If you want your children to feel more relaxed and less stressed, give them silence, not iPods.
This unthinkable idea came to mind after listening to Ernie Christie and Dr Cathy Day, two educationists from Queensland, Australia. They were addressing an audience at Regent’s College, London, on the benefits of allowing children to experience regular periods of silent meditation in the classroom.
A pilot study in 2005, involving teaching meditation to five- to 17-year-olds, had shown that children are not only capable of meditation, they actually enjoy it. The benefits to children’s wellbeing were so obvious to teachers that it persuaded Cathy Day, director of Townsville Catholic Education Office, to spend precious funds implementing the first Christian meditation programme for all schools in the diocese.
The initiative had two important catalysts: a diocesan bishop sympathetic to meditation, Michael Putney, and the input of Laurence Freeman OSB, leader of the World Community for Christian Meditation.SOURCE: Children need more meditation and less stimulation
A remote diocese in Australia is leading the way by allowing regular periods of silent meditation in the classroom
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/jan/11/children-meditation-australia
The article recommends the use of a ground-breaking book, Coming Home: A Guide to Teaching Christian Meditation to Children, to teach children that being “still” is very different from being “quiet”. One tool used for teaching meditation and silence to children in A Guide to Teaching Christian Meditation to Children is to pray with the mantra Maranatha.
Whatever mantra is chosen, it is important to
say the mantra in mind and heart throughout
the entire meditation period. As John Cassian
says, “The mind should unceasingly cling to
the mantra until strengthened by continual
use of it.” The Cloud of Unknowing concurs:
“Fix this word fast to your heart so that it is
always there come what may. With this word,
you will suppress all thoughts.” Many
beginners to meditation are astonished that
something as simple as praying with a mantra
can actually bring us into God’s presence.– Praying with a Mantra
http://www.cominghome.org.au/praying.htm
Children don’t need to meditate with mantras and teddy bears to keep them quiet in class. They need to run and play in the fresh air to tire themselves out and burn off their energy so they can sit still and learn. How incredibly sad that parents and teachers are listening to these ‘experts’ and teaching their lies about so called ‘Christian meditation’ to children.
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