Meditation for Children: How Beneficial is it?

Meditation is the natural antidote to stress and sensory overload that children may experience on a daily basis at school and home. Meditation can help them focus and regulate their emotions and improve their attention span. Overall, meditation imparts a sense of centre, helps balance emotions, and builds resilience.

Now, if you want to teach your child how to stop, breathe, and focus, perhaps, meditation is the answer. Find out how you can get your child started on the journey of meditation.

How Can Your Child Get Started With Meditation?

Children tend to have a high spiritual connection and do not have an ego. With practice, they can easily connect to their inner selves when they are taught how to do so. You could start at home or by enrolling your child at the nearest centre that teaches meditation for children. School programs that offer meditation are also a great way to get your child started.

Types of Meditation

A number of techniques can be used to still the mind in a meditative state. The types of meditation explained below can help kids meditate daily.

1. Guided Meditation

Guided meditation is a method that brings a visual component to breathing exercises that stop the minds of children from wandering during meditation and keeps it focused.

2. The Balloon

The technique involves teaching children to visualise their abdomen like a balloon. Every time they inhale, they imagine their belly expanding like a balloon, and when they exhale, they imagine the air releasing out of the balloon. This may be harder to demonstrate to kids who are too young as they wouldn’t like sitting still for long. Try adding an extra movement to the exercise, such as stretching arms in front or above the head as they inhale to represent their imaginary balloon expanding.

3. Follow the Leader

If your child has a big brother or a best bud that they look up to as a leader figure, this method can be used for meditation. The breath is the leader, and your child’s mind is the follower, and the mind follows the leader to where he leads. Follow the breath as it moves inside and out and count the number of breaths at the end of every exhale. If the child is usually the leader, they can imagine themselves to be the breath and their best bud, their mind.

4. Guided Relaxation Practices

This is a great technique that can be used by people of all ages when they are stressed out or unable to sleep. It involves systematically contracting and relaxing parts of the body while breathing slow and deep in sync with the body. For example, lie down comfortably and take a few deep cleansing breaths while you relax. Focus the attention on one of the feet and tense and squeeze it tight for two deep breaths. Relax the foot immediately and feel the tension being released as you exhale slowly. Repeat the same with the other foot and continue the process, moving up the body at points such as the calves, knees, thighs, hips and so on.

5. Classroom Meditation

Meditation before a class such as mathematics can help students learn better and score higher grades. Just before the start of the class, students are made to sit in a relaxed position in their seats with their hands on the desk, feet flat on the floor, and the back straight. The eyes are relaxed and closed while they listen to a chant or hum it themselves.

Meditation Techniques for Kids

Children of different age groups learn differently, and getting them to sit still in a place for long periods is almost impossible. Adding physical movements and mental visualisations along with breathing techniques is an effective way to get them to meditate.

Kids Aged 3- to 7-Year-Old

For children in this age group, try the lotus breath, which connects to the breath and feelings. Starting the session off with fun activities that involve songs or discussions that build up to the idea of focusing their attention on an imaginary lotus flower. Children are instructed to make the lotus mudra by touching their thumbs and pinkies together to create a lotus. Then, they are asked to take a deep breath and imagine the flower’s fragrance and how they feel after smelling it. The session can proceed with questions about how they felt at that moment, how their day was and what emotions they went through.

Kids aged 8 Years & Above

Meditative breathing techniques can be taught to children after this age. Once they master the balloon breath, they can be introduced to the more advanced Bear Breath. This fabulous breathing technique relieves stress and anxiety and can be done at any time during the day to feel calm and focused. The technique involves breathing through the nose for 4 counts, holding in the breath for 4 counts and releasing it for 4 counts through the nose.

Benefits of Meditation for Kids

Hundreds of studies on meditation conducted over the years show positive health benefits such as improvement in emotional intelligence, brain functioning, psychological development and more. For a deeper understanding, its benefits can be understood at the levels given below:

1. Psychological Benefits

Meditation and focused attention help children to better explore their minds and come up with new ideas. Their memory is also improved, which leads to better performance and grades in school. It also reduces anxiety and their need to be constantly entertained; it allows them to slow down and analyse themselves, which prevents addictive tendencies.

2. Emotional Benefits

Meditation helps develop more positive emotions and better control over the negative ones. Children learn to appreciate their surroundings and what they have with a generally positive outlook on life. They also become more kind and affectionate towards others and build a greater ability to love. Their higher emotional intelligence leads to more confidence and happiness.

3. Physical Benefits

The relaxing effects of meditation help children sleep well. The results are – good concentration, a stronger immune system and a healthily functioning body.

Tips to Keep in Mind When Teaching Meditation to Kids

1. Begin With the Breath

The mind follows the breath. There can be no meditation without proper breathing; therefore, it is imperative to lay down a strong foundation for breathing techniques. Since most meditation methods begin with the breath as an anchor, children who have proficiency in breathing techniques can meditate well.

2. Learning to Let Go

Not all kids can follow the instructions fully. They don’t always respond in the way we expect them to. Therefore, tailor the meditation technique a little to better suit their personality. For example, some children may not want to close their eyes, and instead of forcing them to do so, you can give them something to look at as they sit in their meditative posture. In the end, meditation is a personal journey.

3. Put Imagination to Good Use

Giving them something peaceful, safe and serene to imagine is a good guided meditation practice. Children are natural at constructive imagination, and there’s no end to the fun things they can bring to a meditative session.

4. Be Patient

Children are bound to be restless in the beginning. It takes a while before they learn to settle down in a meditation session. Let go and allow their energies to find their own balance. There are plenty of approaches to mindfulness and meditation, therefore do not get attached to any.

5. Practice as You Preach

Meditate along with your children as you teach them. It works better if it is a two-way street and makes it a valuable experience.

Meditation, when taught at a young age, can help children deal with stress, manage their emotions and grow up to live healthier lives. Introduce your little one to simple meditation techniques, and you’ll see a mountain of change in his approach towards life.

Also Read: 15 Fun Learning Activities for Kids