SLOW DOWN – MEDITATING WITH KIDS

Meditating With Kids – 5 Ways To Help Them Learn To Manage Anxiety

Meditating with kids can be a great tool for practising emotional self-regulation and facing rising anxiety. Little people can easily be overwhelmed by big feelings, but there are a lot of ways to teach them to keep their cool when it all feels too much. Here are some ideas to teach valuable coping mechanisms that will serve them now and for the rest of their lives.  These simple skills may be some of the most important in their young lives and parents can learn right along with them.

Calm Down Jar

When kids start feeling overwhelmed, a calm down jar of liquid and glitter can help them settle down. They can shake it up and watch the glitter settle to the bottom of the jar. They can be mindful in the moment by counting out loud how long it takes. They can observe how quickly or slowly the glitter falls, and focus their thoughts on the path of the glitter instead of the overwhelming feels.

There’s an App for that

There many of mobile phone apps that can help with mindfulness and meditation.  One of our favourites is The Bodhi Tree & Stacey. Through stories written and narrated by Stacey coupled with the guided meditation, children are encouraged to use their imagination to discover their own inner calm and tranquility. Incorporated into each story is the concept of metta, a loving kindness practice used to evoke a boundless warm-hearted feeling towards themselves, their loved ones and each of the creatures they meet.  For Children over 10, the Calm app has guided meditations that can help your child meditate and focus their attention away from stressors. Put some headphones on to block out distractions and dim the lights. Have your child lay on a yoga mat on the floor and just chill out.

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

On the west coast, there’s rarely a shortage of rain. On a rainy day, plant your small child in front of a window and have them watch the drops slide down the window pane. Encourage them to notice how quickly or slowly the water moves. Direct their attention to the sound of the rain falling; have them listen for variations to the speed and intensity. If there’s thunder, have them count between the rumble and the flash of lightning. Bring nature into their awareness by focussing on the weather and delaying impulsive behaviour.

Head and Shoulders Knees And Toes

Have your child lay down and focus on each part of their body, one at a time. Have them notice their toes, scrunching them and relaxing them. Have them imagine their feet are falling asleep. Repeat this sequence through their whole body from their toes to their heads. Bring their awareness into their body and away from the feelings that are overwhelming them.

Blow it up

Grab a bottle of bubble solution and dip a wand in the liquid. Have your child blow a bubble with the wand. Ask them to notice the colour of the bubbles when the light hits them. Get them to notice the shape of the bubbles, how quickly they drift towards the ground and if they pop before or after they hit the ground. Next, take a balloon and have them blow their big feelings into the balloon. Have them notice the way the air fills their lungs and how big the balloon gets. Get them to visualize the big feelings leaving their body and entering the balloon. Release the big feelings from the balloon into the air or tie a knot in it to keep them safely contained until they can be addressed later when things are calmer.

Meditating with kids can be such a helpful tool to get big feelings under control. Whether you’re big or little, being mindful and meditating can bring you more into the present and your surroundings. It is so easy to become distracted in a fast-paced world, but meditation brings you and your child into the now. Now go get your zen on!