The Benefits of Meditation in Young Children
Over the past few years the benefits of meditation have become mainstream knowledge, however, most of us know the technique has been widely used for thousands of years in various cultures. Studies around the affects of meditation on young children are increasing and we are seeing mindfulness and meditation being implemented in schools all over the world.
An article in Forbes writes about a school in Baltimore, US using meditation instead of detention; teaching children the tools of breath-work and being present in the moment to manage behaviour. Some believe that infusing meditation into the school day outside of mdetention "may help kids avoid the things that land them in detention in the first place"* - at Lotus Wisdom, we whole heartedly agree.
The New York Times online has an entire section titled Mindfulness for Children. One article states that "Children are uniquely suited to benefit from mindfulness practice. Habits formed early in life will inform behaviours in adulthood, and with mindfulness, we have the opportunity to give our children the habit of being peaceful, kind and accepting."**
Melbourne Child Psychology says that "meditation and mindfulness are psychological processes and science has discovered many practical benefits to their practice". They recommend that children learn the basics of meditation through short, guided meditations so that they can "learn how to create their own calm, clarity and focus at times when they really need it".***
It is our thoughts that create our future, teaching our kids self-love and to know their truth is so crucial. Thank you for being a part of this movement toward mindfulness, at every age.
**https://www.nytimes.com/guides/well/mindfulness-for-children
