, improving mindful parenting, focusing on the ability of parents to interact with preschoolers, and providing adequate attention, compassion, and acceptance also help prevent child abuse and promote the behavioral health of preschoolers[18].

While it is unrealistic to expect immediate changes in preschoolers' behavioral issues, it is evident that mindfulness and mindful parenting are critical components in the journey toward improvement. There are several strategies that parents can adopt to practice and improve mindful parenting with their preschoolers.

First, parents can engage in mindfulness exercises with their children, such as deep breathing, mindful eating, or guided body scans. These exercises help children learn to focus their attention and calm their minds. One amusing research finding is that although the role and importance of fathers in parenting have received increasing attention in recent years, studies have found that mindful parenting by mothers mediates the relationship between maternal anxiety and emotional and behavioral difficulties in adolescents without finding a mediating effect for fathers[21].

Second, in practicing mindfulness exercises for children, rather than adopting the more commonly used group courses implemented over time in adult populations, it may be more suitable to use mindfulness exercises based on mobile applications, which children more readily accept. However, there is still much room for improvement in mindfulness applications provided free for children[22]. Additionally, it is necessary to consider the trade-offs between the benefits and drawbacks of children's screen time.

Third, parents can use mindfulness techniques to manage their stress and emotions, positively influencing their interactions with their children. Among the considerations worth noting are parents who have experienced life adversities such as childhood abuse, poverty, or community violence. If these adverse experiences are left unaddressed, it may pose challenges for parents to engage in mindful parenting effectively, and their children may be at risk of experiencing similar adversities in their early lives[23]. Additionally, research findings indicate that mothers experience higher levels of parenting stress than fathers[24]. Parenting stress can potentially impact children's learning and experiential abilities, thereby suppressing their development and skill acquisition, leading to behavioral issues. From this perspective, it is essential to actively adopt mindfulness-based intervention techniques to improve mothers' levels of parenting stress.

Fourth, in practices for mindful parenting preschoolers, it is essential to focus on building a connection with the child and strengthening certain aspects, such as mindful listening to the child, nonjudgmental acceptance of oneself and the child, compassion for oneself and their child's experiences, self-regulation within the parenting relationship, and emotional awareness of oneself and the child[25].

CONCLUSION

Mindfulness and mindful parenting offer valuable strategies for addressing behavioral issues in preschoolers. By cultivating mindfulness in preschoolers and parents, it is possible to create a more compassionate, attentive, and emotionally supportive environment, leading to improved emotional regulation, reduced behavioral problems, and enhanced overall well-being for preschoolers.