It has
long been known that meditation can help calm children down, but new research
is helping quantify its benefits for elementary school children. Fourth and
fifth graders who participated in a four month programme showed improvements in
cognitive control, working memory, cognitive flexibility – and better math
grades. A recent study recently in ‘Mindfulness’ found similar improvements in
mathematics in fifth graders with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These
investigations illustrate how meditative practices have the potential to change
the structure and function of the brain to foster academic success.
Fundamental
principles of neuroscience suggest that meditation can have a great impact on
cognition when the brain is in its earliest stages of development. This is because
the brain develops connections in prefrontal circuits at its fastest rate in
childhood. This extra plasticity creates the potential for meditation to have
greater impact on executive functioning. the meditation seems to act like a ‘hard
reboot’ for the brain, almost instantly resolving mood swings or lessening
anger.
Two Ways To Try It:
- Finger counting breaths – Creates gentle fists with your hand, and with each breath, unfurl a finger from your palm. For example, on your first exhale open your left thumb from your fist. Pause and enjoy an inhale. On your next exhale, unfurl your left index finger. Pause and enjoy an inhale. Continue until you have two open palms on your lap.
- Deep breaths before bed – Take a deep breath in through the nose, and on the exhale chant out loud: ‘three’. Enjoy another deep in-breath, and on the next exhale, chant ‘two’, and then ‘one’. Relax for a few breaths, and enjoy feeling your body sitting or lying on your bed.
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