NEW DIRECTIONS FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, NO. 136, WINTER 2012 © WILEY PERIODICALS, INC. Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) • DOI: 10.1002/yd.20042 111 Mindfulness provides a promising tool to reduce distress and promote resilience by helping adoles- cents navigate their psychological and environmen- tal challenges. 7 Mindfulness for adolescents: A promising approach to supporting emotion regulation and preventing risky behavior Patricia C. Broderick, Patricia A. Jennings demands to meet the increasing pace of change are creating unprecedented challenges for educators and parents to equip stu- dents with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in school and in life. There is growing recognition that social and emotional skills and dispositions are essential for lexible decision making, stress hardiness, lifelong learning, and innovation required to maintain prosperity and civility in a rapidly changing world. 1 Competence in social and emotional skills provides the founda- tion for learning to manage one’s life effectively. It encompasses knowing how to channel attention and sustain motivation, working cooperatively with others, coping with frustration, responding to challenges with appropriate behavior, and avoiding risky behaviors. Decades of research have reliably demonstrated that well-designed and well-implemented classroom-based prevention programs can reduce conduct problems while building skills for mental health,