If bringing more peace and calm to your entire family is on your 2021 to-do list, here is a bit about our family meditation experience and my recommendation for a good meditation for kids!
How our meditation for kids came to be
Shortly after we finished our basement fitness room, we all piled in there one evening after the boys were squeaky clean from their bath.
“Let’s do some family yoga!” I said.
I quickly searched YouTube for kids yoga and the first thing that came up was this guided treehouse meditation. So instead of yoga, I thought it would be fun to do a meditation for kids that guided their minds. I pushed play and waited to see what would happen as a woman with a calming voice began to walk us into the coolest treehouse ever.
At age 8 Mazen knew what to do
Mazen, clearly having done some guided meditation for kids in school (YAY SCHOOLS!) knew just what to do. Much to my surprise, he laid down and closed his eyes.
But what about the toddler?
I thought there was no way Birch, age 2, would settle into quiet. He ran a few loops around the room trying to get our attention. However, once he saw Mazen and me relaxing with our eyes closed, Thomas encouraged him to come to “his mat” and lie down. Soon after he was resting and listening with the rest of us – for the whole 16 minute track!
It was quite magical!
Even Gus was an enthusiastic participant!
We have since done a family meditation about once a week
I’m trying to find the balance between making it special and making it routine.
The Benefits of Meditation are endless
Meditation can help with so many different mental challenges.
Even though I’m 38 years young, I really enjoyed the treehouse track myself! It was wonderful to relax into childhood play in my mind. The hostess said things like “You are safe. You are loved.” It was great!
I am definitely someone who is challenged with a racing mind, and I did some meditating in college while studying Buddhism. While a completely empty mind held in silence might be the truest form of emptiness, I much prefer a guided meditation. (Probably because it’s a bit easier.) I also prefer to lie down – sitting cross-legged is hard on the back!
I have since done a handful of the Peloton meditations at the end of my workouts. They are usually only 5-10 minutes long, but they’re a great way to make myself pause with some peace and gratitude before hitting the shower.
More Calming Ideas:
- Yoga Club on YouTube for when you do want the kids to do yoga!
- Sleep Stories for Kids
- Wake Me Up podcast (by my childhood friend Tyler Brown!)
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
I need to learn from the kids! I’ve been meaning to take up meditation for years now!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
K~ says
I started meditating daily for 20 min a year and 1/2 ago. The benefits are amazing. Kudos to you for getting everyone involved. Great post. Thanks Kath.
K~
Katie says
I love doing the peloton meditations before bed too!
Kori Daniel says
I love this! I’ve been watching Headspace: A Guide to Meditation on Netflix, & it’s amazing. But I can, unfortunately, turn even enjoyable things into a checklist task. So as you said, I want it to be a practice but routine. That makes sense to me.
Amanda Filler says
This is awesome! Loved that your whole family could do it together. Praying the breathing and focusing of mind to be so healing and transformative for years to come!
I remember when my kiddo was about two I needed to help calm him from a fight or flight response and I put my hand on his chest and said let’s breathe deep together. Like you described it felt magical but also I saw the amazing power of breathe and connection. I prayed and was so thankful!
Shannon says
This is awesome!! I’ve meditated myself for many years. Charlottesville had so many events and places to do so while I lived there. Since moving to the Hampton Roads area over a year ago I haven’t found many options (plus Covid) I’ll try with my 7 year old and see how it goes. 🙂 Thanks Kath!
Louise RD says
Good group activity! I’ve been doing TM (Transcendental Meditation) for years. Should be required learning in all schools….. esp these days!
Erin says
My 4 year old daughter and I do cosmic kids yoga on YouTube at least once a week, she loves it and it’s fun! I have been meaning to do a meditation with her at bedtime so I’ll check that one out, thanks!
Alexandria says
I have 4 & 7 year old boys who LOVE Cosmic Kids Yoga. They have brain breaks (kinda like Go Noodle, which have been great since we are homeschooling this year), meditations, bedtime relaxation routines, and just crazy fast/fun yoga series too. Your boys might like it – there are a ton of themes and some are geared toward the little guys. We have the subscription but there are a bunch of free ones on You Tube too! Such a great practice to adapt this year 🙂
Danielle says
My 4 and 6 year old are big fans of the ‘’Story Time’ podcast. They come in a variety of lengths (6 to 20+ minutes), the storytellers have the best accents (mostly Australian) and they’re entertaining and soothing. We often save them for bedtimes on vacations as a special treat!
Caitlin says
Love this so much. Yay Mazen’s teachers for using mindfulness! I second the vote for Cosmis Kids Yoga – very high quality. Spotify also has a lot of guided meditations (especially for adults). There is an easy read called The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh that beautifully explains meditation and, for me, helped make it more achievable in my every-day life.