Wellness for Children - The Benefits of Relaxation, Self-Care and Meditation for Children

Meditation in nature

In education currently there is an increasing pressure on children to do well in a certain way. The confines can be very specific to certain learners. Kids need to sit still and be able to focus, they need to be able to deal with constant stimulation and with a lot of test taking and evaluation. This can be very problematic for many children and can lead to them feeling stressed out or anxious. It can also become very hard for them to relax. This can mean constant excess energy –eg ‘bouncing off the walls’, ‘meltdowns’ or the inability to fall asleep.

Contemporary children can also face over scheduling, especially in NYC. As parents we can get tangled up in wanting ‘the best’ for our child. We want to take advantage of the endless opportunities which can mean signing them up for multiple classes with little or no down time.

Down time is so important for all of us but especially the developing mind of a child. Giving the mind a break from constant stimulation allows us to have time for to take in new things, to have new thoughts. Time without goals, without plans, time just to be can be incredibly fulfilling for children and can offer room for great creativity. Boredom should not be dreaded but rather seen as an opportunity for your child to sit with themselves,get to know themselves, discover that internal voice, discover what they enjoy doing with their time, it allows them follow their instincts. Lying on a blanket looking at the clouds is not a waste of time instead it’s a time of wonder, exploration and imagination development.

Meditation can be wonderful thing for children. It is a way of giving their busy brains a break. There are thousands of studies showing the positive impact of meditation and mindfulness on our health and well-being and we must remember that children can benefit just as much as adults.  Meditation allows children to refresh their ability to concentrate, helps alleviate stress and anxiety and helps kids develop self-awareness, manage emotions and self-regulate.  It helps children find an inner stability and security.

I work with children both in schools and privately and I have seen first hand just how much Meditation can help them. Despite what we may think about children’s abundant energy –a meditative state is quite a natural for children. They are enriched by learning about the connection between mind and body, focusing the mind, relaxing the body and not being overwhelmed by emotions. 
How can you get your child to meditate or relax? Children learn by what they see. If you are stressed out, always on your phone, not making time to self-care, relaxation and meditate then they will not place the importance on it that should be.

I have meditated throughout my children’s childhood (they are now 10 & 13) and they often just come and sit beside me (when they were younger in my lap) when I meditate in the mornings or just enjoy that quiet time. From a very young age they knew that it was an important time and they adjusted their energy naturally.  

In the evening in the build up to bedtime can be a wonderful time to practice relaxation with children. Reading together, some restorative yoga, breath work or a guided meditation. *I’m working on some projects at the moment to help with this!