Guiding the Mind with Puppy Mind: A Classroom Guide for Educators

It’s Tuesday afternoon, and your classroom feels like a popcorn machine—thoughts are bouncing, feet are tapping, and half the class is daydreaming about snack time.

If your students’ minds are constantly wandering, Puppy Mind by Andrew Jordan Nance might be just the book you need to help them understand—and gently train—their busy brains.

This charming and relatable story introduces a young boy whose mind is just like a playful puppy: it races ahead, gets easily distracted, and sometimes worries about the past or the future. Through kind awareness and practice, he learns to bring his "puppy mind" back to the present moment.

With its beautiful illustrations and simple, powerful message, Puppy Mind is an excellent introduction to mindfulness, self-awareness, and emotional regulation for young learners.

Bringing Puppy Mind into the Classroom

Teaching mindfulness doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Puppy Mind naturally lends itself to thoughtful, engaging lessons that help students manage their thoughts with kindness.

Here are six easy but impactful activities you can use after reading the story:

1. Puppy Breathing – A Calm Mind Training Exercise

After reading, introduce “puppy breathing” to help students settle their busy minds. This simple, yet effective exercise provides a grounding and calming experience, helping students focus on their breath and return to the present moment.

Steps:

• Inhale slowly through the nose for 3–4 seconds (like calling the puppy to sit)
  
  

• Exhale gently through the mouth for 5–6 seconds (like petting the puppy calmly)
  

Benefits:

• Regulation of the nervous system: Deep breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping students feel calm and less anxious.
  
  

• Improved focus and clarity: By connecting with their breath, students train themselves to become more aware and present.
  
  

• Emotional balance: Slowing the breath helps regulate emotions, particularly in moments of excitement or overwhelm.
  

Encourage students to picture their mind settling down each time they breathe out, just as if they were soothing a busy puppy. This technique helps students begin to recognize when their thoughts are racing and gently guide them back to the present moment.

2. Puppy Mind Freeze Game – Spot the Wandering Mind

Play a game where students pretend to be puppies! This interactive activity helps students recognize when their minds are wandering and provides them with a playful way to refocus.

Instructions:

• When you say “Puppy Mind!” the students freeze and place their hands on their heads.
  
  

• When you say “Mind Present!” they sit calmly and focus on their breath.
  

Benefits:

• Mindfulness through movement: The physical act of stopping and resetting encourages embodied mindfulness.
  
  

• Self-awareness: Students learn to recognize when their minds have drifted, which is the first step to developing focus and self-regulation.
  
  

• Increased engagement: The game's playful nature keeps students involved and makes mindfulness enjoyable.
  

After a few rounds, reflect together:

• What makes our minds wander?
  
  

• What helps bring our attention back?
  

This discussion reinforces the understanding that wandering thoughts are normal, but it’s important to bring them back to the present gently.

3. The Puppy’s Walk – A Mindful Movement Activity

Puppies love to explore, but when we rush, we miss the good stuff! This activity encourages students to slow down, connect with their surroundings, and focus on their senses as they move.

Instructions:

• Take your class on a slow, mindful “puppy walk” around the classroom or playground.
  
  

• Encourage students to notice what they see, hear, and smell.
  

Benefits:

• Sensory awareness: This activity engages multiple senses, helping students connect to the present moment.
  
  

• Promotes calm: Moving slowly and mindfully calms the nervous system, encouraging relaxation.
  
  

• Develops focus: By focusing on what they notice, students practice staying in the present, which enhances concentration and emotional regulation.
  

This mindful movement also helps students recognize how slowing down can help them notice details that they might otherwise miss, fostering an appreciation for the present moment.

4. Puppy Journals – Reflecting on Our Wandering Minds

After reading the book, encourage students to reflect on their own experiences with their “puppy minds” by using a simple journal prompt. Writing enables students to process their thoughts and feelings, gaining valuable insights into their emotional states.

Prompt:
“When does your mind feel like a wandering, busy puppy? What helps you bring it back?”

Benefits:

• Self-reflection: Journaling helps students practice self-awareness, a critical component of mindfulness.
  
  

• Emotional processing: Writing down thoughts provides an outlet for students to understand and regulate their emotions.
  
  

• Development of coping strategies: Reflecting on their “puppy minds” helps students identify when their thoughts wander and what techniques work best to bring them back on track.
  

This activity also encourages students to become more comfortable with their wandering minds, removing any negative stigma and allowing them to approach distractions with curiosity and kindness.

5. Puppy Mind Read-Aloud Moments – Building Attention Muscles

Before independent reading time, remind students that their “puppy mind” might try to wander. Offer a simple strategy to help them stay focused on the story at hand:

Strategy:

• If you notice your mind wandering while reading, acknowledge it: “Oops, my puppy mind is wandering.” Take a deep breath and bring it back—just like training a puppy!
  

Benefits:

• Focus enhancement: Teaching students to refocus their attention on the task at hand helps build their attention span and concentration skills.
  
  

• Mindful reading: This technique encourages students to read with intention, noticing details in the story and illustrations.
  
  

• Cognitive benefits: Improved focus during reading translates to better comprehension and retention.
  

This method can help students develop lifelong reading habits that emphasize deep engagement with the material, rather than simply rushing through the words.

6. Puppy Mind Coloring – Mindful Creativity

Provide students with coloring pages featuring puppies, nature scenes, or create-your-own mindful puppy drawings. This creative activity not only nurtures mindfulness but also gives students a way to express themselves and calm their busy minds.

Instructions:

• Choose colors that make them feel relaxed.
  
  

• Color slowly, paying attention to the movement of their hands and the colors they’re using.
  
  

• Take a few deep breaths while coloring.
  
  

Benefits:

• Relaxation: The repetitive action of coloring is naturally calming, allowing the brain to shift into a relaxed state.
  
  

• Focus and presence: By focusing on the details of the coloring process, students develop the ability to be present and engaged in the moment.
  
  

• Self-expression: Coloring allows students to express their inner feelings and creativity, contributing to their emotional well-being.
  

This creative, slow-paced activity helps students experience mindfulness in a way that is both enjoyable and calming.

Why Puppy Mind is a Must-Read for the Classroom

In a world full of distractions, Puppy Mind offers students a compassionate approach to understanding their busy thoughts—and provides teachers with a powerful tool for building mindfulness skills early on.

Here’s why it deserves a spot on your classroom bookshelf:

✅ Normalizes wandering thoughts – Kids realize it’s okay for their minds to wander, and they can gently guide them back.
✅ Teaches self-kindness – No scolding here! The story models patience and compassion toward oneself.
✅ Builds focus and emotional regulation – Mindful awareness helps students improve attention and manage feelings.
✅ Supports SEL standards – Encourages self-awareness, self-management, and empathy—cornerstones of social-emotional learning.

So the next time your classroom feels like a pack of puppies at playtime, take a few mindful breaths—and invite your students to call their "puppy minds" home gently.

💛 Mindfulness has never been so lovable.  🐶

Be well,

Christine

(Link to Puppy Mind on Amazon)