As parents, we want nothing more than for our children to be happy and relaxed. But help! Is that even possible in today's world? Just like adults, children can become overwhelmed by anxiety, pressure, and stress. Fortunately, there's a wonderful, effective way to help children cope with this overload of stimuli: meditation. There's a growing body of research on the benefits of children's meditation, and in this article, we'd like to share some of that with you. Imagine if you'd learned to meditate at a young age and reaped the benefits for the rest of your life.
What is children's meditation?
Children's meditations are calming exercises that teach children to concentrate, quiet their thoughts, and pay more attention to what's actually happening inside them. Think of thoughts, feelings, or sensations in the body:
- What am I going to do today?
- Why is mom gone?
- I'm looking forward to dinner!
- Why can't I fly?
But also feelings like joy, sadness, or fear in unfamiliar situations or dark rooms. Meditations help children pay attention to what's going on. There are both guided meditations and silent meditations. In a guided meditation, children listen to stories with themes like gratitude, safety, or love. In a silent meditation, we spend a moment in silence listening to ourselves.
This 2022 scientific study shows that children who actively meditate have lower activity in parts of the brain involved in depression.
Mindfulness for children: peace in a busy day
After a busy school day full of stimuli, social activities, and screens, it's so important for children to take a break from all that activity. Simply sitting still and breathing calmly teaches children to release tension in their bodies and clear their minds. Children's meditations help children focus on one specific thing. A guided meditation is also very helpful for children with ADHD or ADD, where they simply have to follow the voice. An easy, pleasant way to calm down. Mindfulness for children is essential in 2025!
Meditation makes focusing easier
With so many distractions these days, many children struggle to focus. Meditation helps children learn to focus on a single thing, like the sound of the meditation or their breathing. A moment of peace in a busy inner world!
A study published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies found that meditation helps children reduce behavioral problems. A study in Psychology Research and Behavior Management also shows that meditation helps improve children's cognitive performance.
Provides space for 6 basic emotions
Did you know that children experience six basic emotions?
- Joy
- Sadness
- anger
- Fear
- Surprise
- Disgust
These emotions help children understand what they're feeling. Recognizing these emotions is an important step in their emotional development.
Children can often experience intense emotions, such as fear, sadness, or anger, but sometimes don't know how to handle them. Meditation provides children with a safe space where they can accept their feelings. They learn that all emotions are okay and that they don't need to be afraid of them.
Situations where meditation can help
There are several situations in which meditation can be very helpful. We'd like to explain a few:
To take a test: A short meditation can reduce nerves, so that children can concentrate extra well during a test.
After a tantrum: After an emotional outburst, meditation can help your child calm down. Meditation teaches them how to regulate their emotions.
Before the school day: Let the children start the day calmly. A few minutes of meditation can make a big difference in their academic performance.
Before sleeping: Many children find it difficult to unwind and fall asleep quickly in the evening. With so many events and stimuli during the day, it can be hard for them to drift off to sleep peacefully. Meditation (and incorporating it into a routine) can be a helpful part of their bedtime routine. A few minutes of calm breathing will prepare your child for dreamland.
How Meddy can help
It can sometimes be difficult for parents to introduce meditation into their children's lives. Sometimes parents aren't fully aware of the benefits of meditation or don't know how to start meditating (together). That's why we developed Meddy Bear. With Meddy the meditation bear , children experience improved sleep, less anxiety, and increased self-confidence. How is this possible? Our meditation cuddly toy takes children (and their parents) through a guided meditation without a screen. This allows children to focus on their breathing, and the bear guides them through the process of learning to meditate and unwind. This way, children truly bond with their new best friend.
Research shows that Meddy Bear ensures that
- 86% of children who meditate with Meddy Bear fall asleep faster.
- Experience 92% more peace and tranquility.
- 72% less likely to suffer from stress and anxiety.
The figures above are based on reviews and feedback from over 1,000 customers. Choose meditation with a soothing hug and give your kids a valuable tool for life. Not just for now, but for the future too!