Children and Meditation
You love your children—they are the sun and the moon and the stars. But sometimes they have difficulties you don’t know how to address successfully. Fortunately, children, as early as age 10, can learn and practice Transcending in Meditation easily, in the same way adults are taught. This article discusses what they (and their parents) can derive from the TM technique
What Your Child Will Get out of TM Meditation
Every child is unique in her personality, strengths and weaknesses, so some child will notice one result from meditating while another notices a different one. One might notice greater athletic ability while another increases her social circle. In general, for example, a 10-year-old may simply become happier and easier to be around. A primary schooler becomes more balanced and focused. A teenager feels less overwhelmed and more self-directed. Over time, with regular meditation, everyone experiences most of the benefits. All will gain inner stability and self-confidence, and will be less prone to picking up bad habits from other kids.
The TM technique gives kids, at every stage, a way to reset from the inside out.
Let’s delve into specific areas of interest.
Brain and focus
From late childhood through adolescence, the brain is undergoing major integration.
Published studies show that TM is associated with better integration between brain regions, and improved executive functioning. These findings correlate with clearer thinking, more manageable emotions, and increased ease and efficiency of learning.
Around age 10–12, the academic load sharply increases—but the brain is still wiring its capacity for attention. TM reduces the internal “noise” that interferes with attention. This translates in the child’s life as longer attention span, clearer comprehension, and less mental fatigue.
Parents report measurable changes in high school students -improvements in cognitive function, creativity, and learning ability.
Even children with symptoms of ADD and ADHD realize significant improvements straight away and ongoing .
Nervous system
The TM technique is a rare and miraculous tool for kids—it is a way to settle themselves mentally, physically and emotionally from within—effortlessly.
Kids don’t usually express themselves verbally in a self-aware way as they will when they are more mature. They wouldn’t usually say “I’m stressed.” Instead, they show it—through restlessness, irritability, anxiety, or withdrawal.
TM provides deep rest that allows stress to dissolve significantly at a physiological level. Results can be subtle but unmistakable. For example, one may notice that a child becomes easier going, exhibits fewer emotional spikes and recovers more quickly, and is less overwhelmed by situations than before. In school settings, this has translated into comments after a week of “ I’m finding school more interesting “, “ I’m actually learning now”.
Confidence
At any age, identity is fragile and too often externally driven. TM reduces stress and anxiety and expands inner awareness. Stability increases. Kids become less dependent on peer approval and don’t need constant validation for their self-image.
Behavior
When the nervous system is less stressed, behavior spontaneously reflects the calmer, clearer mind. Observed benefits are not due to imposed discipline but from clearer brain function. Examples in children ten through teens include:
- less impulsivity
- better judgment
- fewer disciplinary issues
Emotional stability
We all know about dealing with changing hormones. As hormones come online, emotions intensify. Behaviour can become extreme, even erratic. Without a way to release stress, reactivity increases. (Reactive behavior is an automatic, often emotional response, characterized by acting without reflection.)
Youngster’s remark in the first days of practice that they experience increased self-awareness. They develop the ability to think first before lashing out. They have more flexibility in their emotional responses.
In a qualitative study of middle schoolers, students reported improved emotional intelligence and self-regulation after practicing TM.
Let’s face it—the stages a child goes through from the onset of adolescence to adulthood aren’t a breeze for anyone. Parents and children alike will benefit from the portable tool of vedic Meditation—it can turn the potential for growing pains into the potential for happiness.
How children learn meditation
-
Ages 4 to 10:
Children learn an age-appropriate technique called the Wisdom Word It involves a simple, active process that does not require sitting still with eyes closed, and it takes just a few minutes a day to fit into their routines.
- Personal instruction day 1 45-60 minutes
- A short follow up day 2 or 3 individually with their teacher Note I prefer not to teach younger children unless a guardian whom they reside with regularly has learnt and can mentor meditating regularly
-
Ages 10 and older:
Children learn the standard adult technique, which involves sitting comfortably with eyes closed for 10 to 20 minutes, twice a day. It is completely effortless and requires no concentration or thought control.
The Learning Process
The technique
cannot be self-taught and must be learned directly from a TM instructor. The core course is taught over three consecutive days:
- Personal Instruction: A one-on-one session where the child receives their personal mantra (a specific sound given based on their temperament) and learns the basic technique. 40-60 minutes
- Follow-Up Sessions: Small group sessions with the cohort or family that learnt on same day where the child practices meditating with the teacher to gain a deeper understanding of how the mind settles naturally. And knowledge of their experience 60-90 minutes
- Ongoing Support: A follow-up check usually occurs about 10 days later, followed by lifetime access to “meditation checking”
A discovery call with or without the children is the best first step I highly recommend learning as a family. If one finger is injured the whole hand is effected 🙏🏼
Please do not send your child to me so that I might fix them, children absorb the style of operation and way of responding from those close by A child’s perspective health and behavior is a reflection of the household dynamics Our role as parents is to mentor
Strongly consider learning together with your child especially teenagers
Meditation Instruction Retreats
Another option to learn the Meditation technique is during a women’s 2-4 night residential retreat. Simply state this preference in the comments section on the Contact Us page and we will send you more information.
Easy for Children to Practice
The TM Meditation technique is easy for children to practice because it does not require focus or concentration, and children can practice it without having to sit perfectly still. Research shows that children with symptoms of ADHD can also practice this meditation successfully.
It’s well established that this type of meditation from the vedic tradition of India can help children around the world cope with stress and improve learning ability and behaviour.
It is suitable for everyone Hundreds of thousands of children around the world have learned the technique, and the program has been successfully used in the classroom for decades.
Contact Suzanne to learn more about/book a discovery call
