3 Ways to Teach Lovingkindness to Kids
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Lovingkindness (metta) meditation is a well known meditation practice that builds feelings of love and being loved by sending words of love and kindness to yourself, loved ones, and all beings in ever widening circles. This meditation is traditionally practiced by adults, but there are many ways this meditation can be adapted for children as young as 3.
Below are three ways you can teach and practice lovingkindness meditation with young children:
.1. Lovingkindness Fill-In-The Blank Activity Sheet
Download Shining Kids Yoga's Lovingkindness Meditation Activity Sheet. This simple activity sheet guides children step-by-step in creating their own unique meditation sending love and kindness to the special people in their lives. Click to get your free download (for personal and educational use only): https://shiningkidsyoga.com/store/lovingkindnessworksheet
2. Read Along Meditation: Audrey’s Journey: Loving Kindness by Kerry Alison Wekelo
This book teaches the practice of lovingkindess meditation in a simple-child friendly way, through the eyes of a girl named Audrey. Audrey offers wishes of lovingkindness to herself, her brother, her mom, her dad, and all beings. Children can easily repeat these wishes along with Audrey. After reading the book, I like to ask each child in my class who else they want to offer lovingkindness to, and I love hearing all of their sweet responses, including wishing lovingkindness to their cat, their stuffed animals, grandparents, and friends. Even though I’ve recommended this book for ages 5-10, I’ve also had great success reading it and practicing the meditation with older preschool/pre-k students, too!
3. Guided Audio Lovingkindness Relaxation for Kids
The child-friendly guided audio relaxation below teaches the practice of lovingkindness (metta) meditation to young children. Perfect for Valentine's Day or any day of the year! This child-friendly meditation will help your child feel more calm, happy, and loved. Children can listen to this lovingkindness meditation at bedtime or anytime they want to feel more kind, loving, and peaceful.
Narration by Andrea Creel, founder of Shining Kids Yoga http://www.shiningkidsyoga.com Music by David Fesliyan Image by Brett Sayles from Pexels https://shadowburn.org
Andrea Creel, MSW, LMSW, E-RYT 200, YACEP
Andrea is the founder of Shining Kids Yoga, which began as an after-school program at her son's elementary school in 2014. She has been teaching yoga to all ages since 2005. Andrea completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at Tranquil Space Yoga in Washington, D.C. In addition, she received specialized training in children’s yoga from the Radiant Child Yoga program, training in postnatal yoga from Baby OM, and training in therapeutic yoga from The Samarya Center.
Andrea is the author of Mystery Pose: A Yoga Guessing Game (affiliate link) and the creator of two yoga card games for kids: Double the Fun Yoga Cards and Yoga Pose or Dare. She is also the creator and facilitator of the Shining Kids Yoga Kids Yoga Teacher Training, a 17-hour certification program in teaching yoga to kids.
When not teaching or practicing yoga, Andrea enjoys playing board games with her son, Quinn, singing karaoke, and trying out new vegetarian recipes!