KENT, UK. 9th October, 2024 – Tomorrow’s World Mental Health Day sees the launch of a beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written children’s mindfulness book series. Mindful Bee and Friends is a collection of engaging stories featuring vibrant animal characters, and provides parents, grandparents, and caregivers with a fun way to introduce mindfulness practices into daily life.
According to the National Centre for Social Research, 10% of children and young people (aged 5 to 16 years) have a clinically diagnosable mental health problem, yet 70% of children and adolescents who experience mental health problems have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age. Mindful Bee, which is aimed at 3-6 year olds , aims to encourage mindfulness at an early age to lay strong foundations for mental wellbeing as young children begin to mature.
The launch of Mindful Bee is particularly timely as this Autumn sees our “Covid babies” starting school. Having been born during a time of unprecedented global disruption, many of these children faced social isolation, disrupted routines, and heightened anxiety in their early years. Now, as they enter school, they are under scrutiny for potential emotional and social challenges that may stem from the pandemic’s impact on their formative years. Mindfulness offers a powerful tool to help these children build resilience, manage stress, and develop emotional awareness. For parents, grandparents, and caregivers, introducing mindfulness early can help create a supportive environment that encourages self-regulation and emotional well-being, giving these young learners the emotional toolkit they need to thrive in this critical stage of their development.
Focussing on mindfulness, emotional well-being, and the joys of spending quality time together, each book in the series is designed to be a bonding experience for adults, caregivers and children, filled with interactive activities that promote calm, creativity, and conversation. From simple mindfulness exercises and techniques to imaginative storytelling prompts, Mindful Bee offers families the tools to cultivate a peaceful, mindful environment both at home and out in the fresh air.
The benefits of early years mindfulness intervention and practices include emotional regulation, improved focus and concentration, reduction in stress and anxiety, increasing resilience, improved sleep whilst boosting overall wellbeing. Moreover, research shows that books on mindfulness for our little ones can be a great starting place for exploring mindfulness practices with children.
The launch of this series of books, which will operate on a subscription model and deliver a beautifully-packaged new book to subscribers’ letterboxes each month, couldn’t be more timely. The first book will arrive at the beginning of December and will make a perfect Christmas present. Each book is crafted around a specific theme, such as paying attention, nurturing focus and concentration, mindful movement, compassion and kindness, gratitude, difference and diversity; ensuring that families can explore different aspects of mindfulness and well-being over time and at their own pace.
The subscription offers flexibility, allowing families to choose from yearly, quarterly, or monthly deliveries of new books. Each story features lovable, colourful animal characters that introduce mindfulness activities, promote calm and encourage bonding, helping children navigate emotions in a fun and interactive way for both child and parent/carer. To ensure the series is accessible to all, a Buy One, Gift One option, enabling families to not only enjoy the Mindful Bee series themselves but also share it with another family, fostering a sense of community and mental well-being for children everywhere, is also being introduced.
Founded by Belinda Prescott-Collins and Stephanie Unthank-Latter, the Mindful Bee books are aimed at nurturing emotional well-being in children. Belinda has a long-standing love for mindfulness, rooted in her personal practices, and was inspired to create Mindful Bee for her own young family during a family holiday in Spain. Together with Stephanie, a BAMBA-registered mindfulness expert with extensive experience in delivering mindfulness programs across the UK and Europe, they have co-authored the first 12 books in the series to introduce children to mindfulness in creative ways. Steph is dedicated to making mindfulness accessible for young minds, fostering resilience, balance, and joy in everyday life. Both are on a mission to support children’s mental well-being through the power of mindfulness. Through working with schools , libraries, children’s groups, charitable trusts and more, the Mindful Bee and Friends series will be available to anyone who wants to begin, or develop their mindfulness journey with their little ones.
From Belinda Prescott-Collins (Bee):
“The world is so full of distractions, but with Mindful Bee, we’re offering families a chance to pause and be present together. It’s not just about teaching mindfulness—it’s about creating meaningful, screen-free moments that deepen the bond between children and their caregivers.”
From Stephanie Unthank-Latter (Steph):
“Children today are growing up in a world filled with uncertainty and change, and mindfulness offers them a way to manage those emotions. With Mindful Bee, we’re empowering young minds to build resilience, creativity, and emotional awareness that will serve them throughout their lives.”
In a world where digital distractions are constant, Mindful Bee is a breath of fresh air for parents and grandparents looking for ways to engage their children in meaningful, screen-free activities. By prioritising mindfulness and family interaction, Mindful Bee is set to become a cherished part of bedtime routines, weekend mornings, and any time when families need a moment of calm and connection.
For more information visit https://mindfulbee.co.uk/