How to Explain Meditation to a Child in 3 Easy Steps!

If you’re wondering how to explain meditation to a child, you’ve come to the right place!  Learn how to meditate with your child and watch he/she grow in the process!  

This post contains affiliate links.  I only post links to products I completely trust and highly recommend.  Please see full disclosure here.

How do you explain meditation to a child?  How can I help my child meditate?  These are questions I hear frequently when the subject of meditation comes up with parents.  It might feel complicated, but actually explaining meditation to a child is easier than you would think!  Children are generally open-minded and excited to learn new things without the judgment that adults usually have.  If you’re wondering how you can get your child to relax, meditation is a great place to start!  Kids are capable of being mindful just like adults and it’s easy to get them to meditate when they’re excited about it!  Teaching kids to meditate at a young age leads them on an awesome path to more happiness and health as they grow older.  Mindfulness is an awesome skill to cultivate at any age!

Join the FREE 7 Day Meditation Challenge to unlock the powerful benefits of meditation in just 10 minutes a day. You will receive 7 free guided meditation videos with relaxing music delivered straight to your inbox.

Here’s how to explain meditation to a child in 3 easy steps!

1. Keep it simple

Meditation is simply noticing what is happening right now.  That’s it!  Meditation might feel complicated sometimes, but the concept is really very straightfoward.  It’s easy for children to understand the idea of “now”, if you don’t overcomplicate it.  Tell your child that mindfulness is noticing how your body feels right now– what can they smell, taste, hear, and see in this moment?  Ask your child to close his or her eyes and just pay attention to what’s happening around him or her right now.

Mindfulness is also noticing what’s going on in your mind right now.  Ask your child if he or she notices thoughts going by.  What is your child thinking about right now?  Then ask if he or she can feel an emotion in their body– a tightness, an excitement, any physical sensations.

You should really emphasize the concept of what’s happening NOW in order to keep their minds on the present.  You can explain meditation to a child by saying “Meditation is just noticing what you feel right now in your body, head, and all around you.  When you start thinking about stuff that happened yesterday or things that could happen tomorrow, just come back to noticing what’s going on right now!”  Remember to keep it simple and focused on present moment awareness.

2. Use your imagination

Children learn best through imaginative play.  Why not combine mindfulness meditation for kids with using their imaginations?  This will help make meditation more relatable for them.

Here’s an example:

” Imagine that you’re in a beautiful place.  Let’s think about everything we see, smell, hear, feel, and taste there [go into vivid detail about the colors, smells, sounds– try to make this place as real as possible for you and your child].  When we’re in this beautiful place [you can give it a name– Marie’s Garden, the beach we visited with grandma, etc.] we’re only focused on right now.  We’re not worrying about that spelling test we took yesterday or day dreaming about Anna’s birthday party next weekend.  We’re just here RIGHT NOW in this beautiful place.”

Here’s another example:

“Remember when I bought you that snow globe last Christmas?  When you shake it up, the snow goes all over the place right?  But when you keep it still, the snow just stays at the bottom.  That’s how our minds work when we meditate.  Normally our brains are super busy with all the thoughts going around in our heads just like the snow when you shake it up!  But when we meditate, the snow stays calm and peaceful at the bottom of the snow globe while we sit and watch.”

The best way to explain meditation to a child is to do it in a way that’s fun and exciting for him/her!  The two examples above are a great place to start, but it’s best if your personalize it.  Think about what your child loves and use that to explain meditation to them in an imaginative and playful way.

3. Show them how!

Now that you’ve successfully explained meditation to a child, the next step is to show them how!  Even for adults, meditation isn’t something you explain– it’s something you experience!  If you’re wondering how to meditate with your child, there’s plenty of mindfulness meditations for kids out there!  Look for short guided meditations for kids online or on YouTube.  You should start with a meditation for kids that’s just a few minutes long, so your child can experience it without being overwhelmed.  Spend some time meditating together each day and your child’s understanding of meditation will grow deeper.

That’s it!  You’re now well-equipped to explain meditation to a child.  If you’re looking for mindfulness meditations for kids, be sure to check the “Guided Meditations” section of F&F for some awesome resources!

Looking for more? Come hang out with me in the Ladies Who Meditate Facebook group! This is a supportive community to learn, ask questions, and share meditation experiences.

Bonus: Free 7 Day Meditation Challenge

Join the free 7 Day Meditation Challenge to unlock the powerful benefits of meditation quickly. You will experience less stress, better sleep, and more happiness in just one week!

What’s Included:

✅ 7 free guided meditation videos with relaxing music delivered straight to your inbox

✅ Each meditation is only 10 minutes long

✅ Expert tips and guidance from a meditation coach

✅ Free meditation support group

In just one week, you will…

💗 Reduce stress and anxiety

💗 Improve sleep and wake up feeling energized

💗 Experience increased focus and motivation

💗 Become the happiest and healthiest version of yourself!

SIGN UP FOR THE FREE 7 DAY MEDITATION CHALLENGE!

You will receive 7 free guided meditations delivered straight to your inbox plus helpful tips and surprise gifts! 🎁

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like:

10 Minute Guided Breathing Meditation
Secret Garden Meditation (for effective stress, anxiety, and pain relief)
A Complete Beginner’s Guide to Meditation
8 Guaranteed Ways to Stay Awake During Your Meditation Practice
15 Minute Stress Relief Meditation (Quick & Effective!)