'At school, we believe education should touch the whole child. This includes the physical, emotional, spiritual, social and cognitive aspects of the child's life. We teach children quietness as a skill to reflect and recharge their inner lives. Lorraine Murray helped us on this journey.' - Sheila Laing, Head Teacher
Stress and behavioural disorders are common in children, who are increasingly bombarded by marketing campaigns, exposed to the news, faced with school and peer pressure, and able to sense the stress of adults around them. But how can we help children to recognise and cope with these pressures? Mindfulness and meditation can help them to become aware of bad feelings and release them gently, equipping children with simple tools to deal with tension and stress throughout their lives.
In this practical and inspiring book, Lorraine Murray shows parents, teachers and youth workers how to lead fun and peaceful meditation sessions with children. She shows adults how to explore the basic principle of stopping for a moment and helping children to focus on the 'here and now', encouraging children to experience their physical senses or breath, or be guided on a peaceful journey using visual imagery, letting go of inner tension.
Lorraine explains a variety of different approaches, from meditations around daily activities for busy families, to ideas for group 'quietness' sessions in schools. She provides fun, tactile rhymes for toddlers to help them calm down before bedtime, and suggests ways to help teenagers reduce anxiety. She goes on to explain how these methods can help children with ADHD and those on the autistic spectrum, giving a range of case studies.
This book is suitable for complete beginners, or those with some experience of relaxation and meditation techniques. It offers all the advice needed to lead sessions with children, whilst encouraging the reader to adapt and develop their own ways of helping children to feel calmer, happier and more peaceful.