Bedtime meditation

A relaxing game for young children 4-9 years old. Suitable at bedtime.

IMPORTANT when doing Yoga or Breathing exercises or Mindfulness training with young children - it must always be fun and playful. This game releases stress from both you and your child! This yoga practice is also good for correct breathing. Keep exercise short. The main thing is not if you or your child does it right or wrong – most important that you all enjoy it! So let go of all expectations and enjoy the ride!

Here we go!

Get your child ready for bed.
Let your child/ fetch his/her favourite cuddly toy.
Get one for yourself as well!

Introduce your cuddly toy….. for example …“this is Teddy and he is very tired” or “this is Teddy and he is longing for his mum” or “this is Teddy and he had a very busy day” etc etc. Choose only one of the above or your own.
Keep it short……no explanations of why - how or -when….

Now let your child introduce his/her cuddly toy. This can be interesting ☺

JUST LISTEN and nod approvingly – DO NOT ASK FURTHER QUESTIONS NOW!

Tell your child that both cuddly toys are very tired, but they have difficult falling asleep, so we need to help them. One way of doing this is by laying down on your back and place your cuddly toy on your belly, now breathe…. very slowly….. in and out through your nose - when you breathe in your belly rise like a big balloon and when you breathe out your belly looks like a flat balloon – do this 3 times together with your child (in and out – counts as one time). “Can you feel how your belly gently rocks your cuddly toy and who is now very sleepy and will soon fall asleep….just like you”.
Now sit quietly beside your child and close your own eyes and keep breathing slowly and deeply…..if your child is restless….just say “mummy/daddy is sitting next to you to meditate, this makes me calm and very happy"

This game serves several important points – your child get your 100% attention which will lower his stress and calm him/her down and you will perhaps find out something you were not aware of regarding your child. But do not lift this issue now, just acknowledge it, but bare it in mind and talk about it the next day. So not so many words and no questions! ☺

“Your mind is like a parachute ….it functions only when open”

Please feel free to ask questions in the comments section!

A brief introduction...

I am a Montessori teacher with 30 years experience of children aged of 0-9. I Also have experience of children with ADHD and other diagnosis. When attending a Mindfulness and MediYoga training for children from 4 years of age to adulthood, I came to realise that Mindfulness training together with Montessori theories will certainly help young families of today to experience more love and laughter in their life – it will also make everyday-life easier to cope with.

My intention with this blog is to:

• keep the Montessori teachings alive and hopefully restore it to its originally dimension. 
• empowering young parents to face life`s challenges with ease, by practising easy, short Mindfulness and Reflection exercises and simple Yoga postures (these you can enjoy together with your child/children). Even if you do not think you have the time for this I promise that everyone can do it…☺.  
• Inform about scientific studies of child development. 
• Give practical advise for when your child will not sleep, will not eat or having tantrums or just exhaust you! 
• Give suggestions and ideas regarding different activities that is more favourable than others for your child/children's development!

Look forward to hearing from you…….

“All the things we offer to the child should serve his mind as keys, which allow him to open the doors of the universe which surround him”. 
"Creative Development in the Child", 
Maria Montessori.

The Montessori approach offers a broad vision of education as an aid to life and is the single largest teaching method in the world. It works and assist children and families in a variety of settings.
The Montessori Method is not affiliated with any religion or any political organisation.
The Montessori Method is there for everyone and her primary intention was Peace.
 Maria Montessori was nominated several times for the Nobel Prize for Peace.

www.montessorieducation.uk.org