How to teach meditation to children

Benefits of Teaching Meditation to Children

First, it’s important for parents to believe in the value of their children practicing meditation. To help achieve this goal, here are the benefits of meditation for children:

• Improves symptoms of autism: An Australian study conducted by the National Therapies Research Unit at the Royal Hospital for Women found that autism symptoms decreased in children who practiced meditation compared to those who didn’t.
• Enhances children’s concentration
• Strengthens the relationship between children and parents
• Boosts self-confidence
• Helps them adopt a healthy lifestyle as they grow older
• Teaches them how to communicate with others
• Increases their sense of peace and tranquility
• Helps them get better sleep
• Positively impacts their overall physical health
• Children who meditate tend to be kinder and more loving toward others

Ways to Teach Meditation to Children

Teaching meditation to children can be more challenging than teaching it to adults, but the following methods can help make the process easier:

1- Be a Role Model

If you want to teach your children to meditate, it’s important to practice meditation yourself so you can be their example and role model.

When children see their parents meditating, they will become curious and may try to imitate them. This encourages them to ask questions, giving parents the opportunity to spark their child’s interest in learning meditation.

2- Explain in Simple Words

The topic of meditation and its effects on the mind and brain can be difficult for children to grasp, but here’s a method that may help:

You and your child can get a jar and have your child fill it with sand. Then, ask them to add water and close the jar tightly.

Shake the jar to mix the sand and water, then explain that the grains of sand represent our thoughts throughout the day — happy thoughts, sad thoughts, anger, and so on.

Now, place the jar on a table and let your child observe how the sand starts to settle at the bottom. Explain that meditation helps us manage our thoughts in the same way.

3- Make It Special

Teaching meditation to children can be challenging, but setting aside a specific spot at home and a set time for it can help you both succeed.

Place a meditation cushion in that area — one for your child and one for you — in their favorite colors, and let them bring some of their favorite items, like a family photo or their favorite stuffed animal.

Choose a specific time of day, then tell your child you will meditate together for only five minutes. Let a timer notify you when the session is over.

Note: You can use apps that help teach meditation to children, such as the Tawazon app — give it a try.

4- Do the Movements First

Sit on the cushion and ask your child to do the same. Close your eyes and ask them to do so as well.

Talk about the importance of proper breathing — inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth — and ask your child to count their breaths.

5- Always Encourage the Child

At first, it may be hard for your child to keep their eyes closed for long, and that’s perfectly normal. Over time and with repetition, it becomes easier.