As adults, most of us know that life seems to be non-stop. Between work, relationships, vacations, parenting if we have kids, and everything else, sometimes we just need a break. Many adults have heard of mindfulness and have probably also heard of meditation. But, what about kids? Oftentimes, it seems that we, as a whole society, don’t realize that little ones have a mind of their own full of big emotions and feelings. Sometimes we forget that kids are constantly experiencing new things and learning how to respond to them. In this post, I will delve into the seemingly hidden topic of meditation for toddlers.

Why is this important?

It is a common misconception that kids have it easy. Yes, they do not have to try and maintain relationships, pay bills, work jobs, keep the house clean, etc. But, they have to figure out how to live. Stop and try to imagine that. Try and imagine having to learn what it feels like to have to go to the bathroom. Try and imagine having to learn how to use silverware. Try and imagine having to get put in a car seat and go somewhere that you don’t want to–but then not knowing how to deal with those feelings. You can’t imagine it, can you? Even though we all went through all of this, it is an experience that we most likely do not remember that well. We probably do not remember the frustration and confusion we felt on a daily basis. It is time to acknowledge that being a kid is tough and that is something that cannot be denied. We need to be there for our kids and provide them with the tools that they need to grow.

Now, I am a parent myself, so I understand that it is difficult (very difficult) to have patience and be understanding through every moment of parenthood. But, all that matters is that we try our best. And one step that we could take is dedicating a little bit of time to learning about how we can best guide our little ones to having a strong, calm mind. One way of doing so is meditation. 

Being Present: The Foundation of Mindfulness

If you have been around a toddler, I am sure that you know that they can often be FULL of energy. Their minds sometimes seem to be moving a mile a minute and they seem to always go from one thing to the next. But, think back to the times that you have seen a toddler completely engrossed with a bug crawling on the ground or captivated by a pretty flower that stands out in the grass. That ability to focus and be present is the root of meditation and mindfulness. 

Although many may not have considered it before, toddlers are more than capable of being focused and engaged with one thing all by themselves. They just need to be given time, guidance and understanding. Much like all of us, toddlers want to be heard–they just might not realize that yet until we show them what that means. By giving them our time and working to help them grow into mentally strong individuals, they start to slowly learn what feeling good is. So, that is where meditation comes into play. 

When working with toddlers, and taking the time to help them find a state of bliss, they start to realize that they have a safe place both within themselves and around themselves. We can mostly control the safe place that we surround them with, but by helping them find the safe place within themselves, it’ll encourage them to feel stronger and happier. Encouraging our kids to practice positive affirmations is also a way to promote finding their internal safe place. It may be a lot to grasp, but positive affirmations have great power and our littles are more than capable of doing them and experiencing the results that they can have. Between teaching our kids to practice positive affirmations to guiding them through meditation, we can work to be the best parent we can be.

But, how do I do this?

While meditation comes in many forms, you can imagine that with toddlers, you may need to get a little creative. Utilizing instructions to generate imagery is a key step to take. There are various different avenues to do so, but video instruction tends to work really well. These toddler-guided meditations are a useful tool to help you help your little one. Although the material itself is very important, the toddlers’ surroundings are just as important. With a calming, guiding video, they need a calming environment so that they can feel safe as a whole. This is truly not as complex as one may think, it just takes a little time and resources (that are pretty easily accessible) from us as parents.

Aside from videos, even simple things like yoga can help. Now, I don’t mean load up an intense 30-minute yoga video and have your little one grind out early in the morning. But, just practicing poses can help so much. Yoga poses are structured the way they are for a reason and they benefit both kids and adults equally. Yoga for toddlers might seem scary, but there are plenty of resources out there!

Additional Tips

Combining multiple forms of care has various results. But, coupling some holistic treatment approaches with meditation is more likely than not going to be a combination that has great synergy. One such method is combining meditation with chiropractic–especially upper cervical chiropractic. Now, why connect something like meditation with a doctor that adjusts bones? Good question.

One thing that makes upper cervical chiropractic different, like the chiropractors at Atlas Chiropractic of Boulder, is the focus on nervous system regulation. Chiropractors that utilize this technique understand that the nervous system is indeed, the most important system in the body. They understand the effect that inconsistencies within the nervous system can have, and that the mind and body are most definitely connected. 

By adjusting only the first bone in the spine, sometimes the second, Atlas Chiropractic is constantly aiming to alleviate nerve interference. This approach works toward building a strong nervous system, enabling the body to progress toward self-healing. By combining the power of mindfulness with the power of nervous system regulation, the strength of the body and mind to function in their greatest capacity grows. Combining these two approaches increases the chances of children and adults alike to grow into healthier individuals in various ways.

Take the step and dedicate time to your child’s mindfulness. Take the step and schedule with Atlas Chiropractic of Boulder at 303-442-5911 or visit www.alisonbremner.com.

All you have to do is take the step and the rest will follow.

 

Lindsey Rimes