Several years ago, my daughters and I watched a beautiful movie called The Child and The Fox, a 2007 French film directed by  2007 Luc Jacquet.  Narrated by Kate Winslet, it’s a story about a girl who befriends a fox in the forest of the Jura Mountains in eastern France.  It is rated G.  And, if you are watching with a sensitive child or very young child, please check out what happens at 1:22:00 to 1:25:39 (that’s one hour, 22 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes), where there is a scene when the fox is injured badly and some blood.  There is another scene where some wolves try to get at the fox at 1:08:20-1:10:29 that could be potentially scary for very young kiddos.   But, overall, if you would like to spend some serene time with your child in nature surrounded by the beauty of the forest, this is the movie for you.  Stunning scenery!! Presence in nature.  Mindfulness.

What I took away most was the mindfulness that the girl demonstrated throughout the movie as she was waiting for another glimpse of her fox friend.  She spent hours….just waiting and noticing and experiencing the sounds and sights of the forest.  She showed such serenity and presence.  The filmography does an amazing job at mindfully depicting every sound and showing the world from the fox and other animals’ points of view as well.

Mindfulness Demonstration Using the Video:

If you would like to practice mindfulness right along with the video, there is a scene, at 1:06:16-1:07:21 where the girl and the fox pause to take in the sounds of nature, a perfect minute of mindfulness.  As they sit there on the tree, they notice the sound of the birds, the wind rustling the trees, a buzzing bee, flies swarming, and a spider web floating through the air.  She listens both with her eyes open and her eyes closed, she cups her hands to her ears to show that she is focused on hearing.  This is an excellent clip to show groups of students to which you are demonstrating mindfulness or during a mindfulness training class, or just simply when you want to experience or practice a mindful pause or remind yourselves of being mindful during the day.

To purchase a copy of the video or to read more about it, click the image below:

Mindfulness Practice:

Pause, sit back, cue up the movie to this time slot, and simply BE with the girl and the fox for one minute.  Afterwards, pause for one more minute and practice tuning in to the environment around you.  Set a timer for one minute or chime a bell.  What do you hear?  What do you see?  See if you can collect all of these sights and sounds and be aware of them for one minute.  Take a deep breath.  Tune in within.

Movie Discussion:

This movie could stimulate some excellent topics for discussion with your child.  Here are some possibilities:

• Safety in nature
• Wild animals versus domestic animals:  important differences
• Love and respect of nature
• Connecting with nature:  benefits and/or experiences
• Mindfulness in nature:  how humans practice mindfulness, how animals seem to practice mindfulness

Other Ideas for Relaxing in Nature:

For other ideas on how to relax in nature, please see my other blog posts which are filled with resources:

Stimulating Relaxation Through Nature Connection:  http://wp.me/p2BJYZ-cz

Wildflower Safari:  http://wp.me/p2BJYZ-1u

Walking With Mindfulness-The Fox Walk:  http://wp.me/p2BJYZ-mo