Hundreds of studies suggest that meditation decreases stress, has tangible health benefits, sharpens attention and memory and has been linked to increased happiness and greater compassion.  Exposing our children to these techniques could therefore help them cope better with stress and grow into living healthier lives. 

So how do we introduce our kids to meditation?  One of the most powerful ways is developing a family practice.  Parents practicing meditation themselves may have the greatest impact on their children.  To get started, here is a wonderful introduction to mindfulness meditation for children ages 5 to 12:  Sitting Still Like a Frog, by Eline Snel (2013).  It includes a 60-minute audio CD of guided exercises that help children calm down, become more focused, fall asleep more easily, alleviate worry, manage anger, and generally become more patient and aware. 

Manon Melanson, psychologist