Published: May 4, 2026
By: Tanni Haas
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a great occasion to consider what you can do to help the kids stay as stress-free as possible. One possibility is to teach them mindfulness. Here are some of the best mindfulness books for toddlers, young children, tweens and teens.
Books for Toddlers (Ages 2-4)
Mindfulness For Little Ones by Hiedi France
While toddlers are generally happy-go-lucky and not bothered by the kinds of worries older kids typically have, they can get stressed when they encounter new and unfamiliar situations, like starting pre-school or going to the doctor or dentist for the first time. If you sense that your toddler could use some de-stressing, Mindfulness For Little Ones is a wonderful book that is full of fun activities that will calm and center your toddler, including simple breathing exercises, playful dance moves and creative projects. The author, Dr. Hiedi France, is a practicing school psychologist.
Books for Young Children (Ages 5–8)
Mindful Kids by Whitney Stewart
Mindful Kids includes many of the same activities as the previous book, but geared towards slightly older kids. You’ll find more advanced breathing exercises and visualization techniques, journaling prompts that encourage kids to write down their worries, and exercises to help them better understand and modify their reactions to stressful situations. The book also includes a short section with answers to questions kids are likely to ponder when engaging in mindfulness exercises, such as what to do when their minds start to wander. An especially impressive feature is an eight-page instructional booklet that outlines how the exercises can be modified to suit the needs of differently-abled kids. The author, Whitney Stewart, is a well-known mindfulness instructor.
Books for Tweens (Ages 9–12)
Mindfulness For Kids In 10 Minutes a Day by Maura Bradley
Tweens often face significant stress as they juggle academic pressures, strive to fit in with their peers, and navigate the challenging transition from childhood to adolescence. To help your tween better manage their various stressors, get them a copy of Mindfulness For Kids In 10 Minutes A Day. Aimed specifically at tweens, this book has sixty mindfulness exercises that can help reduce the stress that teens experience throughout the day – when they wake up in the morning, during the school day, and in the evening before they go to sleep. Since all of the exercises, as the title suggests, can be completed in 10 minutes, even the busiest tween will be able to find the time to do them. The author, Maura Bradley, owns a mindfulness practice for kids.
Books for Teens (Ages 13+)
Mindfulness Workbook For Teens by Linette Bixby
If being a tween is stressful, being a teen can be even more stressful, especially with worries about the future, going to college, or pursuing a particular vocation. Mindfulness Workbook For Teens should be on every teen’s bookshelf. In it, your teen will find many strategies and exercises to address teen stressors. There’s also a comprehensive guide to mindfulness resources, including apps, books, podcasts and websites. The author, Linette Boxby, is a mindful instructor.
Tanni Haas, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders at the City University of New York – Brooklyn College.