It’s Easy to Teach Kids How to Meditate
Kids are the best at meditation, because they haven’t formed any preconceived notions or judgments about it. Adults tend to be resistant, offering up excuses like, “I don’t have time,” or “It’s too hard to clear my mind.” Children present themselves as clean slates, eager to learn something new or take on a challenge. And a lot of times, you can present meditation in disguise.
Let Kids Meditate Their Way
Do my children sit down on a pillow with their eyes closed and connect with their inner wisdom every day? I would love them to, but they don’t. Have I taught them how to take a pause to check in before speaking or making a big decision? Absolutely! And this is meditation.
Change the Environment
Taking time to remove yourself either physically or energetically from a stimulating environment, getting quiet enough to be able to focus on your inhales and exhales, and tuning into your inner voice to look for an answer—that’s meditation. I teach my children to do that. A child’s meditation may only look like a few seconds of quiet before a big outburst of ideas or feelings, but that’s OK. It may look like giant audible breaths, or counting, or feet stomping—that’s cool, too!
Meditating with my daughter’s Daisy Scout troop after yoga
Even Little Kids Can Meditate
With little kids, I make meditation an engaging game of visualization and movement. I offer visualizations that might take them through something like each step of eating their favorite flavor of ice cream cone or running through a forest and exploring all the interesting and colorful plants and creatures. I guide them to make their bellies “really big like balloons” when they inhale and to make “giant ahhhhhs” with their exhales. Children not only love participating, but they stay focused while doing so.
Make Meditation Fun
Meditation with children should be approached with lightness, whimsy, and a practice of allowing. Instead of rigid structure, offer playfulness and flexibility. Instead of adhering to tradition, think outside of the box. These techniques will make meditating with your child, or even a group of children, a delight.
Rebekah “Bex” Borucki, founder of BexLife.com and the Blissed In® wellness movement, is a mother-of-five, TV host, meditation and yoga guide, author, speaker, birth doula, and life transformation and resilience coach. Her first book, You Have 4 Minutes to Change Your Life (Hay House 2017), is available now, wherever books are sold.
DISCLAIMER: This post/video is designed for educational and/or informational purposes only and should not be used in any other manner. This information is not intended to substitute informed medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider. A consultation with your health care professional is the proper method to address your health concerns. You are encouraged to consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.