dawn selander...the "growing kindness" meditation will help your children “grow”...

Growing KindnessA MOVING MEDITATION

Remember, they are kids. They will talk, they will move around, and some may not want todo the meditation at all. It's ok. You might not think they are getting anything out of it, buttrust me, you will be amazed with the things they have to share after. You don't have to read the whole script or ask all of the questions in it. Make your guidedstory as many minutes as your children are years old. So, that means four minutes for agroup of four year olds.

The "Growing Kindness" meditation will help your children “grow” something from within. Usethis script with your Valentine's Day theme and try growing some love, friendship, or kindnessin your classroom. HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED:

· The Springtime Moving Meditation script· A space large enough for your kids to do some movement· Watering can, optional, but the kids love it!

HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:

1. Have your children begin on their knees with their bottoms resting on their feet. Remindthem that this is a time to be silent and notice things, and that there will be time to sharetheir experience after the meditation.

2. Read the script using a slow, calm voice and pause where it’s indicated. Change out thewords so it is customized for your group’s needs and your current theme.

3. Allow some time for sharing after the meditation. When children hear the experiences ofothers, it allows them to be open to fully noticing and sharing their own experiences.Sharing also helps children remember details they may have forgotten and find meaning insymbols they may have seen. It will help them integrate the messages from meditation intotheir life.

4. Use the questions that follow the script if you need some inspiration for discussion andsharing. A drawing or other creative activity following the meditation also helps to processthe experience.

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Let’s begin by taking a deep breath in through your nose and let it out very slowly throughyour mouth. Take another long, deep breath in, and let it out very slowly. And one last deepbreath in and let it out slowly. Lower your head to the floor so your forehead is resting gently on the floor in front of you andyour body is tucked up like a tiny little seed. You are a KINDNESS seed and everything youneed to be KIND is right inside of you. Just like everything the oak tree will become is rightinside a tiny acorn. Take a breath and imagine all types of KIND things inside of you right now. Maybe it’s a HUGor a SMILE. Maybe you notice you are HELPING SOMEONE. Maybe you are CLEANING UPYOUR TOYS or GIVING A COMPLIMENT. Notice right now all sorts of KIND things going onwithin you. (Pause.) Now, I will come around and water these KIND things so they grow bigger and KINDER. (Usethe watering can to sprinkle pretend water onto the “seeds”. You can use your fingers to makegentle pitter patter movements on their backs.) Imagine you are growing roots out of your feet into the earth below you. Use your roots totake in a big drink of water from the ground. Lift your head up slowly and grow taller like a treegrowing from a seed. (Children’s bottoms are resting on their feet again.) There is a brilliant, yellow sun above you, shining on you and warming you. The warmth of thesun feels so nice on your face. You notice that you can also feel KINDNESS inside of you. Youcan close your eyes if you want and notice for a moment where the KINDNESS is growinginside your body. (Pause.) Now, notice what the KINDNESS feels like. (Pause.) Notice if it has ashape, a color, or a sound? (Pause.) The bright, glowing sun is shining on all the KINDNESS within you and the KINDNESS isgrowing even bigger and stronger. Imagine your roots are growing even deeper into the earth as you grow up more toward thesky. Grow slowly as you move from your knees up to standing. (Give them a moment to stand.) The rain comes to grow KINDNESS within you even more. Use your fingers to feel the pitterpatter of the light rain as it lands gently on your head and your face. Next, the pitter patter of



rain moves down your arms and your belly. (Give them a moment to feel the pitter patter ofrain.) Now, turn to a friend and take turns using your fingers to gently pitter patter some rain ontheir back. Notice how the rain feels on your back. Notice how your fingers feel when they arethe gentle rain. (Pause.) Now, the rain shower is over. You can close your eyes and take a breath as you noticeKINDNESS stirring around even more inside of you. Make gentle, relaxed fists with your hands and place them together at your heart. Keep yourfists together as you breathe in and grow your KINDNESS branches straight up to the sky.(Have the children lift their arms straight up over their heads.) Keep your hands closed gently and slowly open up your arms like branches. You can sway inthe cool breeze if you want. (You can move around the room and blow a gentle, breeze aroundthe children. They love this, too!) Now, take in a huge drink of water through your roots and feel the warmth of the sun rays asyou open up your hands, stretch your fingers, and allow all sorts of KINDNESS to bloom likeleaves and flowers and fruit from your branches. Right now, you are filled with KINDNESS. Close your eyes and notice how it feels (pause),notice how it looks (pause), notice if it makes a sound. (Give them a moment to notice theexperience.) You can share some of your kindness fruit or flowers with your friends if you want. (Allow afew moments for sharing kindness fruit or flowers.) There is kindness inside of you all the time. You simply have to remember to share it. Imagine atime you would want to be kind. When you are ready, take a deep breath and slowly bring your hands back down to your heart.Cross your legs and have a seat. You can lower your hands to your lap and take another deep breath in and let it out slowly.



DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What sorts of kind things did you notice inside you? 2. Was it difficult or easy to find kindness within you? 3. Were you aware of kindness growing within you? How did you know it was kindness? 4. Did you notice something other than kindness within you? 5. Where did you notice kindness growing in your body? 6. What did kindness feel like? Look like? Sound like? 7. How did you feel different after the meditation than before? 8. Can you name a specific time for when you might share your kindness flower/fruit? 9. Do you remember a time when someone was kind to you? 10. Do you remember a time when you were kind to someone else?



My KINDNESS fruit or flowers.

Growing Kindness


dawn selander...the "growing kindness" meditation will help your children “grow”...

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