Benefits and Guidelines for Doing Meditation for Children

Meditation is something both adults and children can do. However, some parents think that children don't need meditation. There are many benefits of meditation, even for children.

Meditation itself is a relaxation practise that involves releasing the mind from all the things that are interesting, burdensome, or anxious in everyday life. This activity can relieve us of the suffering of good and bad thoughts, directly related to attachment to thoughts and valuing things.

A study at the University of Florida found that stressful events can impact a child's health and well-being and contribute to developing physical and mental health problems and learning disabilities.

Doing meditation regularly for children can make them more relaxed, calm, and teach about the connection between their minds and bodies.

One study said that children who practised meditation for four months had improved academic performance, showed positive social behaviour, were more optimistic, less stressed, and more aggressive than children who did not meditate.

Therefore, it is essential to teach meditation to children. By doing meditation for children, future generations will be better, more successful and enable positive self-transformation.

How to do children's meditation

Meditation for children is not much different from meditation practised by adults. The only difference is modifying the time, attention span, and stress level shown by a particular child. Also, children's meditation requires adult guidance.

The following is the recommended duration for children's meditation:

• Preschoolers: a few minutes per day.
• School children: 3-10 minutes twice a day.
• Youth and adults: 5-45 minutes per day or based on a supervisor's recommendation.

Some techniques and ways to do meditation for children.

• Breathe

The child sits or lies on the mat. Clear your mind and breathe slowly and deeply. Give an example before doing it together. Its purpose is to increase alertness.

•  Listen

Play soothing music, such as the sound of a stream or waterfall, the sound of crickets, or birds singing. Stay in a sitting or lying position. This will encourage the child to be calm and focused.

•  Expression

 Invite children to colour or draw on a piece of paper. The purpose of this activity is for children to express their emotions freely.

•  Move

 Raise your hands forward, up and down slowly but steadily. Encourage the child to feel the air pushed when moving the hand. This exercise aims to calm the mind and improve concentration.

•  Walk

Walk slowly barefoot in a quiet or designated place for meditation. Encourage children to feel the ground they are stepping on.

And focus your mind on the feelings that arise from walking, such as how the body moves, the air that is felt when moving. Concentrate on what is being done at the moment and enjoy.

This exercise requires concentration and patience, so it is more suitable for teenagers to do, but it is not impossible for children to do it.

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