Mindfulness Activity Cards For Kids

How We Created Our Mindfulness Activity Cards (& Why They’re The Perfect Tool For Kids)

Today I want to pull back the curtain and explain the story behind one of our best-selling mindfulness products for kids. Not just how it was manufactured (although, you will get a few great behind-the-scenes stories), but the why. The mission. The reason my brand exists. 

Our Brand Story

Hi, my name is Anne - the owner of Calm & Joyful Kids. Back in 2015, I was training to become a social worker. I spent my days surrounded by kids who were in desperate need of self-regulation skills and emotional support. And the more I learned about emotional development, the more issues I started to notice around me - not just in kids, but in adults. 

I realized that so many adult issues (boundaries, relationships, anger management, to name a few) were due to lack of proper emotional support and self-regulation skills learned in childhood. I asked myself, “what’s one skill that could shift the trajectory of a person’s life if they learned it early?” The answer is self-regulation. 

So, I built Calm & Joyful Kids from scratch - a brand that believes teaching self-regulation early changes everything for kids. It breaks generational patterns, builds confidence, and lays the emotional foundation for a healthy, grounded life.

I wanted to reach the root of teaching kids how to self-regulate and feel safe, heard, and in control of themselves now, so they grow into adults who:

  • Respect their own needs

  • Set healthy boundaries

  • Love and accept themselves

  • Manage relationships with confidence

So, I began designing resources that I wish more kids had access to. Tools that are naturally engaging and enjoyable for kids. Tools that allow them to learn these vital self-regulation skills that they’ll use their entire lives.

Why This Matters 

At Calm and Joyful Kids, we know that when it comes to your children, every detail matters. 

We follow these guiding principles when creating every product:

  • Easy to Get Started: These no-prep tools can easily be implemented in the classroom or at home. Seamlessly fit them into your busy daily routines without feeling overwhelmed.

  • Learn Through Play: Our activities feel like play with engaging hands-on strategies that sneak in powerful skills kids enjoy (and remember!)

  • Skills That Stick: We break big ideas into small, manageable steps that kids can digest without feeling overwhelmed, giving them the confidence to take control of their emotions and build skills that truly stick.

I want to highlight one particular product today, our Mindfulness Cards For Kids. I’m going to share all about the conceptualization, manufacturing, and refining process - every step we took to ensure that this set of grounding and mindfulness activity cards is exactly what your child needs. 

Conceptualizing The Mindfulness Cards

When visualizing the perfect mindfulness tool for kids (again, one that was easy to use and enjoyable for kids), I knew I wanted to design a set of playful activities that reinforced grounding and mindfulness techniques. I realized that a deck of cards would be the perfect way to turn powerful mindfulness skills into bite-sized learning for young children.

Whether it’s a meltdown after school, anxiety before bedtime, or frustration during transitions, we wanted kids to have tools they could actually use in the moment. Because big feelings don’t have to lead to big meltdowns.

So I developed a set of 32 fun mindfulness activities that support smoother transitions, better focus, and everyday self-regulation skills whether a child is feeling angry, anxious, overwhelmed. It’s something kids can actually use when they’re overwhelmed and need a simple way to reset.

Creating the Activities Inside

We understand that as parents, you want to be fully confident in the products you buy for your children. You want to know they won’t just sit on the shelf or get tossed behind the couch.

We took the following questions into consideration when creating these cards:

  • Will this be easy to use when we’re short on time?

  • Will my child understand it without me needing to explain every step?

  • Will it actually help during those stressful moments—tantrums, transitions, or after school meltdowns?

So, each one of the 32 mindfulness activity cards had to follow these guidelines:

  • Has clear, simple steps

  • Uses language kids understand

  • Can be done solo, with a parent, or in groups

  • Easy to complete even for busy schedules

Because when a big feeling shows up, kids need more than a deep breath - they need an emotional regulation toolbox they know how to use.

