Abstract:

Getting satisfaction from life and solving problems of an individual primarily starts with being aware of the emotions he or she feels. Conscious awareness, which is defined as being conscious of the emotions, the moment and the environment; takes place in children's literature with works based on activity, meditation and fiction. This study aims at evaluating how mindfulness can be used in child literature works and presenting mindfulness activities that can be used in child literature. The study was conducted in accordance with the survey model, one of the qualitative research models. As a result of the survey conducted, although it was seen that the studies based on mindfulness were shaped basically towards solving psychological problems, contributing to organizing emotions and determining its effect on school success, there is a necessity for studies in children’s literature on the use of mindfulness. In order to meet this need, children's books were identified which can be used for mindfulness education through document analysis and after having completed the descriptive analysis, activity examples were prepared by researchers for the use of books. As a result, it was observed that the purpose of using children's books based on mindfulness is to enable children to recognize their own emotions and accept them. Breathing exercise and gaining concentration skills are the most important activities that can be used in mindfulness education. Besides, imagining, picturing in mind, drawing, sharing sorrow, reading, and talking about something are other activities in the books that are useful to raise mindfulness. Also, dramatization, concretization, writing and brainstorming activities are used in case studies besides the practices in books. Mindfulness education should start to be implemented from the pre-school period. In this sense, awareness training activities in children’s literature should be increased. Mindfulness which is considered as the basis of psychological well-being and healthy relationships requires repetition and a certain time period like all the skills. The books should be read under the guidance of an adult. It is thought that practicing the activities either in the book or in the study time to time by turning them into games would help children develop mindfulness.

Keywords: