As the pandemic continues, children are turning to meditation to help them cope with some of the anxiety they are feeling. The ripple effect that COVID-19 has had on children is more than many would have anticipated. They have had to navigate virtual learning and go without their extracurricular activities and seeing friends and family. This has taken a toll on their mental health, and the extent of it is still being uncovered. Studies are important to understand how they are being impacted, but also to know what resources can help them get through this time.
According to Today and Head Topic, children are turning to meditation to help them cope with the anxiety that the pandemic is bringing. Meditation is something that is usually seen as popular for adults, but not many would think that children would be interested. It involves a lot of sitting still and focusing, some things that children are not given enough credit for.
Amy Drauschke is one of those moms who noticed a change in her 10-year-old son, Alex when it came to mental health and the pandemic. She noted that Alex was really struggling with all the changes that the pandemic brought to his life, and it was really affecting his everyday living.
Alex reported trouble sleeping and a lot of stomach issues, and when everything physical was ruled out, they determined that he was struggling with some anxiety surrounding the school and the pandemic. Amy herself, used the popular Peloton workout program, and she had the idea to get her son to try some of the meditation programs that they offered, and she described the result as “life-changing.” Alex said that he is enjoying calming down and relaxing and his favorite time to use the app is at night if he is having a hard time falling asleep.
Alex also said if he wakes up in the middle of the night, and is struggling, he will do another program and he has no problem going back to sleep for the night. Meditation may be a great option for a family who wants to try some natural ways to relieve anxiety without turning to medication. Sue English is a licensed family therapist and she threw in her own expert opinion on meditation and children. She stated that meditation can be a great tool for children who need new ways to calm themselves down and that it can help to provide a sense of safety in a moment when they are feeling on edge.
Sources Today, Head Topic