This year, the Lycée Français de New York is integrating mindfulness into the daily life of Primary students with the guidance of expert therapist Eline Snel. Backed by numerous scientific studies, mindfulness is a powerful tool that supports students’ cognitive, emotional, and academic growth—giving them skills to thrive both in and out of the classroom.
The Benefits of Mindfulness
Mindfulness meditation helps children strengthen their attention and concentration—skills that are essential for academic success. Studies have shown that practicing mindfulness allows students to better focus, reduce impulsivity, and improve memory. A study published in Mindfulness found that primary school students participating in a meditation program made notable gains in attention and focus compared to their peers.
Mindfulness also gives children tools to better understand and manage stress—something they can experience even at a young age. Research from Santé mentale au Québec showed that mindfulness reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression in young people. By helping students recognize and regulate their emotions, it also contributes to a calmer, more positive school environment.
And by strengthening both focus and emotional regulation, mindfulness directly supports academic progress. A meta-analysis published in Psychology in the Schools found that mindfulness programs in schools led to improvements in reading, math, and overall academic performance.
Mindfulness at the Lycée
Between January and March 2025, our CP/Y1 and CE1/Y2 students took part in an eight-week mindfulness program designed to build social-emotional skills. This fall, the program will expand to include CE2/Y3 through CM2/Y5.
What makes our approach unique is the direct involvement of Dutch therapist and author Eline Snel, who developed a child-centered method for mindfulness and founded the Academy for Teaching Mindfulness. Her approach is used in schools across the Netherlands and Belgium, and you may know her bestselling book Sitting Still Like a Frog, a popular resource in French-speaking countries.
At the Lycée, our Primary teaching assistants received specialized training from Eline Snel herself, allowing them to guide students in practicing mindfulness with both care and consistency.
The students responded right away. We start by placing our hands on our bellies to feel the breath. We teach them to stay present, to notice emotions without judgment, and to practice empathy. After just eight weeks, I’ve already seen improvements in their focus and attention. Many are using what they’ve learned to calm and refocus after recess. Even for me, it’s been beneficial—I feel more at ease in my day-to-day.
–Salima Benchekhchoukh, first-grade assistant.
Mindfulness techniques are now woven throughout the day, with reminders of The Little Frog—the friendly mascot of Snel’s program—anchoring the practice in a playful and familiar way. Thanks to breathing and visualization tools, students are learning how to self-regulate, move through transitions more calmly, and make the most of their classroom time.
A Special Opportunity for Families
Thanks to the support of the APL (our parents association), from Wednesday, April 30 through Friday, May 2, 2025, we are thrilled to welcome Eline Snel to the Lycée. During her visit, she’ll observe classroom sessions, meet with our teaching teams and students, and help deepen our implementation of her method.
To further involve families, she will offer an exclusive morning conference for Lycée parents and guardians on Friday, May 2 (details and registration will be shared by email and on MyLycée). This will be a wonderful opportunity to better understand the benefits of mindfulness and learn how to support your child in applying these techniques at home.
By placing mindfulness at the heart of our educational approach, we’re giving students lifelong tools to grow with calm, confidence, and resilience. We’re excited to continue this journey alongside them—guided by the expertise of Eline Snel.
About the Author :
Vannina Boussouf grew up on the Mediterranean island of Corsica, where bilingualism is an integral part of identity. She studied English and Spanish at the University of Corsica, and philology and letters in Cordoba, Spain, before starting a career as an elementary teacher and administrator. Vannina relocated to the United States in 2004, where she taught at the International School in Louisiana. She joined the Lycée in 2007 to direct the Primary School, and during her tenure, she has focused on innovative teaching methods that support the development of the whole child in a bilingual setting.