This is a post out of the 31 Days of Morning Circles. You can find the main page for this series here.

Calm the mind and settle the soul with a short but powerful meditation in your morning circle.

After you have welcomed the morning, the sun, and the child(ren), take a few moments to breathe in the day. Don’t let the word “meditation” frighten you. You can think of it as a reflection or quiet time. I list some ways you can enjoy a brief moment even with the most easily distracted child.

A short meditation allows a child to:

• Build a deep connection with you
• Receive deep pressure input
• Ground their body, calm their mind and prepare for the day’s activities

Adaptations for meditations

• Keep the meditation short—especially when first getting started—then, increase the amount of time as the child is able to remain in that state for longer
• Meditations can be done sitting up, laying down on a mat, or even standing against a wall, if possible
• Use a weighted lap pad to help ground the child
• Don a blanket over the shoulders or legs to keep warm

See additional general adaptations for morning circle here.

Ideas for morning circle meditations to welcome the day

Select one of these ideas at a time, but test them all to see which the child responds to best.

• Ring a gentle bell to indicate the start of the meditation
• Listen to instrumental music or nature sounds
• Repeat mantra or sound (e.g.: humming)
• Listen to a song with reflective lyrics
• Tap rhythm sticks without speaking
• Keep eyes closed, if possible
• If possible, maintain silent eye contact with the child—even if just briefly
• Slowly but rhythmically tap a body part (e.g.: palm to the upper chest)
• Stand face-to-face holding hands without words
• Hold hands and sway without speaking
• Deep breathing (exaggerate the breath and see if the child can imitate)
• Set a timer and listen to it tick for one minute
• Shake a snow globe and watch the snow settle
• Recite a chant
• Diffuse or sniff lavender essential oil, if the child can handle scents well

How can you incorporate meditation into your morning circle?