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 your 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 distracted child.
A short meditation allows your child to:
- build a deep connection with you
- receive deep pressure input
- ground his body, calm his 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 your 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 your 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 your 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 (ex.: humming)
- listen to a song with reflective lyrics
- tap rhythm sticks without speaking
- keep eyes closed, if possible
- maintain silent eye contact with your child, even if just briefly
- slowly but rhythmically tap a body part (ex.: 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 your 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 essential oil of lavender, if your child can handle scents well
How can you incorporate meditation in your morning circle?
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