Meditation book for children

15 Mindfulness and Relaxation Books Every Child Needs

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This year has been all about working on mindfulness for my child with Anxiety. Helping her develop coping skills before an anxiety attack has been huge for helping our daily activities run smoothly. These 15 Mindfulness and Relaxation Books for Kids are some of our favorites that we have discovered while on this journey.

Peace Piggy Meditation by Kerry Lee MacLean

Peaceful Piggy Meditation

Sometimes life seems like it’s all about hurrying–so many places to go! And sometimes it’s hard when things don’t go your way–it can make a piggy angry and sad. So how do young piggies find a peaceful place in a frustrating world? They meditate!

Buy this book on Amazon.

A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles by Thich Nhat Hanh
A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles

Pebble meditation is a playful and fun activity that parents and educators can do with their children to introduce them to meditation. It is designed to involve children in a hands-on and creative way that touches on their interconnection with nature. Practicing pebble meditation can help relieve stress, increase concentration, nourish gratitude, and can help children deal with difficult emotions.

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Meditation is an Open Sky by Whitney Stewart
Meditation Is an Open Sky: Mindfulness for Kids

Kids of any age will learn simple exercises to help manage stress and emotions, find focus, and face challenges. They’ll discover how to feel safe when scared, relax when anxious, spread kindness, and calm anger when frustrated.

Buy this book on Amazon.

Puppy Mind by Andrew Jordan Nance
Puppy Mind

In this picture book for children and adults, illustrated by Jim Durk, who is adored by thousands of children for his many Clifford the Big Red Dog and Thomas the Steam Engine books, a young boy discovers his mind is like a puppy, always wandering away, into the past or the future. He sets about learning to train his puppy mind to heel to the present moment. Through remembering to breathe, the boy becomes a stronger and more caring master of his puppy mind, keeping it in the present, if only for a moment.

Buy this book on Amazon.

Breathe Like a Bear by Kira Willey
Breathe Like a Bear: 30 Mindful Moments for Kids to Feel Calm and Focused Anytime, Anywhere

Breathe Like a Bear is a beautifully illustrated collection of mindfulness exercises designed to teach kids techniques for managing their bodies, breath, and emotions. Best of all, these 30 simple, short breathing practices and movements can be performed anytime, anywhere: in the car to the grocery store, during heavy homework nights at home, or even at a child’s desk at school.

Buy this book on Amazon.

Sitting Still Like a Frog by Eline Snel
Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and Their Parents)

This little book is a very appealing introduction to mindfulness meditation for children and their parents. In a simple and accessible way, it describes what mindfulness is and how mindfulness-based practices can help children calm down, become more focused, fall asleep more easily, alleviate worry, manage anger, and generally become more patient and aware.

Buy this book on Amazon.

Master of Mindfulness by Laurie Grossman
Master of Mindfulness: How to Be Your Own Superhero in Times of Stress

Master of Mindfulness is a unique and empowering book written for kids by kids, with cool illustrations and tips that show you how to be confident, get focused, stay calm, and tap into your own inner strength so that you can be your own superhero—no matter what life throws your way!

Buy this book on Amazon.

What Does It Mean To Be Present? by Rana DiOrio
What Does It Mean to Be Present?

Follow a group of friends at school, at home, and at the beach as they experience just what it means to be present. What Does It Mean to Be Present? has received multiple awards including the The Moonbeam Gold Children’s Book Award for Mind-Body-Spirit/Self-Esteem.

Buy this book on Amazon.

Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda by Kerry Lee MacLean and Lauren Alderfer
Mindful Monkey, Happy Panda

This wonderful picture book for children and adults alike introduces the powerful practice of mindfulness in a fun and exciting way. With the delightful Monkey and his serene friend Happy Panda guiding readers to a calmer and more attentive mind, this whimsical yet warm presentation will delight all readers.

Buy this book on Amazon.

Good Morning Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose Wake Up Story by Mariam Gates
Good Morning Yoga: A Pose-by-Pose Wake Up Story

This “wake up” story is so much more than a story. It’s a practice for kids and parents to greet the morning with joy and embark on their daily adventures with intention and confidence. Turn the page and reach up to the sky, press your feet into the earth, and get ready for a great day!

Buy this book on Amazon.

The Lemonade Hurricane: A Story of Mindfulness and Meditation by Licia Morelli
The Lemonade Hurricane: A Story of Mindfulness and Meditation

Henry is a lot of fun when he’s not storming through the house, so Emma decides to teach him how to be still. By showing him how to sit, bow, and breathe, Emma is able to calm the hurricane within Henry.

Buy this book on Amazon.

You Are a Lion! And Other Fun Yoga Poses by Taeeun Yoo
You Are a Lion! And Other Fun Yoga Poses

With simple instructions and bright, clear illustrations, award-winning artist Taeeun Yoo invites children to enjoy yoga by assuming playful animal poses. And she sparks their imagination further by encouraging them to pretend to be the animal – to flutter like a butterfly, hiss like a snake, roar like a lion and more. Yoga is great for kids because it promotes flexibility and focus – and it’s relaxing good fun! The charming pictures of children and animals and the lyrical text make this gentle introduction to yoga a book to be treasured.

Buy this book on Amazon.

ABC Yoga by Christiane Engel
ABC for Me: ABC Yoga: Join us and the animals out in nature and learn some yoga!

Pairing simplified yoga poses with alphabetized animals and objects, ABC Yoga features colorful illustrations of children and animals practicing yoga along with playful rhymes to explain each movement. A fun family read, this interactive title is perfect for teaching toddlers their ABCs, as well as introducing them to familiar animals and basic, simplified yoga poses that promote health and well-being.

Buy this book on Amazon.

I Am Yoga Hardcover by Susan Verde
I Am Yoga

Yoga has the power of transformation. Not only does it strengthen bodies and calm minds, but with a little imagination, it can show us that anything is possible. New York Times bestselling illustrator Peter H. Reynolds teams up with author and certified Yoga instructor Susan Verde in this book about creativity and the power of self-expression. I Am Yoga encourages children to explore the world of Yoga and make room in their hearts for the world beyond it.

Read this book for free on Kindle Unlimited.

The Grateful Giraffe: A Kids Yoga Feelings Book by Giselle Shardlow
The Grateful Giraffe: A Kids Yoga Feelings Book

This feelings yoga book for toddlers and preschoolers visits countries around the world to learn about various animals and talk about feelings!

Buy this book on Amazon.

P.S. Looking for more ways to explore Mindfulness and Relaxation with your child? Check out this awesome list of apps!

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The Big List of Mindfulness Books for Kids

If you’re interested in helping children learn mindfulness, here’s a list of books for kids that will help you begin.

Mindfulness is being aware of all that is in the present moment — our feelings, the sensations in our bodies, the sounds, sights, and smells of the world around us. Mindfulness is noticing.

If you’re interested in trying something active such as a mindfulness activity, here is a post about the activities we’ve tried or you can visit this post about teaching kids ages six and up to knit. Once your child gets the hang of the stitch, the process is very meditative and mindful.

Here and Now by Julia Denos, illustrated by E.B. Goodale
I love this book so much! Readers learn about being present in your body as well as being aware of the world around you. It’s a guided meditation in a picture book! “The book is in your lap, or in your hands, or in someone else’s.” It continues with you noticing your bottom, and your feet on the floor. Then it moves to an awareness of the world… “Right here, right now, while you are reading this book, many, many things are happening: Rain is forming in the belly of a cloud. An ant has finished its home on the other side of the planet.” Gorgeous artwork. Important concepts.

I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
This is the goal — to feel the ground, take a deep breath, to be still, to say what you feel, and so on. Reading this book shows kids what mindfulness is. It truly is peace. Reynolds’ whimsical watercolor illustrations make the concepts visually appealing and accessible.

Breathe with Me by Mariam Gates
I love how Gates makes breathing accessible to children with powerful imagery. For example, when you’re sleepy in the morning and can’t wake up — try doing Rainbow Breath. Illustrated with a girl sitting under a rainbow we read about Rainbow Breath:

“Sit up and let your spine grow tall.

