In the chaos that ensues in our daily lives, there is rarely a moment where we can rest, be still and be fully present. Drifting away with our thoughts of yesterday and tomorrow, it is easy to forget how to be present today. We are always on the move and in haste, and we hardly stop to take a breather and relish the moment.
I’ve been trying to encourage the boys to be mindful and present, at least that’s the task for G1. For G2, I’ll settle for him just learning to be still and silent – which alone is already a big ask since he has ants in his pants and an itch in his mouth that must be scratched by talking. So for just 10 minutes a day after school or just before bedtime we listen to alpha wave music or meditation for kids.
Kenobi: But Master Yoda says I should be mindful of the future.
Qui-Gon: But not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the living Force, young Padawan.
Benefits of Mindfulness and Meditation
There so many reasons to encourage children to be mindful and to meditate that you can take your pick…
- Meditation Improves Learning and Memory Processes
- Mindfulness Training Can Improve Working Memory, Reading Comprehension, and Task Focus
- Mindfulness Improves Well-Being and Social and Emotional Competence
- Mindfulness Improves Self-Regulation, Emotional Outlook, Perception, Memory and Cognition
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