Good Night Metta: A Bedtime Meditation for Kids

Bedtime provides a magical window of opportunity to meditate with children. This transition in the schedule is already set up as a time when we stop playing, drop the busyness of the day, and prepare our minds and bodies for relaxing, resting, and eventually, for sleep. Meditation, likewise, is predicated on letting go of tasking and settling back into quiet reflection. Many of us with young children also have well-established, pre-bedtime routines, so slipping a three to five minute meditation into this pattern is relatively straightforward. Of the multitude of meditations, children tend to take to metta, or lovingkindness, because it is visual, directed, and invokes warm fuzzies. Read more in this week's featured article on incorporating a lovingkindness practice into your kids' bedtime routine.

Title: Breathe Like A Bear
By: Kira Wiley
Ages: 4-8

"These 30 breathing exercises are perfect for kids who are on the go. Incorporating these practices into their daily routines can be beneficial to their overall mindfulness. This charming book is delightfully illustrated so kids will eagerly follow along as everyone takes a moment to breathe."
--Publishers
 

Try one of the mindfulness practices outlined here with your children. Share which one was your favorite!