Teach kids mindfulness
Meditation, yoga, and other mindfulness practices are slowly starting to pop up in schools due to its many benefits for kids.
Studies have shown that teaching kids mindfulness practices can build students’ attentiveness, respect for fellow classmates, self control, and empathy, all while reducing stress, hyperactive behavior, ADHD symptoms, and depression. In addition, grades are shown to improve for students who participate in mindfulness programs.
But you don’t have to wait for your kid’s school to start implementing a mindfulness program, you can teach them at home.
Here is popular guided meditation that seems to work well for children: the balloon. Kids can do this standing or seated.
1. Put your hands on your belly.
2. Start to take a slow, deep breath to fill your belly up with air, as if you’re trying to blow up a big balloon. Make your belly as big as you can with air.
3. Slowly let the air out of the balloon (through the nose) as you release the air from the belly.
4. Feel your body relax each time you exhale, each time air is slowly being released from the balloon. You can even make a “hissing” noise to encourage slowing down and exhaling even more, “Like letting air out of the balloon.”
4. Continue for several minutes.
5. Practice once a day at a regular time (like before bed), and during times of stress.