Temper tantrums can be trying for any parent. However they are a normal part of child development. Toddlers can’t fully articulate what they want, feel, or need, so they use tantrums to show that they’re upset or frustrated.

When we’re angry or afraid we tend not to be receptive to learning. This is especially true of toddlers when they’re in the middle of a meltdown. Scientists agree that our brains are a bit like trainable muscles. And like any muscle it needs conditioning. Neuroscience gives us some evidence that meditation is one of the very best brain exercises for learning.

But can young children learn to meditate? Yes! Absolutely! Children as young as 3 years old can learn this life changing skill. Most kids even have advantages over adults in learning to meditate. Kids are generally more curious and and more willing to embrace new ideas.

Young children also differ from adults in how we teach them to meditate. We don’t expect little kids to sit still the way an adult would. Instead the techniques practitioners use tend to be based more on mindful breathing, and mindful movement. It also helps to shift kids’ imaginations to think of happy places and happy things. Structuring a meditation so that it sounds more like a story is also a useful tool too.

Key benefits include:

• Meditation puts children in the best brain state for “super learning”.
• Meditation has shown to improve how left and right brain hemispheres work together.
• Stimulates learning associated brain regions. Studies have shown how the Hippocampus and frontal lobe are particularly stimulated during meditation.
• And finally – Less temper tantrums (we hope!). Children who learn mediation techniques seem to see improvements in their self-esteem, self-confidence and communication skills.

The Moon

Designed for children to use before bedtime.

Flight of The Butterfly

A morning meditation.

My Body

A meditation to relax the body.

Brown Bear’s Big Breaths

Designed for children to use before bedtime.

And Many More!

Why not try one or all of the child-friendly meditations in Hungry Caterpillar Play School. They encourage more awareness, mindfulness, and overall balance for your kids and the whole family.