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Ever heard of Meditation for Kids? Yes, you read that right, kids can meditate too!
Childhood and adolescent years are fundamental in our development as human beings. You wouldn’t agree more but, it’s when our personalities are formed, our views of the world develop, and our ways of relating to others and ourselves established.
The skills and tools and we learn in the early years have a huge impact on the rest of our lives - that is why meditation is such an exceptional gift to give to a child. Meditating children will have a profound advantage over other kids.
Science of Meditation for Kids
Mental health issues in kids such as anxiety and depression are increasing in kids. Meditation for children can give them the tools to deal with their emotional challenges, and grow into healthy and mature individuals. Integrating meditation and mindfulness in education is slowly gaining popularity. While in some schools meditation has been serving as an addition or replacement program. Studies have shown that meditation can bring many positive results in a child. From better behavior to less ADHD or being more focused and settled, from better performance in schools to less stress and depression and improved psychological well-being, meditation for children only gets better.
Meditation was also found to improve the kids’ relationship with their parents, improve empathy and social skills, build self-esteem, decrease test anxiety, reduce post-traumatic symptoms.
Types of Meditation for Kids and their Benefits
With meditation, children learn how to better manage their bodies, their emotions, and their energy. There is an increased emotional intelligence, positive outlook of life, and the ability to regulate oneself.
Read on to find out which all meditation are good for kids
Meditation involving sound and hearing
The universal mantra ‘Om’ has a deeply calming effect on the mind, especially due to its prolonged sound. It can even put the child to sleep. Although the mantra meditation needs to be done following certain steps with kids, this mantra can be kept to just the vocal repetition of the mantra.
Mantra meditation technique has a deeply calming effect on the body, mind, and emotions. It integrates hearing, speaking, breathing, and provides a sense of contentment. If done in a group, it can create a stronger connection between the kids chanting together.
Meditation involving sights
This is a great practice for developing focus, self-confidence, and the ability to visualize.
Meditation involving Breath
Practicing this technique increases awareness of the body, concentration, and relaxation.
Meditation involving Body
This technique will take the kids from very energetic to zen.
Meditation involving Mind
This practice builds the ability to regulate one’s thoughts and feelings and develops greater awareness.
Meditation involving Heart
Its benefits include enhanced focus, helps kids develop better organizational skills, they learn to be more present at the moment. Also, it makes them feel better, learn better, and sleep better.
Few tips to practice meditation for kids:
As we all are aware kids’ minds are always wandering and curious, and as a result, in order to make kids learn meditation effectively, these following principles should be kept in mind as a prerequisite.
One thing is for sure, transforming our young children is a good place to start to create a better society - one that is more peaceful, prosperous, and fair. For this goal, meditation certainly serves an important purpose, giving the young a powerful way to manage themselves and grow into more kind, more able, and more mature individuals. Many methods can be adapted for children and teenagers. Each kid will have different techniques that they will benefit from the most, so it’s important to allow them to be exposed to different meditation practices. The child will harbor these skills and aspects learned through meditation as he grows from teenage to adulthood.