So, why meditation for preschoolers?
By Liz Cain
Nowadays, our phones have become an extension of ourselves. The majority of us, in one way or another, are absolutely connected to them. But often, we are caught up with this happening outwith ourselves. And this can cause us to neglect what’s going on for us, sometimes ending up with feelings of anxiety and depression that can overwhelm us.
So why introduce mindful practices to our wee ones using the types of exercises that Wee Seeds will feature when it launches later this year? The benefits of mindfulness are now well recognised, particularly regarding self-care, self -regulation and well-being.
Young children are naturally mindful. Their curiosity and ability to live in the moment remind us adults how to be. However, in our super busy 21st Century lives where outer distractions are omnipresent, there is increasing evidence to show that children are becoming anxious at earlier ages. Supporting children’s ability to “be present” has proven to be beneficial to their emotional intelligence which is a greater predictor of life success than IQ. Studies show that developing resilience, kindness and gratitude can have a very positive impact on health and well-being. What could be more important for our children?
Much research has been done in recent years to show us the impact of early years experiences on brain development. Along with the exciting discoveries supporting the positive impact that mindful practices can have on our health, it seems to me to be a good idea to introduce these to our daily lives. Let’s begin to pay attention to ourselves and our children in a kind way.
Wee Seeds is designed for parents and carers to introduce simple mindful practices to their young children at a crucial stage in their development. Practising together gives both adult and child opportunities to take time out to notice themselves and, in doing so, develop a way to live mindfully.
By giving just a few moments every day, these simple practices can make a huge difference to both you and your children’s lives. Instead of each of you being caught up in individual activities which takes your attention away from each other and yourselves, learning simple mindfulness and mediation practices will bring you closer together.
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Liz Cain is a retired primary and additional support needs teacher, now mindfulness teacher. She runs ‘With Peace in Mind’. In 2012, Liz first discovered the practice of mindfulness. She was immediately inspired to learn more about living mindfully and went on to complete several courses, resulting in her attaining the Mindfulness Teacher’s qualification after training with Youth Mindfulness in 2016. Liz runs ‘With Peace in Mind’, teaching various courses in the Dunfermline area. She is also trained to teach mindfulness to children. In this often stressful, busy world, Liz offers the local community opportunities to find stillness, support and self-compassion and is passionate about introducing mindful living in her local community. Liz is a member of the Wee Seeds Research and Advisory Group.
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Originally published at https://www.weeseeds.co.uk on December 9, 2018.
