School-based mindfulness programs vary widely in their content, which makes comparing their outcomes difficult. An analysis of twelve written curricula found that all included individual practices, especially body awareness, but only eight included relational practices like kindness or compassion. Programs based on MBSR emphasized awareness of mental states, and longer programs included more interpersonal skills and lessons on focused attention and empathy. Notably, what students learned about mindfulness did not always match what they practiced, suggesting knowledge can be taught without active skill-building. This mapping of curricular ingredients helps clarify which components drive specific outcomes, refine theories of change, and improve teacher preparation.
Sensitive parenting early in life supports healthy development and depends on the parent's compassion and physiological regulation. Loving-kindness meditations (LKM) increase compassion and reduce stress responses, potentially aiding sensitive parenting. In this study, 136 parents of toddlers were randomly assigned to listen to a LKM, focused-imagery audio, or podcast before a play-based interaction. LKM did not significantly increase parent sensitivity, though sensitivity varied little in the sample. However, LKM affected salivary alpha amylase activity: parents in the LKM group gradually decreased sympathetic activity across the session, while the podcast group showed increased levels after the interaction. Engaging in compassion and self-compassion can change stress physiology in parents of toddlers.