Bring your arms out straight to
the sides, palms down.

Inhale and sweep your arms up over your head palm to palm.

Exhale and bring your arms back
straight out to the sides, palms down.

Repeat three times.“

Or when you’re nervous about something new, try Dandelion Breath. (I LOVE the idea of blowing a dandelion, don’t you?) The book has five different ways to think about your breathing in total. And I think they’re all so brilliantly relatable for kids.

Now by Antoinette Portis
This little girl knows how to live in the moment. “This is my favorite hole (this one) // because it’s the one I’m digging.” She appreciates the now. “That is my favorite cloud // because it’s the one I am watching.” We can learn a lot from her gratitude for the present moment. “This is my favorite now // because it’s the one I am having // with you.”

Listen by Gaby Snyder, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin
What if you listened to each sound asks a little girl? Listen with her through her day starting with the noisy street, then at school, into the rain and wind, and all the way until bedtime. “Listen past the crunch of gravel and the scrape of chalk.// Can you hear new words? Listen to each sound. Some pop, like quick and snappy, while others stretch, like looong and leisurely. Listen.” She implores you to listen, repeating it frequently throughout the book. She says we must stop and listen to what’s outside and around us as well as what’s inside us, too.

Take a Breath by Sujean Rim
Bob can’t fly quite yet. He tries and practices and NOTHING happens. He starts freaking out that he’ll never fly!!! Crow tells Bob he’s been there and knows what Bob needs to do…he needs to take a breath. In a funny conversation and practice session, Crow teaches Bob the basics of breathing — noticing your breath and filling your bellies, and so forth. And Bob feels so much better…and soon learns to fly! Because sometimes you have to be grounded before you can fly.

Puppy Mind by Andrew Jorda Nance, illustrated by Jim Durk
Zen monks call it a monkey mind but I think kids can really understand puppy mind better. (This also explains the ADHD “squirrel” brain. ) Like a puppy who is always wandering off, our brains can do that, too. To keep our brains focused on the present, we can breathe. Lovely illustrations throughout this simple book that gives kids a powerful metaphor.

What Does It Mean to Be Present? by Rana DiOrio, illustrated by Eliza Wheeler
Practical examples with real children show you what being present in the moment looks and feels like. Very well done and relatable for kids.

The Boy and the Sea by Camille Andros, illustrated by Amy Bates
Metaphorical and wise, the boy visits the sea; they share much in common. Sometimes the sea is dark and dangerous and so is the boy. When he listens to the sea, he hears the sea say to dream. As the boy grows, he asks more unanswerable questions but the sea has answers and it tells him as an adult to simply be. Repeated sentences give the story a comforting, wave-like structure.

Mindful Kids: 50 Activities for Calm, Focus and Peace by Whitney Stewart and Mina Braun
Beautiful illustrations with diversity (!!) give kids 50 games, visualizations, and exercises to promote mindfulness in 5 categories: feeling grounded, finding calm, improving focus, practicing loving-kindness, and relaxing. Easy step-by-step instructions make these accessible for kids and adults. I can’t wait to try these with my kids.

Crying is Like the Rain: A Story of Mindfulness and Feelings by Heather Hawk Feinberg, illustrated by Chamisa Kellogg
YES! This book is spot-on for emotional intelligence — it encourages children to feel all the feelings and shares that crying is temporary just like the rain…It also explains that crying is healing just like the rain that nourishes the earth. “When it’s needed, the rain always comes. And after the rain pours down, the earth feels fresh and new.” “Tears help your mind, your heart, and your body feel new, clear, and calm after the storm. / We need our tears, just as the earth needs rain.” This is an essential mindfulness book for any social-emotional curriculum and a very helpful, accurate way for every child to understand sadness and tears.

I Can Handle It by Laure Wright
I love this book so much and use the mantras for ME all the time. It’s so great to have this positive affirmation going through my head and my kids’ heads. Things get hard. But I can handle it.

