{"id":1354,"date":"2014-11-13T10:38:09","date_gmt":"2014-11-13T10:38:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bcgwebdesign.co.uk\/tcm\/?p=1354"},"modified":"2018-03-06T20:53:36","modified_gmt":"2018-03-06T20:53:36","slug":"children-stress-mindful-meditation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teachchildrenmeditation.com\/es\/children-stress-mindful-meditation\/","title":{"rendered":"Ni\u00f1os, estr\u00e9s y meditaci\u00f3n consciente"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

We usually focus on the adults when we talk about stress but research shows that children also experience stress from both external and internal factors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Pressures of technology, computer gaming, exam results, hormonal changes and changes in family settings can initiate the flight or fight response which we refer to as \u2018acute stress\u2019.<\/p>\n

The difference between adults and children is that (in most cases) adults know how to take steps to address their stress symptoms, express their emotions and calm their minds.\u00a0 In the case of children to teens, this may not always be the case and, if not addressed, acute stress can lead to chronic stress symptoms.<\/p>\n

Teaching children or teens how to practice mindfulness and meditation has \"unhappy_girlbecome a hot topic in recent years and a growing uptake of these practices have illustrated some interesting results, with improvements in:
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Health and emotional well-being
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Attendance rates at schools
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Focus and concentration skills \u2013 aiding study
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Improvement in sleep patterns<\/p>\n

If you are thinking about teaching your children some of these simple techniques, here are a few suggestions to help you get started.<\/p>\n

Some top tips to get started<\/h2>\n

Are you calm?<\/strong><\/p>\n

First of all \u2013 ensure that you are in a calm state.\u00a0 Children tend to reflect the mood and energy of those adults around them and can act like little mirrors if you are in a bad mood.\u00a0 If you are calm, they are in a better position to mirror that.<\/p>\n

Introduce mindfulness in day to day activities<\/strong><\/p>\n

Using the senses (touch, sight, taste, smell or sound), encourage your children and teens to choose one of these and focus on it fully during a normal daily activity like eating, drinking or walking.<\/p>\n

Younger children<\/strong><\/p>\n

They tend to enjoy learning to relax when they are lying down in bed and it is an easier way for the adult to introduce the idea of relaxing with the breath and the body when they are in this natural position.<\/p>\n

Meditation Game<\/strong><\/p>\n

Instead of just calling it \u2018meditation\u2019, for younger children call it a \u2018meditation game\u2019 \u2013 the latter word will encourage more enthusiasm and interest.\u00a0 Then you can use their imagination to create a favourite place they can imagine being in with or without their friends.<\/p>\n

Teens<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mindfulness meditation is a good way to engage this age group, by giving them simple words to meditate with.\u00a0 These can be as simple as \u2018just for this moment I will not worry\/be angry\u2019 to the more Buddhist approach of [breathing in] \u2018my body is like a mountain, [breathing out] \u2018my body is strong\u2019.<\/p>\n

The next step<\/strong>
\nThe Connected KidsTM programme<\/a> is based on the international best selling booking \u2013 \u2018Calm Kids \u2013 help children relax with mindful activities\u2019 <\/a>by Lorraine E Murray.\u00a0 Lorraine has been teaching meditation for\u00a0 over 10 years whilst studying the effects on all age groups.\u00a0 Connected KidsTM now offers online and in-person training (worldwide) for parents or adults working with children \u2013 teaching them how to help children learn meditation.
\nLorraine\u2019s 2nd book\u00a0(Connected Kids)<\/a>\u00a0illustrates how teaching meditation to kids can help children on the autistic spectrum, with ADHD or other special needs.<\/p>\n