Mindfulness meditation helps children strengthen innate abilities while exploring problem solving, focus, centering and using the power of awareness to direct their bodies and lives.

Mindfulness facilitation with children is continually being studied and has been found to help reduce anxiety (life and school related) and pain while improving reading achievement and internal motivation. Various forms of relaxation techniques are currently being used in schools to successfully reduce stress and increase the ability to deal with challenges. Research continually demonstrates that both parents and children benefit from meditation and it can help reduce stress in parents of children with special needs.

Share Meditation with Children

Meditation can be shared with children even when they’re in the womb. The following simple exercises, books and links can help you incorporate meditation into your life with children of any age. Some include Amazon affiliate links.

Pregnancy, Birth, Babies 

• During pregnancy and birth our babies feel everything we feel. Instead of this feeling daunting, we can invite ourselves to gently fold in meditation and awareness (also called mindfulness) to reduce and address stress, connect more deeply with our babies and feel what we feel fully and safely. After baby is born we can meditate while nursing, holding baby, resting near baby or while thinking about baby if we are separated. The compassionate awareness we cultivate through meditation is felt by baby and can help us weather the inevitable challenges of parenting as well.
• Present Moment Awareness for Adults and Kids
• Simple Meditation
• Waking Up with Meditation
• SAFE – An Invitation to Feel What You Feel Fully and Safely
• Benefits of Meditation During Stressful Times Part 1 and Part 2

Children

• Children are feeling beings (and so are we, although sometimes we can become a bit detached from our feelings at times – which is one reason to become aware of our feelings in the body so we can process them effectively). While some children may be interested in elaborate meditations which can last for a few minutes, others may only be interested in a few breaths worth of attention to their bodies. Start where you are and invite your child to simply lay down, place a hand on their belly and notice what it feels like inside as they breathe. Once your child feels comfortable and interested in this, invite him or her to explore different sensations of the body from the inside – touch, taste, smell, hearing – even seeing. What does that feel like? Slow down yourself many times through out the day to invite your child to notice what is going on in the moment. These small breaks can create the habit of meditative awareness, along with specific times for resting and sitting down for other types of meditation.
• Mindful Bodies (mp3)
• Mindful Listening (mp3)
• Mindful Breathing (mp3)
• Healthy Habits of Mind
• Sarah Wood Meditations for Children
• Sarah Wood Videos about Meditation with Children
• Sarah Wood Articles about Meditation with Children
• Sarah Wood – How Meditation Helps Children with Special Needs
• Sensational Meditation for Children: Mindfulness, Guided Imagery and Other Child-Friendly Meditation Techniques (2nd edition)
• Mindful Schools Mindfulness Exercises
• Mindful Schools Mindfulness Resources
• Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children
• Calm Kids: Help Children Relax with Mindful Activities
• Moonbeam: A Book of Meditations for Children
• Starbright: Meditations for Children
• Earthlight: New Meditations For Children
  
• Mindfulness for Children (Help with Fear/Anxiety)
• Bedtime Mindfulness: A Gratitude Body Scan for Children

Teens

• Being present with teens, through whole body listening and genuine interest in what they are sharing, can help them feel our loving presence and possibly be open to the suggestion of incorporating meditation into their lives. Any meditation suitable for an adult (or a child) can be shared with a teen. If your teen isn’t interested, start with the simple exercises mentioned above for younger ones or ask them to consider these reasons not to meditate.
• Mindful Warriors: Meditations for Teenagers
• Teens Health: Yoga Meditation and Breathing
• Video: Breath Work and Yoga for Teens
• Mindfulness Improves Attitude of Teenage Boys
• Teaching Children Meditation: Meditation and Mindfulness for Teens
• Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life for Teens: A Guide to Living an Extraordinary Life
• Mindfulness Meditations for Teens
• Teen Meditation Works!
• Stressed Teens

If you have additional resources, please contact me and I’ll add them.

Private Sessions and Classes

Meditation for children offers kids, parents, teachers, and caregivers a series of opportunities to experience the benefits of centering and awareness with kids at home, in class, and through out life.

As a mom of five and trained mindfulness meditation facilitator, I blend experience and knowledge to help incorporate meditation into your life to benefit you and the children you are entrusted.

Connect with me to learn techniques to help with focus, relaxation, achievement, confidence, working through emotions, problem solving, reduction of anxiety and healing. We can schedule private sessions by phone or video and live classes in Central Michigan for you and the child(ren) in your life. If you’re interested in online classes, learn more about Clear Kids – Mindfulness Course for Children.