Mindfulness stops being a buzzword when kids learn to use it in real time to calm their bodies, name their feelings, and stay connected to their breath when life gets loud.
Leslie sits down with Julie Freeman, Executive Director of KNOWTICE, to talk about how mindfulness for kids can shape the kind of self-awareness that leads to genuine self-confidence. Julie shares how small, repeatable moments, like pausing to notice a feeling or grounding the body before reacting, help children manage stress, stay present, and access their best thinking. When mindfulness starts early, kids learn they have control over their reactions, which builds emotional strength that grows with them through adolescence and adulthood.
The conversation goes beyond quiet moments and breathing exercises to reveal how these early lessons create confident teens who trust themselves and understand their emotions. Leslie and Julie also reflect on how this work ripples forward into adulthood, showing up in the way confident women lead, parent, and care for themselves. By teaching kids mindfulness now, we give them tools to feel steady in uncertainty and connected to who they are - a foundation every confident person stands on.
Episode Breakdown:
00:00 Why Mindfulness Matters Now
05:28 KNOWTICE Origin Story and Julie Freeman’s Path
11:32 Why Start Early Mindfulness for Kids and Brain Development
16:54 Classroom Basics Mindful Body Stillness and Calming Techniques
22:23 Mindful Parenting and Raising Confident Teens
31:24 The 90-Second Rule and Managing Anxiety in Real Time
43:17 From Mindful Kids to Confident Women
45:42 How to Bring KNOWTICE to Your School
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