With meditation moving into the mainstream, Canadian researchers are giving a whole new meaning to the idea of quiet time for kids.
A recent study published in the Journal of Developmental Psychology found that elementary school students benefited from a four-month meditation program. These fourth- and fifth-grade students improved in their cognitive and emotional control, enhanced their empathy and even got better grades in math.
Prior research has yielded similar results. However, those studies focused primarily on reducing mental health issues, such as depression. The current study concluded that these improvements also could help ordinary developing children with well-being, stress regulation and learning in typical elementary school settings.
In the study, participants ages 9 to 11 were exposed to a social and emotional learning program that incorporated mindfulness practices. Mindfulness refers to the ability to pay attention to individual thoughts, feelings and perceptions in the present moment in a nonreactive manner, and often includes meditation exercises. A control group of fourth- and fifth-grade children was used as a comparison.
The students who participated in the meditation activities focused on breathing and listening to a single sound, in addition to mindful smelling and tasting and acts of kindness toward others.
Some researchers believe meditation can have a bigger impact on those who are in earlier stages of development, and that it change the functions of the brain in positive ways.
So if your child has a chance to try meditation, consider letting them do it as a way to boost their well-being — and maybe even their grades.