Hair cortisol reduction and social integration enhancement after a mindfulness-based intervention in children.

Background: Over recent decades, chronic stress at an early age has become a worrying health problem in children. We seek to evaluate an intervention involving mindfulness-based practices and prosocial activities in 7- to 8-year-old children.

Methods: Stress levels were determined using hair cortisol concentration (HCC), and social integration was measured by means of a sociogram.

Embodied Action Improves Cognition in Children: Evidence from a Study Based on Piagetian Conservation Tasks.

Converging evidence highlights the relevance of embodied cognition in learning processes. In this study we evaluate whether embodied action (enaction) improves cognitive understanding in children. Using the Piagetian conservation tasks in 6-7 year olds, we analyzed quantity conservation conceptualization in children who were active participants in the transformation process and compared these results to those of children who were mere observers of an adult's demonstration (as traditionally conducted).

Stress management in children: a pilot study in 7 to 9 year olds.

Objective: At present, school-age children suffer high levels of chronic stress that could produce potentially long-lasting effects. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the effects of mind-body integration practices and cooperative activities on stress levels and social interaction in 7- to 9-year-old children.

Methods: We performed an intervention program once a week during 2 months in which children performed mind-body integration practices and cooperative activities.