Three Meditation Tips for Kids

While we are familiar with the many benefits of meditation for adults, many people are unaware of how helpful meditation can be for children as well. School isn't the only responsibility children have these days. Unfortunately, they are experiencing everything from various types of abuse, ADHD, autism, depression, diabetes, and a host of other issues.

We have to look out for our children. As a Holistic Health Practitioner and Reiki Master Teacher, I understand the importance of bringing balance and harmony to one's life as an adult, but even now more than ever, I am starting to see that children could and should greatly benefit from learning how to bring balance and harmony into their lives as well.

How grand would life be if children were able to focus better in class, feel a sense of calm and peace in their own environment, and were able to sleep a lot better at night? Now more than ever children need a way to center and ground themselves, so they can focus and concentrate, learn discipline in a gentle way, speak with more peacefully to one another and adults, and create a positive energy in their own little worlds.

As adults, we tend forget how impressionable and sensitive children can be, so we place upon their little shoulders all these adult issues that have no place in their minds, bodies, and spirits. As a possible solution, meditation could benefit children just as greatly as it benefits adults.

The first tip is to help the child sleep by playing some calming meditation music while they are sleeping at night in his or her room. This creates a nice sleeping environment that could possibly create better dreams and help them feel more refreshed and rejuvenated upon waking the next morning.

Children deserve a good night's sleep. Quite often, in situations where there is abuse or other disturbances, children do not sleep well, which could in turn effect their progress in school and extracurricular activities that require their undivided attention and concentration.

The second tip is to take a few minutes each morning with the child and sit quietly before turning on the television or radio. Teach the child to just be silent for a few minutes at the start of each day focusing on their breathing. It's a wonderful practice for both the children and their parents or guardians. Sit in a comfortable position - on a chair or on the floor in a cross-legged pose. Take a few slow breaths - in through the nose and out through the mouth. From that point, you and the child could sit in silence for a few minutes. Afterwards, the regular routine of the morning can begin.

Let the child know that at any time life is becoming overwhelming, they can come back to this quiet place within themselves for a few minutes. In the quiet place, they can pray, sing, or just be silent away from all the chaos.

The third tip is to do a more interactive, fun meditation activity with the child or a group of children called the Magic Circle of Blessings. Have everyone sit in a circle on the floor with no shoes on and in comfortable clothing. Everyone should start out in a few minutes of silence as described in the second tip for a few minutes. Then, an adult can announce that the Magic Circle of Blessings is now activated. Upon hearing this announcement, everyone can begin yelling out all the things that are bothering them into the circle to be taken away by the angels and fairies or whatever celestial fun beings you can think of for the children's enjoyment. Please do not judge the children or criticize what they say as this should be a safe place for them to express themselves without fear.

After everyone has had a turn to yell into the magic circle what is bothering them, then it is time to yell out the blessings you'd like to experience in life into the magic circle. Let the children know that every blessing they yell out is being heard and answered in some way by the angels and fairies or other celestial beings. Once all of this is done, everyone can go back into a few minutes of silence and gratitude and know that any time they need to release old hurts and create new blessings, everyone can come back to this magic circle of blessings.

I hope you find these meditation tips helpful for you and your children to create a more healthy environment for everyone.