MINDFUL KIDS, HAPPY KIDS!
Why should your child practice meditation and mindfulness regularly?
From Meltdowns to Mindful Moments
BY JANANI RAVIKUMAR
Young children can be very moody. One moment, they’re happy, and the next, they’re sad or angry. Managing big emotions like anger, anxiety, or sadness can be a struggle for them.
Today, Srimaa’s friend, Gopi, is visiting. Her mom offers them both a slice of cake, but Gopi takes the bigger piece. Srimaa feels upset—“Why did Gopi get the bigger piece?”. She is angry and disappointed.
Seeing Srimaa’s sadness, Happy, the mindful genie, appears. He smiles and gently says:
“Let us try the ‘Stop, Breathe, Name’ trick. First, stop. Then, take a big breath. Now, name how you feel.”
Srimaa takes a pause, breathes deeply, and then says, “I feel mad, but I can calm down.”
Happy nods and says, “Let’s take a few deep breaths together and calm your mind.”
Srimaa follows along—breathing deeply, feeling more at ease. In a few moments, she feels peaceful enough to take the smaller piece of cake and enjoy it with contentment.
Mindfulness and meditation help children process their emotions in a healthy way.
Instead of suppressing or ignoring their feelings, they learn to manage them calmly.
This means fewer mood swings, less anger, and fewer behavioral issues. And best of all—less stress for you as a parent!
So, try this ‘Stop, Breathe, Name’ technique with your child today and watch their emotional balance grow.