Like You is listener supported. You can support the show by subscribing on Apple Podcasts or becoming a patron on Patreon. You can also support the show by shopping in our online store or purchasing songs from the show on our Bandcamp page.

Please send us a voice memo, drawing, or letter at hello@likeyoupodcast.com. We play a voice memos from listeners either at the beginning of an episode or during the affirmation segment of the episode. If your child wants to be included, record a voice memo and send it to us. Your child can introduce themself and then say a favorite affirmation, sing a line from a Like You song, say what they like about the show, or share whatever they feel! Keep it short (10-20 seconds). For more info on how to record and send a voice memo, see this post, or click here.

Like You is a production of Perpetual Motion. The show is written and produced by Noah Glenn. The show’s artwork was illustrated by Mia Saine. Episode art is created by Lindsey Glenn.

This episode features original music by Noah Glenn. 

Find us here:

• Website
• Patreon
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Bandcamp
• Online Shop

Noah: Hey everyone! I’m so glad to be your podcast friend. Listener support is what makes this podcast possible. When you sign up for a Like You Subscription you gain access to special bonus content. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing through Apple Podcasts or Patreon. Find more information in our episode notes. Thanks! And here’s today’s show.

[intro music]

Noah: Hello! I’m Noah and this is Like You: Mindfulness for Kids. I’m very glad you’re here. On this episode we’ll play a mindful guessing game. So listeners of all ages, find a place to listen where you feel comfortable and safe. As I ask questions and invite you to say affirmations, you’re welcome to speak out loud, or as always, you can just think your responses quietly in your mind.

Let’s begin with a breathing exercise. You’re going to be using your ears to play our guessing game in a few moments, so let’s get your ears warmed up now. I’m going to play a short little musical melody. When you hear the melody rising up like this [play melody] take a deep breath in. And when you hear the melody go down like this [play melody] breath slowly out. Let’s try a few times. Listen carefully and breathe along with the melodies.

[Breathe in melody. Breathe out melody. Breathe in melody. Breathe out melody.]

Now, after listening to those melodies a few times, let me ask a question. Can you make a guess about what instrument was playing the melody?

If you guessed guitar, you’re right! And that was also the first part of our guessing game. Let’s try the breathing melodies again, but this time I’ll play them on a different instrument. Listen as you breathe in and out, and see if you can guess the instrument.

[Breathe in melody. Breathe out melody. Breathe in melody. Breathe out melody.]

Good breathing. Do you know what instrument that was? It was a piano. Good guess.

Now let’s do one last melody breathing exercise. I’ll play the melodies on a different instrument. Remember to take deep breaths in and out. As you do try to guess the instrument. I’ll make this one a little harder.

[Breathe in melody. Breathe out melody. Breathe in melody. Breathe out melody.]

Did you guess the instrument that time? That was an accordion. Have you ever seen an accordion before? An accordion has something called bellows that you have to pump side to side to blow air through the instrument. Here is what the bellows sound like. Listen closely. [pumping bellows].

It almost sounds like the accordion is breathing along with you! Now, I think your ears are sufficiently warmed up. So on the count of three let’s all say I like me. 1-2-3. I like me.

I like you too. You are a good listener. But you also have lots of wonderful things to say.

It’s time to play our guessing game. Here’s how it will work. It’s pretty simple. I will play a sound and you’ll guess what you’re hearing. When you know what it is you can say it out loud, think it in your head, or write it down on a piece of paper. After I play a sounds, I’ll reveal the answer so you can see if you guessed it. There’s no winning or losing in this game. We’re just having fun seeing if we can guess the sounds. We’ll be using mindful listening, so close your eyes, clear your mind of any distractions, and try to breathe slowly and deeply, and listen very carefully.

I’ll start with a few short sounds. I’ll play each once, let you make a guess, then I’ll play it again. Here’s the first one.

[sound plays]

Can you guess what that was? It was ice being dropped into a glass. I’ll play it again so you can hear.

[Ice in a glass]

Now here’s the next sound.

[sound plays]

Have a guess for that sound? It was a pencil writing on paper. I’ll play it again so you can hear.

[Pencil on paper]

Here’s our final short sound. Listen closely.

[sound plays]

Did you guess that one?   It’s one of my favorite sounds in the fall: crunching leaves. Do you ever step on crunchy leaves when you’re out for a walk?

