Thinking good thoughts about themselves and others can help kids be happier and healthier. Loving-kindness meditation toward themselves and others can comfort and strengthen young hearts.
Loving-kindness is a kind of heart meditation that consists of sending of sending love, kindness, and compassion by directing positive thoughts, good intentions, or well wishes toward ourselves and others. When people practice loving-kindness meditation on a regular basis, they feel a sense of goodness about themselves and others. It produces a reaction in the brain similar to when one engages in acts of kindness, producing positive feelings which can lead to positive behaviors. Practicing loving-kindness meditation has been shown to:
- Decrease stress and anxiety
- Increase feelings of hope
- Reduce feelings of anger
- Increase empathy
- Increase feelings of self-esteem and decrease self-criticism
In Magination Press book, Bee Heartful: Spread Loving-Kindness by Frank J. Sileo, PhD, Bentley Bee sends loving-kindness thoughts to himself and others, and can feel his heart growing. This excerpt from the “Note to Adult Beekeepers” describes how to practice loving-kindness meditation with children.
Loving-kindness meditation is great for kids because it is more concrete and structured than other forms of meditation. The child recites specific phases and brings up images in their minds of the people they are sending loving-kindness to.
It’s important that children understand that when they send loving-kindness thoughts to others, it may not change the other person or how that person feels about them. Loving-kindness does not work like magic or serve as some type of spell on another person. The meditation is more focused on the meditator developing loving-kindness toward others.
Getting Started
- Mediation is a quiet activity, so you want to choose a place for your child that is free from distractions. It can be a room in your home, someplace outside like a garden or patio, or any place without interruptions.
- They can sit on the floor, a mat, a pillow or in a chair, or lie down.
- They can close their eyes or cast their eyes downward and a few feet in front of them. This will help avoid any visual distractions.
- Your child can place one or both hands on their heart and take three deep breaths.
- Ask your child to repeat these phrases silently in their head a few times.
- May I be happy.
- May I be healthy.
- May I be safe.
- May I be peaceful.
After your child sends loving-kindness intentions toward themselves, they can use the same intention toward other people.
Keep it short at first
Sitting still and focusing can be challenging for children and adults alike. Keeping meditation short in the beginning can be helpful in maintaining young children’s interest, attention, and focus. For young children, 3-5 minutes is a good starting point. You can gradually increase the time as children mature and their practice grows.
Mix up the loving-kindness intentions
Your child can vary the practice of loving-kindness meditation by varying who they pick to send intentions to. A common approach is to send loving-kindness intentions to: self, a loved-one, a neutral person, a difficult person, and the world. Your child doesn’t have to to all five. They can send intentions to themselves and a loved-one or themselves and the world. Who they want to focus on may change from day to day, so talk with your child before you start your meditation.
Change the words in the intentions
When saying these phrases, your child may not believe them in the moment. Encourage them to say them anyway, as they may lead to greater empathy and heartfulness toward self and others. Parents and children can be creative by coming up with their own loving kindness intentions. For example:
- May I/You/We be free from danger.
- May I/You/We have a strong mind and body.
- May I/You/We be filled with comfort.
- May I/You/We have a good day.
Spread loving-kindness together
The loving-kindness meditation is a great meditation to do together. When you meditate with our children, you are leading by example. Not all children will be receptive to meditation at first. Encourage your child to continue meditating even if they belittle it. Discuss with them your feelings about meditation and how you think it may help them. Never push your child, though, as this may cause resistance to meditation. Meditation is a practice that builds over time. If you make it a regular activity, it will become part of a morning or evening routine that you or they look forward to doing.
Loving-kindness meditation is a beautiful, calming, and special type of meditation for children. It should never be a replacement for professional mental health care if your child is struggling with clinical issues such as anxiety, depression, or other serious problems. Consult with a mental health professional if you have concerns about your child.
This is an excerpt from Magination Press book, Bee Heartful: Spread Loving-Kindness, by Frank Sileo, PhD. The Note to Adult Beekeepers also includes a loving-kindness meditation script to use with your child.
Related Books from Magination Press
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Bee Heartful: Spread Loving-Kindness
Readers will rejoice that Bentley the bee is back in this third book in Frank J. Sileo’s award-winning series.
When compassionate Bentley sends loving-kindness thoughts to himself and others, he can feel his heart growing:
May you be happy. May you be healthy. May you be safe. May you be peaceful.
When Willie Wasp steals Bentley’s favorite red scarf, it really stings! Bentley has the whole garden buzzing as he works through the situation.
This sweet story shows the power of strong, positive, and loving thoughts.
Includes a note from the author with more information about loving-kindness and related meditation, and guidelines for how readers can practice being heartful just like Bentley!
