Mindfulness is the nonjudgmental awareness of experiences in the present moment, or being aware of thoughts, feelings, and sensations without necessarily judging them as good or bad. Mindful meditation is an increasingly popular practice of being mindful while meditating or focusing one’s mind for a period of time.
Along with increasing popularity of the practice has come increased research about and efforts to include mindful meditation as a component of a healthy lifestyle for people of all ages, including young children.
Teaching children mindful meditation may create a great habit; evidence even suggests that regular mindful meditation can lead to several mental health benefits including:
- Attention regulation: increased attention span and ability to focus & sustain attention
- Emotional regulation: increased self-control, empathy, ability to manage stress, and ability regulate & control emotions
- Academic performance: increased attentiveness in class, respect for fellow classmates, decreased test anxiety, and improved memory
Recently, some schools have begun to experiment with incorporating meditation into curricula as a class or a replacement for detention.
Check out these step-by-step practices or these smartphone apps to try meditating with your child! If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s mental or physical health, be sure to ask your primary care physician!
Read more about introducing mindful meditation to young children or the science behind mindful meditation.