[Crunching leaves]

Okay, that’s the end of the first round. How many did you guess? Great. Now on to round two where  I’m going to play some longer sounds. These will be more like the sounds of an environment or a place, or maybe an activity. These are sounds that you might find calming or relaxing, so as you listen to each one, breathe deep and relax your body. See if you can picture what’s making the sound and imagine yourself wherever the sound is. After each sound I’ll stop and tell you what it was before moving to the next. Here’s the first sound.

[sound plays]

Do you have a guess what that sound was? It was a waterfall. Now that you know what it is, I’ll play it for a few more seconds. You can close your eyes and imagine standing beside a waterfall as you listen.

[waterfall]

Here’s the next sound. [sound plays]

What did you guess for that sound? It was a fan. Some people like the sound of a fan while they are sleeping. Did that sound make you feel sleepy?

[fan]

Here’s another sound. [sound plays]

Got any guesses for that one? If you guessed footsteps walking through the snow, you’re right.

[Walking through snow]

Now let’s do one last sound. Listen carefully. [sound plays]

Do you have one final guess about what that sound was? That was a train. An old steam engine train. Now that you know let’s have another listen and you can imagine riding a train through the countryside.

[train]

I enjoyed playing that guessing game with you. It really gave our listening skills a good workout. You know, mindfulness involves using all your senses, so let’s take a short moment to check in with our other senses. Look around with your eyes and name four things you can see right now.

Now breath in through your nose and see what you smell. Can you pick out three different smells near you?

Next use your hands to touch two different things. Pick two things that are very different, maybe something hard and something soft. Or something warm and something cold. Or something rough and something smooth. That just leaves your sense of taste. I’ll let you hold onto that for now, but next time you eat a snack or take a drink, I want you to really stop and mindfully notice the taste. 

Alright. Now it’s time for affirmations. Affirmations are words you can say about yourself to remind yourself how wonderful you are. Here’s a message from one of our listeners sharing an example of an affirmation. 

Everett: Hello. My name’s Everett. I am ten years old, and my favorite affirmation is: my life is about to be incredible. Noah: My life is about to be incredible. That’s a great affirmation, Everett. I just know there are good things in your future. Now let’s say a few more affirmations. I’ll say each affirmation twice. So you can listen the first time, then say it together with me the second time. You can say these out loud or inside your head.

Here we go.

It feels good to be me.

I am full of bright ideas.

I am one of a kind.

I am good to my friends and my friends are good to me.

It’s ok to make mistakes.

When things get hard, I keep trying.

I can be anything I want to be.

Good things are going to come my way.

Now let’s take a few slow, deep breaths as we wind down our time together. If any of those affirmations stood out to you, feel free to write them down, or just store them safely in your mind to say when you need it. If you have an affirmation that is special to you, I would love to hear it! If you’d like to send a recording of your favorite affirmation to play on the show, have a grownup check our website or episode notes for more information. 

Now I’d like to end with a song. As you listen you can sing or dance along. Or just close your eyes, breathe deep, and relax.

If today is always today

And tomorrow is a day away

When I wake up tomorrow 

Will today be yesterday?

Is the future ever now?

And when did the past end?

How come it is always now

And when did time begin?

I dream about where I’ll go

And I remember all the places I’ve been

But when I open my eyes and look around

Right now is what I’m living in

It’s always now

Forever Now

Now is where I rest

Now is where I play

Now is where I think about what happened yesterday

Now is where I grow

Now is where I plan

Now is where I learn to love the person that I am

It’s always now

Forever Now

I can’t wait to spend some time together again soon. Until next time, I like you, I’m proud of you, and I’m glad we are friends. Have a happy and peaceful day.

Like You is a production of Perpetual Motion. It is made possible by our subscribers on Patreon and Apple Podcasts. Become a supporter by visiting Patreon.com/likeyoupodcast, or by tapping “subscribe” on our show page in Apple Podcasts. You can also tell your friends about the show or leave a 5 star review wherever you listen to podcasts. Like You is written and hosted by me, Noah Glenn. I also composed and performed the Like You theme music and other music that appeared in the episode. Our podcast cover art was illustrated by Mia Saine. Our episode art is created by Lindsey Glenn. Grownups can find more information about Like You by visiting our website at likeyoupodcast.com. Thanks for listening.