These 10 resources are the perfect place to start if you want to try mindfulness activities and guided meditation for kids!
If you work or live with kids, you’ve likely seen one (or all) of these scenarios before…
-Kids who act silly or seem out of control
-Kids who have tantrums or meltdowns
-Kids who struggle with transitions between activities
-Kids who have difficulty waiting or taking turns
-Kids who have difficulty being close to others, especially during situations like circle time
-Kids who struggle with waiting and walking in line
Sound familiar? Behaviors like these can point to difficulties with self-regulation, meaning that a child is struggling with maintaining an appropriate arousal level and with generating appropriate behavioral responses for the given situation. Self-regulation involves many complex cognitive, behavioral, and social-emotional skills and can be challenging for all kids at one time or another.
What is Guided Meditation for Kids?
In guided meditations, kids are walked (or guided) through a meditation sequence by a facilitator or script. This can involve a group meditation setting with a live facilitator or it can be achieved through audio recordings, video recordings, a written script, or a combination of these.
How Can Guided Meditation for Kids Support Self-Regulation?
Research has shown that guided meditation can go a long way toward supporting positive outcomes related to emotional regulation, behavior, attention, stress, and anxiety. The Mindful Schools program has a large list of research suggesting the effectiveness of meditation and guided meditation for kids.
Guided meditation and other mindfulness activities for kids, along with programs to support the development of social and emotional learning, appear to be valuable methods for promoting self-regulation.
Learn more about mindfulness activities for teens here.
10 Mindfulness and Guided Meditation Resources for Kids
If you’re interested in using guided meditation and other mindfulness resources to help support self-regulation in kids, the following 10 resources are a great place to start!
4 || Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame
5 || Stop, Breathe, and Think Kids
6 || Guided Meditation for Children
7 || Simple, Effective Ways to Teach Mindfulness to Kids
Other Resources to Support Self-Regulation
Looking for other calming techniques and ideas to support self-regulation in kids? Try these!
-Calming Techniques and Transition Strategies – These strategies can help prevent tantrums and other negative behaviors as kids transition from one activity to another throughout the day.
-Dealing With Tantrums Using Reset Activities – For some kids, using basic fine motor activities following tantrums or outbursts can be an effective way to help kids self-regulate.
-Calming Games and Activities for Outings – Bringing some calming games and activities along during community outings can help kids remain entertained and engaged while on the go. Click here for even more ideas for calm kids on the go.
-DIY Calm Down Kit – This simple kit is full of great calming activities and supports. Great for the classroom or home!
What are your favorite resources for guided meditation for kids? Share them in the comments below!
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