Meditation and Student Success

We all want quality lives for our children. Teaching kids meditation can give them a start to utilize the benefits of meditation. Today’s kids exhibit elevated levels of restlessness, stress and anxiety, only a very less percentage of children in the U.S. meditate. Yet several studies suggest that kids who practice mindfulness tend to develop positive traits such as increased self-control, better attentiveness in class, and more empathy and respect for others. In addition, meditation may help children manage difficult conditions like stress, depression, ADHD and hyperactivity.

Clearly, introducing mindfulness to kids can benefit them now and moving ahead. But children should never be forced to meditate, or they’ll develop an equivalent aversion towards sitting that they often have towards certain cooked vegetables. they ought to tend an equivalent gentle encouragement that we give ourselves when it involves meditation practice.

Children’s meditation

As other things, it’s easy to learn mindfulness meditation for kids? Many kids have a natural feel for it. Young kids aren’t burdened by as many biases, barriers or preconceptions, which gives them an edge when it comes to non-judgmental awareness.

While there hasn’t been the maximum amount general research about the consequences of mindfulness on kids as on adults, meditation within the classroom has been getting tons of attention lately..One flagship initiative is the Compassionate Schools Project taking place in elementary and secondary public schools in Louisville, Kentucky, and impacting some 20,000 kids. With a stated goal of “Educating the kid fully” the curriculum “puts together mindfulness for stress management and self­-control; contemplative steps and gestures, postures and breathing for physical awareness plus agility; nutritional values for healthy eating; and social and emotional skill sets  for effective interpersonal relationships.”

Elsewhere, some schools are experimenting with replacing detention time with meditation. A pilot study within the San Francisco school system, partnered with the Center for Wellness and Achievement in Education, convinced even skeptics that the effort to provide mindfulness training to kids, including in one of SF’s poorest school districts, was well worth it. Over a four-year period, suspensions reportedly decreased by over 70%, academic performance increased, and everyone was happy about it. The switch to meditation is already offering similar results in a number of North American schools: maximum benefits at minimal cost.

Here are a few of the benefits of children’s meditation:

Enhanced focus
In just a generation or two, things have changed so much that our attention spans can’t keep up. Between social media and technological gadgets, kids – and adults – are constantly surfing the web , interacting via social media and playing video games indoors rather than reading a book, taking a walk or playing sports. Children who get older with their noses in their devices often find it difficult to concentrate and remain attentive. Meditation teaches them that it’s possible to direct their attention at one thing at a time, and that it actually feels great not to be distracted.

Fostering compassion and self-esteem

Due to pressures and circumstances beyond their control (and sometimes beyond anyone’s control), kids may sometimes feel like they’re not able to pass muster. This can be tough sometimes, especially when a child is bullied or badly teased by others. Most of the insecurities people have as adults can be traced back to their childhoods. The good news is that meditation can support children’s feelings of security, empathy and inner stability, and this, in turn, builds compassion, joy and self-esteem. Meditation teaches kids – and adults – that immediately is enough.

Boosting confidence

Mindfulness for children helps kids enhance self-awareness and be more confident. The confidence matures naturally when kids learn from their meditation practice that they don’t need to react to all or any of their thoughts and emotions – they will choose which of them merit their attention and response. Confident kids are better equipped to deal with unfamiliar situations. Thanks to this adaptability, they become better problem solvers and develop a deeper appreciation of life.

Building empathy and happiness

Mindworks meditation experts say that the more you give, the more you gain. Children’s meditation helps them find out how to share their love with other children. They become more patient and understanding, listen more readily to others and empathize with them.