Breathe and Be: A Book of Mindfulness Poems by Kate Coombs, illustrated by Anna Emilia Laitinen
A picture book to help us be mindful of the present moments! These little poems are great to read one at a time and discuss the meaning with your kids. I’ve taken photos of the pages to send to friends who need a little encouragement.

Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing by Christopher Willard and Daniel Rechtschaffen, illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown
Learn about breathing deeply with motions and visuals starting with A for Alligator Breath. “Open your arms wide like alligator jaws on the in-breath. Snap them shut on the out-breath.” It continues with every letter of the alphabet like the Butterfly Breath, Cake Breath, Flower Breath, Ninja Breath, and Yawning Breath. We like to do one per day. Read, practice, and assimilate. Discuss which breaths you like the best.

Sloth Wasn’t Sleepy by Kate Messner, illustrated by Valentina Toro
Sloth’s mom helps him with strategies to sleep and release the worries. They listen to the trees. “Shush-rush” and feel the wind in their fur…They close their eyes and count to four, the breath out for four. It makes Sloth feel quiet Mama shows Sloth how to imagine her worries and lay it gently on a leaf and set it free. Sloth eventually falls into a peaceful sleep.

Imaginations: Fun Relaxation Stories and Meditations for Kids by Carolyn Clarke
These guided meditations are lovely. It helps kids to imagine and really focus their minds on what they’re imagining.

Ten Ways to Hear Snow by Cathy Camper, illustrated by Kenard Pak
Lina walks through the snow to her Grandma’s house. As she walks, she notices the sounds of snow. Her boots on the ground sound like “snyak, snyek, snyuk.” People sweeping snow off their cars make a “swish-wish, swish-wish.” She hears the snow with things like mittens, skis, snowballs, shovels, too. When she arrives at her Grandma’s they cook together, eat, and listen to the stillness of the snow. This story’s lovely illustrations combined with the sensory images in the text give readers an immersive experience of this snowy day.

Mindful Mr. Sloth by Katy Hudson
Mr sloth helps a speedy girl go slow and be still to appreciate the sounds of birds and little butterflies
Now the girl has two speeds — slow and fast.

Peaceful Piggy Meditation by Kerry Lee Maclean
The Peaceful Piggy Meditation book includes lovely activities and prompts for meditation — for kids and pigs. 🙂

Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children by Thich Nhat Hahn, illustrated by Wietske Vriezen, edited by Chan Chau Nghiem
A teacher friend spent time at Thich Nhat Hahn’s Plum Village teaching mindfulness to the children of visitors. This book is based on the practices used at Plum Village and provides specific activities and dialogue to encourage mindfulness practice.

Meditation is an Open Sky: Mindfulness for Kids by Whitney Stewart, illustrated by Sally Rippin
I wish my kids liked this book but we haven’t found a meditation they connect with as of yet. It is written speaking directly to the kids, not meant for a parent to read aloud to them. Each of the meditations have a purpose such as focus, security, wisdom, and relaxation.

Breathe Like a Bear by Kira Willey, illustrated by Anni Betts
30 mindful activities for children encourage calm, focus, energy, relaxation, and imagination along with darling illustrations of animals. Hot chocolate breathing, bunny breaths, and kitty cat stretches are just some of the helpful ways for children to learn midfulness.

Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and their parents) by Eline Snel
I’ve just listen to some of the content on the CD that accompanies this book and think it’s something I’ll buy and try with my kids. See for yourself here.

MindUP Curriculum
First, the kids learn about their brains . . . how the sensory input starts at their amygdala, the fight, flight, or freeze response, and then, if all goes well, how the information travels to the prefrontal cortex where the rational brain makes a decision on that input. Then, the curriculum continues on with mindful awareness practices such as sharping each sense, learning to take different perspectives, and being mindful in the world around us. The activities in each lesson not only always explain the brain science, but they provide ideas to engage, explore, and reflect on the learning goal. I’m very impressed with this curriculum!

Mindful Games Activity Cards: 55 Fun Ways to Share Mindfulness with Kids and Teens by Susan Kaiser Greenland and Annaka Harris
I’m looking forward to trying these games to practice attention, balance, and compassion as well as breathing!

