Mindfulness Meditation For Kids – How Young Is Too Young?

Mindfulness meditation for kids at each developmental stage can be useful for decreasing anxiety and promoting happiness in school and at home.  

Mindfulness meditation for kids and mindfulness, in general, is a simple meditation technique that emphasizes paying attention to the present moment in an accepting, nonjudgmental manner — has emerged as a popular mainstream practice in recent decades.

It is being taught to executives at corporations, athletes in the locker room, and increasingly, to children both at home and in school. Meditation has been linked to multiple physical and mental health advantages. 

Lower stress, better longevity, lower health care costs, better emotional control, and improved physical performance have all been scientifically proven as benefits of meditation and mindfulness. With such significant rewards, you may be thinking about getting your child involved with a regular meditation practice. 

Part of the reason why mindfulness meditation for kids is so effective can be explained by the way the brain develops.

While our brains are constantly developing throughout our lives, connections in the prefrontal circuits are created at their fastest rate during childhood.

Mindfulness, which promotes skills that are controlled in the prefrontal cortex, like focus and cognitive control, can, therefore, have a particular impact on the development of skills including self-regulation, judgment, and patience during childhood.

Meditation has been proven beneficial for adults, senior citizens, and the elderly. It can improve the lives of men and women, so it is logical for parents, grandparents, and others who care about children to wonder, "How young is too young to introduce a child to meditation?"

If you are asking this question about mindfulness meditation for kids, you are far from alone.

Browse the Internet and you see more than a few questions like the following: "Is my 9-year-old daughter too young to learn meditation?" "My son just turned 6. Is that too young for meditation?" "I have heard about meditation for toddlers. How does that work?"

Meditation might not be the first thought that enters your mind when you think of energetic, active preschoolers and toddlers.

Many think that because these young children do not have fully formed brains, not only are they incapable of meditating properly, but the practice is a waste of time.

Science tells us differently in many studies around the world and in all cultures. Multiple studies show "immediate behavioral changes in children" once they begin meditating.

The National Therapies Research Unit at the Royal Hospital for Women in Australia performed a study on 26 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) between 2003 and 2012. The children were between the ages of 4 and 12.

Regular practice of Sahaja Yoga Meditation took place for 6 weeks. Here are just a few results of that meditation practice:

• A reduction in medication use by 50% of the child test subjects

• Better parent-child relationships

• Enhanced feelings of self-esteem and self-worth

• A reduction in hyperactivity, and a simultaneous improvement in attention

• Less impulsive activity.

Thank you for being a part of the Meditation Life Skills Podcast.

MeditationLifeSkillsPodcast.com strives to present meditation concepts that connect east and west, tradition and science in a non-sectarian way, from multiple traditions, without promoting any particular technique or method.

One important principle I try to accomplish is to take complex ideas about meditation and the not-so-well understood meditation principles and help you understand how they can fit into your life.

To your success in meditation!

Don Weyant/Founder

MeditationLifeSkills.com

MeditationLifeSkillsPodcast.com

NOTE: Listen to these meditation episodes as much as you want in a comfortable position, whether sitting or lying down. For best results, we strongly suggest listening with headphones.

***This work is not meant to replace medical or counseling guidance from a qualified practitioner. Please get professional care if you suffer from a physical or mental disease.