Episode 88 - Why Mental Fitness Matters for Children with founder of Mindfully Natalie Von Teichman
What if we treated mental health the same way we treat physical fitness?
In this episode, we explore the concept of mental fitness and why proactively building emotional strength, regulation, and resilience is one of the most important gifts we can give our children. My guest, Natalie von Teichman, children’s mental fitness coach and founder of Mindfully, shares how mental fitness helps children develop the skills they need before stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm show up.
Together, we discuss why simply telling kids to “calm down” doesn’t work, how breathing and co-regulation support nervous system regulation, and why allowing children to experience manageable discomfort actually builds resilience.
Natalie and I chat about:
- What mental fitness is and how it differs from mental health
- Why kids need to practice emotional regulation before big feelings arise
- How breathing supports the nervous system and emotional regulation
- The power of role modelling (and why perfection isn’t required)
- Why naming emotions is only the first step and what comes next
- How imagination, play, and storytelling strengthen emotional resilience
- Ways to support children’s mental fitness in a digital world
Natalie von Teichman is a children’s mental fitness coach, mindfulness educator, mom of four, and the founder of Miindfully, the brand behind the world’s first meditation stuffie for kids (a multisensory, screen-free tool designed to support emotional regulation, sleep, and resilience through play). With a background in health science, mindfulness education, and pediatric mental wellness, Natalie’s work focuses on helping children build mental agility, emotional regulation, and self-compassion using evidence-informed, developmentally appropriate strategies. Her approach integrates breath regulation, cognitive processes, role-play, and neuroscience-based mindfulness practices.
Episode Links:
- Say hi to Natalie on Instagram
- Learn more about Miindfully or get your own meditate at Miindfully
- Come say hello to me on Instagram
- Read my books The Motherhood Reset, Nourished Mama and Mama Let It Go
- Grab my Picky Eating Guide
