Bedtime Meditations
Well-rested kids are happier during the day. Samantha Snowden, a kids mindfulness expert, shares a few ways to create a healthy bedtime routine.
Try 14 days freeBetter mental health starts with Headspace. Unrivaled expertise to make life feel a little easier, using guided meditations, mindfulness tips, focus tools, sleep support, and dedicated programs.
I'm Samantha, a kids and family mindfulness expert. Bedtime can be a really challenging time for many parents, and you may find it to be even more difficult now that we're spending more time at home. Kids tend to struggle with the transition from the excitement of the day into a more restful state at night. So today, I'm going to share a couple of meditation techniques that I hope you you and your kids can use to relax at bedtime in a really fun and soothing way. But first, let's do a short exercise. Welcome back, let's jump right in. It can be hard for anyone to sleep when we still have lots of thoughts in our minds. And this is especially true for kids. Now that we're spending more of our days at home, it's important to work with your kids on developing healthy bedtime routines. Sit down with your family, and make a list of all the things that help them to wind down, and fall asleep. These might be things like taking a warm bath, drinking a warm cup of tea, or maybe turning down the lights, or turning off technology 30 minutes before bedtime. Making your child a part of this process will help them to start to think about things that help them calm down and rest, as they transition into sleep mode at night. But even with a strong bedtime routine, some nights, it just may be more challenging for them to calm their active mind. So I'm going to share a few meditation techniques that'll hopefully have your little ones snoozing in no time. These can be done on with a favorite stuffed animal in hand, or while listening to soothing music that your child enjoys. (soft music) A great activity to try is a simple standing meditation. This is a nice way to get your kids to think about shifting their minds from all the excitement of the day into a more present and restful state at night. Start by having your child stand still, and close their eyes. Invite them to begin slowly shifting their weight from side to side. And anytime their minds begin to wander, ask them to focus on the feeling of their feet pressing into the floor. In using the feet as a point of focus, we're bringing their attention to the farthest point from their head. So this is a really concrete way to think about slowing down their minds as they get ready for bed. (soft music) This next activity is what I like to call a butterfly body scan. This modification to the traditional body scan technique gives kids an imaginative and concrete way to focus with how they're feeling. Instead of broadly asking your child to think about how each body part feels, invite your child to start by imagining a butterfly landing on their shoulder. As you continue to name each part of the body, ask your child to imagine the...
Details
About your teachers
- More about Andy
A former Buddhist monk, Andy has guided people in meditation and mindfulness for 20 years. In his mission to make these practices accessible to all, he co-created the Headspace app in 2010.
- More about Eve
Eve is a mindfulness teacher, overseeing Headspace’s meditation curriculum. She is passionate about sharing meditation to help others feel less stressed and experience more compassion in their lives.
- More about Dora
As a meditation teacher, Dora encourages others to live, breathe, and be with the fullness of their experiences. She loves meditation’s power to create community and bring clarity to people’s minds.
- More about Kessonga
Kessonga has been an acupuncturists, therapist, and meditation teacher, working to bring mindfulness to the diverse populations of the world.
- More about Rosie
Rosie Acosta has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. Rosie’s mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love.
Look after your mind
Proven guided meditations and programs to help you stress less, sleep more soundly, and better navigate life’s challenges
Science-backed
Studies show that using Headspace for 30 days can reduce stress, increase resilience, and improve overall well-being
Explore 1000+ expert-led exercises
Access our library of meditations, breathing exercises, and guidance videos for stress, sleep, focus, everyday anxiety , parenting, and more.
Member reviews
Hear from some of our members
Your app brings so much peace and tolerance to our home.
Rachel
UK
Changing my thoughts has allowed me to change my life.
Davide
London
The stress and loneliness courses … taught me how to comfort myself.
Alicia
Canada
Headspace provides me with … a connection to myself, and a disconnection from negative thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
Keri
UK
Related to 'Bedtime'
- © 2024 Headspace Inc.
- Terms & conditions
- Privacy policy
- Consumer Health Data
- Your privacy choices
- CA Privacy Notice