Also read: Yoga for Kids: Practice, Books, Videos & Games , Teaching Mindfulness to Kids

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8 books on meditation and mindfulness for children

In various articles we have discussed the importance of meditation and mindfulness for children. We've given you some tips on how to practice this with them at home, and today we're taking it one step further. We are going to recommend you some books so you know how to approach relaxing at home with your little one and your children. With these books, children will learn a range of relaxation and concentration techniques. , which will be very helpful.

The basic idea we discussed elsewhere is that children will recognize what they see . And meditation or mindfulness practice is much more than just sitting in the living room or bedroom every day. This is a vital attitude that you need to know how to pass on to your boys and girls so they can have a better life.

Index

1 Books that have already become classics for meditation with children
2 Stories about meditation for children
3 More stories to teach children to relax

Books that have already become classics for meditation with children

We recommend a couple of books that have already become classics when approaching meditation at home and with children . In addition to this, books are also used by teachers in schools. We recommend having at least one of these in your library. Both are presented in digital format for the most modern moms.

Calm and attentive as a frog Aimed at boys and girls aged 5 to 12, Elin Snel is a book not to be missed. On its pages you will find how to help children calm down and relax, as well as focus on what they are doing. This book offers 90,005 short, simple stories and 90,006 exercises to help children practice the mindfulness method developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn on a daily basis.
Attention to children, Paloma Sainz Vara de Rey is a book for both mothers and children. With very simple exercises and daily practice with breathing exercises, emphasizes mindfulness or mindfulness. This allows you to consciously and intentionally tune into what is happening inside and around the child.

Stories about meditation for children

Another way to bring your children closer to meditation and mindfulness is through stories, and the stories are age-appropriate. In this sense, we recommend:

Starlight. Meditation for children. A book with an attractive, warm and personal style. The author offers a series of meditation exercises that will build children's safety and confidence, drawing inspiration from their own personal experiences.
Fantasy : Relaxing stories and fun meditations for children, Teaching children to lead a happy, relaxed and peaceful life is highly recommended. Its pages offer stories to help children relax. The stories are very creative, full of joy and fantasy.
A un Metro del Suelo is a story for Children aged 5 to 8 . Samir, a boy from Nepal who survived the earthquake, must learn to live in Rome. But everything is too complicated for him, and he decides to return to Nepal to ask a monk for advice on how to learn to control his emotions and control his thoughts with a kite.

3 books on meditation for children and parents

Magazine

“I am calm and attentive, like a frog. Meditation for children and their parents»

Author: Elin Snell
The author masterfully adapts ancient Eastern wisdom to modern realities. The book describes practical information, the incredible possibilities of meditation to improve mood, increase concentration, success in school and harmony in relationships with parents and peers.

“Tashi. The Puppy Who Learned to Meditate

By Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Tasha's story is a simple and accessible text to introduce meditation techniques for preschool and primary school children. The comments at the end of the book are intended to help adults who read Tasha's story to children.

“A handful of silence. Happiness in Four Pebbles

Author: Tit Nhat Khan
Based on a retreat workshop for children and adults, this book teaches children and other family members the technique of simple and understandable meditation with four pebbles, which will allow them to return attention to their body and breath and re-enter conscious contact with the outside world. The described practice is very simple, it can be done at any time and in any place: under a tree, in your room, at recess.

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Meditation book for children

15 Mindfulness and Relaxation Books Every Child Needs

Other Ideas You Will Love!

The Big List of Mindfulness Books for Kids

8 books on meditation and mindfulness for children

Books that have already become classics for meditation with children

Stories about meditation for children

More stories to teach kids to relax

You may be interested

3 books on meditation for children and parents

How to get acquainted with practice if you are not yet 10 years old? How to ensure that acquaintance is interesting and meditation does not seem boring? Read books whose main characters train awareness with pleasure and benefit. True, you need to read with mom and dad!

“I am calm and attentive, like a frog. Meditation for children and their parents»

“Tashi. The Puppy Who Learned to Meditate

“A handful of silence. Happiness in Four Pebbles

What else to read on the topic "Self-development"

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