Materials & Specs

Let’s dive into some of the nitty-gritty details of the Mindfulness Activity Cards For Kids: color-coding, language and visuals, choosing the corner design, and the hole punch with plastic ring for easy storage.

COLOR CODING

After the 32 mindfulness activities were meticulously developed, we made an intentional choice to color-code each card based on its activity type.

 This idea came directly from feedback we received from parents and educators who wanted an easier way to organize and use the cards on the spot. So, we grouped the cards into easy-to-recognize categories, each with its own color, so you can quickly grab what your child needs.

Here’s how the color coding works:

  • Sensory Awareness (yellow): Sharpen your senses to stay grounded, reduce anxiety, and increase mindfulness

  • Physical Movement (orange): Gentle movements to release energy, promote calmness, and improve focus

  • Visualization (pink): Create calming mental images to reduce stress and build concentration

  • Breathing & Relaxation (blue): Breathing and muscle relaxation to regulate emotions

  • Reflection & Mindfulness (green): Reflect on emotions to build self-awareness, gratitude, and positive thinking

LANGUAGE & VISUALS

We asked ourselves, how do we make mindfulness feel fun and inviting for kids?

At first, we considered a more minimal design that might feel polished to adults. But after reflecting on how children actually interact with learning tools, we realized that bold colors and friendly illustrations would make the cards more engaging and easy to pick up without prompting.

The goal was to make emotional learning feel playful so that kids readily engage with the activities and tools without prompting & coaxing (how many times have your child’s items been tossed aside because they’re not engaging?).

CORNER DESIGN & PAPER QUALITY

Once it came time to produce the activity cards, we were faced with a (seemingly simple) choice: sharp or rounded corners. 

Sharp corners are easier to print and give more space for text. But when we really thought about the product in action, we knew rounded corners were the best option. We imagined young children flipping through the cards on their own, or pulling them out in a moment of frustration - rounded corners are safer and gentler!

We realized another thing when imagining the cards in use - they had to be durable! It has to survive sticky hands, backpacks, and lots of flipping.

We tested different paper types and found that thinner cardstock bent easily and looked worn too quickly. So we went with 350gsm cardstock for a sturdy feel. Then, we added double-sided matte lamination to give it a smooth texture and help protect the cards from spills and wear.

HOLE PUNCH & PLASTIC RING

One last detail to consider - storage and organization. Could we have printed all 32 cards and put them in a traditional deck in a cardboard box? Of course. But I’d bet a few of those cards would go missing almost as quickly as your kids could open the box. 

To make things easier, we added a small hole to the top left corner of every card so you can loop them on a ring. We considered different storage options, but this was the simplest way to help you keep everything together.

Now, you can toss the set in a bag, clip it to a backpack, or use it in your calm-down corner without worrying about losing pieces. Easy to organize, easy to carry, and totally mess-free and on-the-go even when you are travelling!

Heading Into Production: The First Sample & Key Changes

On November 5, 2024, we received our first printed sample. We were excited, but also ready to spot anything that needed fixing.

Here’s what we found:

  • There were small white spots along the printing edges

  • The color on some cards was darker than expected

  • The cuts weren’t as clean as we wanted

After a detailed review, we learned that the sample had been laser die-cut. We asked the supplier to switch to a mold-based die-cutting process for better consistency and cleaner lines.

We also requested a video of the revised sample before moving ahead with production. We knew it was worth the extra time to make sure the cards felt just right before they ever reached your hands!

The Final Product

After those key changes, we were thrilled with the end result. Finally, our vision of the perfect Mindfulness Activity Cards for Kids was here - and ready to share with the world! Since launching this product, we’ve been able to reach thousands of families across the world. 

I couldn’t be happier with the impact this product has made. I hope that by sharing this behind-the-scenes look at Calm & Joyful Kids, you feel more connected to our brand and mission. We are truly so passionate about supporting the emotional needs of all children. 

Check out these other posts for more resources:

 

See all articles in Blog

More From The Blog

View all