Children’s Mindfulness & Meditation

The practice of meditation and mindfulness activities can help to calm the nervous system and provide physical and mental relaxation.

For children, it is important to help them identify when they are feeling overly hyperactive, upset, distressed, or facing difficult, unmanageable emotions. The practice of meditation can offer a tangible and relevant opportunity to relax. It is a powerful tool to help regulate stress, help promote calm and present thinking.

At School, a five-minute practice, at circle time after recess or before going home, can help ground a child. 

At Home, it can be made as part of the morning or evening routine, participated with the whole family. It can also assist him or her with transitions and help the child process the day’s expectations, or reflect on the day just gone. 

Unlike adult practices in meditation which may require extensive time working on stillness or breathwork, a child’s practice in mindful meditation may be based on the child’s own experiences relating to concrete objects, such as swaying like a tree branch or listening very carefully to sounds. These practices are designed to engage children quickly and typically take 5 to 8 minutes.

Mindful meditation practices for children should be responsive to their developmental needs. Not all children are able to maintain focus throughout a meditation experience. Be prepared to allow children to move their bodies or open their eyes. Allowing children to giggle or be a little silly with permission can help to create a sense of happiness and joy, which is key for a successful meditative practice. Meditation should be a happy practice and one that allows a child’s imagination to flow.

Children, like adults, are surprisingly receptive to the notion of being calm and will choose this option if they are provided with the tools at home, and at school.