If you had been able to use the power of mindfulness since you were a kid, how would the world look right now?

Even Children can get overly stressed from the demands that school and society has for them. If you are a parent, and you see your kid having self esteem issues, you can try teaching him or her the beauty of a calming mindfulness practice.

Starting Out

Teaching Meditation to kids is much easier than what you would believe. A young mind is like a sponge: it is able to absorb new information at an amazing rate. A child’s mind has no bias, no mental barriers, and has no beliefs that will make it afraid it will not succeed in achieving mindfulness.

Teaching meditation to beginners might be tough, but with children the experience can be so much wonderfully enjoyable!

Learn by Observing

Children will approach meditation from a completely different angle. They will learn by soaking in what you are doing, so you need to make this enjoyable and beautiful for them. Teach them how amazing silence can be by creating a space in your home only for this special moment. Lead them within this beautiful place, and make them understand that they are safe: add large pillows or a duvet where they can sit down comfortably.

Having Fun

You don’t have to start out straight away saying that they need to just close their eyes and concentrate, or they are probably going to loathe the experience. Start by playing a quiet game with them: bring out their favorite plush, and calm them down. Take your time, and when you feel that they are tranquil, tell them to sit down with their legs crossed. Tell them to close their eyes, and do the same with them: this is a game that only the two of you are doing together.

via GIPHY

Start by asking them to think about something they like a lot, and focus on that. It can be ice-cream, their best friend, or your pet. How does it make them feel? Good, loved, happy? Now ask them to take that feeling, and to make it grow big within them. Tell them to think about a balloon that they are filling up with air, only that instead of air they are filling it with happiness. Next time they are feeling sad, they can close their eyes and imagine doing the same. Doing this will send all the sadness away! Once you are done, hug them tight to make them feel that you love them and that they are safe.

The Benefits of Children’s Meditation

By teaching meditation and mindfulness practice to children since they are very young, you are increasing their compassion, their empathy and their understanding of awareness. Research has shown that mindfulness helps people act more virtuously, helping others who are suffering. In children, it can also increase their attention span, letting them focus for longer.