3 Easy Kids Meditation Techniques with Videos
Kids Meditation Techniques with Videos
Easy Meditation Videos
The popular article How to Raise Enlightened Children kicked off our kids yoga and meditation section, developing which is a key goal of Mastery of Meditation & Yoga. Towards that end I want to provide you some easy meditation techniques for kids and also some sample videos, which I hope will inspire and encourage your children to dive in and reap the enormous benefits of meditation practice.
I will extensively cover guidelines for kids yoga and meditation in another article, once I start to provide kids yoga poses and exercises, but in general I have found the following 3 rules to work best when introducing your children to these wonderful spiritual practices. Keep it fun, keep it simple and keep it open. The more they enjoy the practice the more they will embrace it.
Easy Meditation Techniques Good for Adults Too:
The following 3 meditation techniques are not just good for kids, believe me they are good for adults as well :-D. Don’t be mislead by the fact that they are “easy”, they are still top notch techniques capable of rewarding you with all the benefits that meditation bestows. The chief difference between a kid practicing these techniques and an adult, is generally the duration of the practice. A child may just do 15 seconds to a few minutes, while an adult may practice these techniques for up to an hour or more.
Benefits of Meditation for Kids:
- Helps kids build concentration and mental focus.
- Helps develop creativity and power of imagination.
- Helps children develop inner silence and calmness.
- Effective for developing Brain Health and Mental Sharpness.
- Builds self-confidence and self-awareness.
- Excellent for overall health and well-being.
- Helps develop emotional balance and removes negative emotions.
- Helps reduce stress.
3 Easy Kids Meditation Techniques:
I have found my son Shivum (four and a half now) naturally drawn to the following 3 types of simple meditation and I feel these 3 techniques are a good way to get kids introduced to meditation practice. Below are the details of these 3 easy meditation techniques as well as video samples of Shivum demonstrating each one for you and your children.
The biggest reason for having Shivum do these meditation videos is because I have noticed time and again, that one of the best ways to inspire kids to try something is to show them other children who are doing it. Children can start with as little as 15 seconds of meditation and build up from there to 5 minutes or more.
Best Way to Inspire & Teach Children to Meditate:
The number one way, I feel to inspire children to practice yoga and meditation is though example. If you have a strong practice, your children will likely be keen on exploring what mommy and daddy are doing. If you are new to yoga and meditation and would like to get started. I suggest the following 2 free online courses for you…
- Learn How to Meditate | Beginner’s Meditation Class (100)
- Introduction to Kundalini Yoga & Meditation Class (101)
Easy Kids Meditation Technique #1: OM Mantra Chanting
I have covered the “adult” version of this timeless meditation in the article, AUM Mantra Meditation to Open the Third Eye Chakra, but this meditation is definitely a favorite for children as well. I often hear this chant reverberating in the house as both Shivum and now his little 2 year old brother, Taran, often seem to add it to their play spontaneously.
Keep the instructions easy for kids to understand. Simply ask them to do the following…
- Sit up straight
- Place your hands in Gyan Mudra (thumb tip and index finger meeting with wrists resting on the knees) or have your hands folded in prayer pose.
- Close your eyes.
- Take a deep breath and chant the sound AUM out loud for as long as you can. Then take a deep breath again and repeat the chant.
Video of Kids Meditation Technique #1 – AUM Mantra Chant
Easy Kids Meditation Technique #2: Gayatri Mantra Chanting
In this technique, have the child pick out any prayer that he enjoys and then have him sing it aloud. The mantra that Shivum is demonstrating in the video below is the most revered Vedic Mantra. It is called the Gayatri Mantra and is often the vehicle of meditation practice. I will put together a separate article with details about this mantra in the near future.
Easy Kids Meditation Technique #3: Breath Awareness
The formal practice of breath awareness meditation is the heart of Zen Buddhism. It is called Zazen and I have detailed it in the following article, Zen Buddhism Meditation Technique – Zazen. Modify it though for children as follows…
- Sit up straight.
- Place your hands in Gyan Mudra (thumb tip and index finger meeting with wrists resting on the knees).
- Close your eyes and try not to move at all.
- Just breathe normally and feel your breath as it goes in and our of your nose. If you notice the child is too young and does not pick up on these instructions, just have them sit still without moving as best they can.
The video below demonstrates both the above techniques.
Gayatri Mantra & Breath Awareness Easy Kids Meditation Video
Hi Ella,
Thank you for subscribing and linking to Mastery of Meditation. I am glad you enjoyed that post, it is a very precious experience of mine, as I am sure yours have been to you as well :-).
I loved your astrological analysis of the 2 candidates on your blog… great stuff :-D.
Blessings,
Anmol
Thank you, Anmol, for submitting your wonderful post to Walking with God. I will certainly publish it. This post is what Walking with God is all about. I have subscribed to your feed, and I am putting your blog on my blog roll.
I’ve been blessed to have similar experiences, and it is great to know of others experiencing such grace.
Sai Ram
Ella
Hi Falguni,
My little 2 year old is at it as well these days :-D. He is doing “Om Bhur Bhuvah…” and does little AUM mantra chants as well. It is great fun.
Best,
Anmol
Hi Anmol,
Thanks for posting this article. I have been trying to find a good source that tells me how to teach my now 3 1/2 yr. son. I am so glad he loves chanting AUM already.
Love and Light,
Falguni
Hi Randolph,
Thank you for the reminder. I was meaning to add a section in the article for parents who wished to learn themselves and then be an inspiration to their children, but I forgot :-D.
I have added that section in now, and also thank you for your wonderful guidance to help those interested get started.
Best,
Anmol
Hi Lea,
Glad you are finding Mastery of Meditation & Yoga useful and thank you for your presence and participation.
Best,
Anmol
You know, not everyone is blessed with parents who teach their kids meditation. Most parents don’t know how to meditate or even understand the reasons for it, so how can they teach their kids?
This must be a specialised site for advanced human beings because most people won’t understand.
For those of you who are uninitiated, here are a few easy steps for you to relax in any situation, so you can turn around and teach it to your kids. Breathe deeply towards your diaphragm and exhale naturally after each step
1) Hold your back in an upright position; breathe.
2) Relax your shoulders; breathe.
3) Your head is held upright yet loosely as if supported by a string from above; breathe.
4) Your focus is relaxed forward as if looking along the distant horizon of the ocean; breathe.
5) Your jaw is dropped slightly and relaxed with the tip of your tongue gently touching the roof of your mouth; breathe.
By following the above steps, you relax cranial nerves 1 through 5, thus allowing your neural patterns to slow down – and relax.
Peace to you,
Randolph, HealingMindN Medicine Man
I have enjoyed watching Shivum reciting ‘aum’ and ‘Gaytri Mantra’ and it will inspire others to do so. They are our future GURU. Let us keep planting new seeds and bring peace, patience and purpose in life.
It thrilled me mightily to see Shivam following in his father’s foot steps
I’m glad I came across your site. I certainly will be back for more information.