MEDITATION: THE ULTIMATE TOOL FOR SELF-SOOTHING

Meditation is a hugely underrated technique for helping your child to mind their mental health. Let’s take a look at how it works and how you can get them started.

Nowadays, society places such high expectations on children. From doing well academically to having an ever-growing social circle, there is a huge amount of pressure on our little ones to keep up with trends, and to avoid ‘falling behind’ in any sense. This pressure understandably takes a toll on the mental health of children. For kids, it seems that there’s no longer any opportunity to take a step back and check in with themselves - their lives are just too busy and too demanding.

One of the best tools for tackling this issue is meditation. Meditation is like a time out for your child’s mind. It offers a chance for them to be still, to let their thoughts slow down and to regain perspective on their day. Research suggests that regularly practising meditation produces a range of benefits. These include improved self-control and ability to pay attention, decreased aggression, as well as treating symptoms of issues such as anxiety and depression. Let’s take a look at how meditation can help your child.

 HOW DOES IT WORK?

There is much more to meditation than just trying to calm down. Studies have shown that it can, in fact, have a profound effect on your little one's brain. The rational, thinking and problem-solving part of the brain is called the prefrontal cortex. This area is specifically strengthened through meditation. Similarly, the amygdala, the brain's 'fight or flight' centre, decreases in size. The result of these changes can be very noticeable. Children will be more able to manage their emotions and think clearly, while being less likely to lose control when they experience heightened stress or fear.