We see sensory overload every day in our young adults. From bouncing around from classroom to classroom and topic to topic in school, to homework, television, video gaming, and extra curricular activities, not to mention some form of online or instant communication via texting and instant messaging, today’s youth as a lot on their plate. It can be difficult for kids to know how and when to just take a step back, breathe in and just release all the tensions of the day. That is where meditation for kids and mindfulness exercises can be detrimental to their well being. Meditation benefits can be great, assuming the child or young adult is a willing participant. While adult meditation is all about turning the senses inward, the first step in meditation for kids is to explore the senses before they can be turned inside. The following mindfulness exercises can help create a calm, focuses self awareness.
A great way to have kids become aware of their surroundings without sensory overload is to have them close their eyes and listen to the sounds around them.
Have kids sit up tall and practice singing lightly in whispers and quietly in our minds. This is a self soothing meditation for kids practice that can be done discretely anywhere kids need to calm down. We are always breathing, or else we wouldn’t be living!
While sitting quietly with their eyes closed or opened, have the child pay attention to their inhaling and exhaling.
Having them run through these mindfulness exercises a few times can help them understand that meditation benefits everyone and that it’s okay to take a time out.