Meditation Stories for Kids
A meditation story is a narrative story that includes elements of mindfulness to help the listener practice meditation and experience the benefits of meditation in a fun way.
Meditation stories are popular methods for teaching kids meditation because they enable kids to use their imagination and learn meditation in a manner that suits their mood.
Traditional meditation expects meditators to sit still, clear their mind, and focus on their breathing for long periods of time. Because children have lots of energy and sometimes have trouble engaging in structured learning environments, stories are an interactive medium through which children can start meditating.
When is the best time to use meditation stories?
Meditation stories are most commonly used before bedtime and before naps. Meditation stories, like the ones in the Good Luck Yogi mobile app, are written by meditation experts to help kids relax their minds, slow down their bodies, and enter into a descriptive fictional environment.
Meditation stories are popular at night time and during nap time because they are typically longer meditations, ranging from 10 to 30 minutes in length.
If children are interested in meditating at different times of the day like before school, before a sports game, or as a break from screen time, shorter meditations and even mindful 1-minute meditations are more suitable.
What are the types of meditation stories?
Meditation stories can be written as a book, animated in a video, or recorded with audio. The type of meditation story parents choose to use with their children will be considered based on the purpose of the meditation and the most effective ways their children learn.
1. Audio-only Meditation Stories
Audio-only meditations encourage children to close their eyes and use their imagination, which can be a helpful type of storytelling method for falling alseep unassisted from their parents.
2. Meditation Story Books
Meditation stories written as children’s books are an interactive way for parents to take a hands-on approach to teaching children meditation. Meditation story books preserve traditional bedtime routines centered on reading, while pairing stories with mindfulness.
3. Meditation Video Stories
Animated meditation videos are an immersive way for children to learn meditation in an audio-visual format that is familiar to them. Like audio-only meditations, videos can be used without the help of parents, making it a time-efficient way to help kids learn breathing techniques.
One tradeoff to consider when using animated videos to teach meditation to children is that the visual format, especially if used on video sharing platforms like YouTube, is that they can distract a child’s attention, which is counterproductive to learning mediation.
What types of meditation techniques are used in meditation stories?
Body scanning, mindful breathing, guided imagery, mantra meditation, and progressive relaxation are common types of meditation techniques used throughout sleep meditation stories for kids.
Body scanning meditations and progressive relaxation strategies help children listen to their body, let go of stress they may be carrying with them from a long day, and relax into a deep and restful sleep.
Guided imagery and mantra meditation aid children in replacing recurring thoughts in their mind using imagination, critical thinking, and positive affirmations that support rest.
Throughout meditation stories, storytellers integrate mindful breathing tools like guided breathing to help children oxygenate their bodies and settle down anxious energy in their bodies before dozing off.
How does meditation improve sleep?
Meditation has been found to: enhance melatonin levels, melatonin concentration, improve autonomic functions, increase slow wave sleep, and enhanced REM sleep in experienced meditators.
In more extreme cases of insomnia, research demonstrated meditation and mindfulness practices have led patients to:
Sleep better
Wake up more refreshed
Feel less stressed (about insomnia)
Particularly, “the body scan was identified as an effective tool to enable falling asleep faster.”
Example of a Meditation Story for Kids
Giralphie is a bedtime story from the Good Luck Yogi app that guides children through body scanning, guided imagery, and mindful breathing techniques to help them calm down before it’s time to go to bed.
The story of Giralphie introduces kids to a young boy named Ralphie who is anxious about going to school and playing basketball because his classmates make fun of his Giraffe-like height by calling him Giralphie.
Throughout the story, Giralphie uses body scanning meditations to relax his shoulders, arms, and his long legs that extend over the foot of his bed. Together with guided breathing exercises, Ralphie is able to fall into a deep sleep.
The story uses descriptive storytelling devices and rhyming schemes to engage children’s imagination in picturing the events that are happening in the plot of the story.
The narrator of the story speaks in a slow, quiet, and gentle motherly voice to help kids listen closely and mirror their bodies energy with the narrator’s calming presence.
Body Scanning Meditation Story Technique
The following is an excerpt of the Giralphie meditation story where the listener is guided through a body scanning exercise before bed.
Each day, Ralphie grew higher and higher.
After a long day, his body would feel really tired.
Are you ready to hear what he did?
To fall asleep like a big big kid?
He’d lay in bed at night and stretch all the way out.
He’d extend his legs far away, like a bean about to sprout!
He’d stretch and he’d stretch all the way to his toes.
Through his thighs and calves he felt it the most!
He stretched his legs so far they went over the foot of his bed.
And he’d stretch his hands all the way up above his head!
He’d stretch all the way up to his fingertips.
Through his shoulders and forearms he felt bliss!
He’d stretch so much that his hands would crawl up the wall.
Ralphie loved the stretching feeling before sleeping he’d fall!
The pressure of growing up would leave his body every night.
He’d be settled and calm no matter his growing height!
He’d wiggle and snuggle all cozyly covered in comfort.
From side to side, front to back he felt the support!
Guided Breathing Meditation Story Technique
The following is an excerpt of the Giralphie meditation story where the listener is coached through a series of guided inhales and exhales to help fill their bodies with oxygen and settle any nervous, unused energy from their day.
To be his best self, Ralphie knew what he had to do.
Be confident, grateful, and meditate too!
Remembering GLY, he decided to give breathing a try.
Let’s practice together and sleep the day goodbye!
Breathe in
Breathe out
Feel strong all around!
Breathe in and feel grateful for everything you have.
Feel love in your heart for your mom and your dad!
Breathe in
Breathe out
Feel strong all around!
Breath in and feel safe that you’ll have a great day.
Feel confident and sure you’ll make your own way!
Breathe in
Breathe out
Feel strong all around!
Breathe in and feel comforted by the warmth in your life.
You’re a shining example, a beacon of light!
Breathe in
Breathe out
Feel strong all around
Breathe in and be thankful for your family and friends.
The ones who care, and support you without end!
Breathe in
Breathe out
Feel strong all around
Breathe in for yourself, and breath out for the world.
Be brave and be kind to every boy and girl!
What are meditation story apps for kids?
To start introducing your children to meditation, download the Good Luck Yogi mobile app and listen to the Giralphie meditation for free! For $4.99/month, you can unlock more meditation stories like the story of Jesai, Yo-Yo’s Star bedtime story, and many more family-friendly stories.
Other mobile meditation apps for kids that offer bedtime stories include:
Moshi Twilight
Bedtime Stories
New Horizon
Calm for Kids
Headspace (Sleepcasts)
