Tribeca Pediatrics
Portal Join Today
  • Home
  • Patient Portal
  • Practice Info
  • Our Story
  • The Team
  • FAQs
  • Locations
  • Info Sessions
  • Affiliated Hospitals
  • Insurance
  • Resources
  • Well Visit Info
  • Vaccine Schedule
  • Adolescent Support
  • Mental Health Support
  • A-Z Health Guide
  • Medication Dosage
  • Breastfeeding Support
  • Classes
  • Newsletter
  • Podcast

Newsletter

Skip to table of contents

Calm Kids

exit-btn

Olivia Briggs, Author at Tribeca Pediatrics

By Olivia Cuartero-Briggs,  January 12, 2023
Tweet
January Newsletter Calm Kids

Meditation has been shown to reduce stress, depression, anxiety, and increase happiness, calm, focus, connection, and overall success; all attributes we can greatly benefit from. But, how do we introduce the practice of meditation to our kids? What age is appropriate? How can we get them stoked about it? Can we meditate with our kids? What are the benefits of learning this practice early on?

This month, we want to answer all these questions and more, to help you and your kiddos achieve that all important sense of calm.

INTRODUCING MEDITATION TO YOUR KIDS

Meditation can also be referred to as a practice of mindfulness. One of the simplest and most effective ways to be mindful is to allow yourself to be immersed in the present moment, which is something kids are great at already! So, to introduce your child to meditation, you can simply start by being mindful with them. Go outside, study the grass, feel the breeze, comment on what you see, feel, and hear around you, and ask them to do the same.

Another great exercise is a body scan. This practice can help to bring your child into the present moment, cope with any discomfort or pain, and feel more relaxed while staying present and calm. You can have your child sit comfortably or lay down, take a few deep breaths, and talk them through any sensations happening around their body, from their toes all the way to the top of their head, while doing the same along with them.

You can also create a fun, mindfulness exercise by sending well wishes to a friend or family member. Just ask your child to think of someone they care about, and how that person makes them feel. Then, they can come up with an idea of something that would make that person happy, and focus on sending that gift their way by imagining how that special occurrence would make that person feel. This exercise can be even more effective when practiced with a person who has angered your child, or made them feel bad.

Another way to introduce meditation to your kids is through a third party. Audible.com and headspace.com have great meditations for kids, as does New Horizon for free on YouTube. If you prefer reading material to audio and video, Breathe Like a Bear: 30 Mindful Moments for Kids to Feel Calm and Focused Anytime, Anywhere has awesome reviews on Amazon, as does Meditation for Kids: 40 Activities to Manage Emotions, Ease Anxiety, and Stay Focused.

HOW OLD SHOULD MY CHILD BE BEFORE INTRODUCING MEDITATION?

Children as young as 3 and 4 can understand, benefit from, and easily practice basic breathing techniques. The “box breath” is a great one, because it involves focus and counting. Count to four on the inhale, hold the breath for 4 seconds, breathe out for 4 seconds, and hold again for four seconds before taking a breath in. This and other types of breathing exercises are a great way to help kids get calm and focused.

By the age of 16, your youngster should be able to participate fully in any and all meditation practices, techniques, and classes.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF INTRODUCING MEDITATION AT AN EARLY AGE?

Across numerous sources, introducing a meditation practice in childhood appears to improve sleep, emotional regulation, empathy, focus, attention span, and resilience, along with reducing stress and anxiety. Additionally, should you choose to have your child partake in a group meditation class, they can find themselves part of a community with other like-mindfulness-minded kids, and what’s more fun than making new friends?

Plus, research shows that starting a mediation practice in childhood can have great long-term benefits, like a strong immune system, increased self-regulation into adulthood, and an easier time learning and retaining information through those intense college years.

HOW TO GET KIDS EXCITED ABOUT MEDITATING?

For the little ones, if you’re doing something and enjoying it, chances are, they’ll want to take part. Take five to ten minutes out of your day to meditate, and invite your child to sit in your lap, or lie down with you, and just be. Plus, that added snuggle time just feels so good! You can also play soothing, but engaging music for them to focus on while they reflect, or give them an object to contemplate for five minutes or so in quiet.

But the best way to get kids stoked about meditating, is to let them know how good it feels, and to just try it for themselves. Once youngsters – particularly preteens and teenagers – discover the place of solitude, sanctuary, and safety within themselves, they’ll want to return time and time again when things get tough, or when they just need a break from the world.

We hope this newsletter gets you excited to try out meditation with your kids. Meditation is such a wonderful practice, and showing your child some of the benefits and techniques at a young age, is a gift they will carry with them for a lifetime. Even if your child doesn’t always tap into their mindfulness, calm, and solitude when you want them to, they will always have those techniques in their toolkit for when they need them most.

  • Sun and Hydration Tips for Babies with Dr. Cathryn Stamatos

     May 8, 2025
  • Water Safety Tips with Imagine Swimming

     April 4, 2025
  • Measles FAQ 2025

     March 5, 2025
  • Potty Training Tips for Toddlers

     February 13, 2025
  • Winter Skin Tips for Infants, Toddlers, and Adolescents

     January 9, 2025
  • Walking Pneumonia Q&A

     December 10, 2024
  • Fall Activities for Kids

     November 14, 2024
  • Allergic Reactions in Children – Q&A with Dr. Jessica George

     October 10, 2024
  • Flu and COVID Vaccines – Scheduling Open on the Portal

     September 11, 2024
  • Vitamins and Supplements Q&A with Dr. Jessica George

     August 15, 2024
  • Summer Sun Safety Tips with Dr. Sarraa Aljalily

     July 11, 2024
  • Summer Activities for Kids

     June 13, 2024
  • Adolescent Mental Health Q&A with Dr. Nancy Dodson

     May 9, 2024
  • Spring Activities for Kids and Families

     April 11, 2024
  • Norovirus Q&A with Dr. Mohamed Elzalata

     March 14, 2024
  • Family Fun in February – Activities for Kids in NYC & the Metro Area

     February 8, 2024
  • “Why is My Toddler Biting and Hitting?”

     January 11, 2024
  • Tribeca Pediatrics x Little Essentials Donation Drives!

     December 6, 2023
  • “Why is My Kid Always Sick?”

     November 10, 2023
  • COVID Vaccine Update

     October 3, 2023
  • Flu Shots

     September 7, 2023
  • Coxsackievirus FAQs

     August 8, 2023
  • Babyproofing Your Home: Tips and Traps

     July 12, 2023
  • Summer Activities for Kids in NYC

     June 15, 2023
  • Ticks and Lyme with Dr. Jessica George

     May 11, 2023
  • Allergies, Cold, Flu, or COVID?

     April 13, 2023
  • Educational and Entertaining YouTube Channels for Kids

     March 9, 2023
  • Eczema

     February 9, 2023
  • Calm Kids

     January 12, 2023
  • Calling All Santa’s Helpers!

     December 8, 2022
  • RSV FAQ

     November 3, 2022
  • Family Fun in NYC – Fall Activities for Kids

     October 13, 2022
  • Flu Shots

     September 8, 2022
  • Polio FAQ

     August 15, 2022
  • Tips to Manage Back-to-School Anxiety

     August 10, 2022
  • Free Summer Activities for Kids in NYC

     July 14, 2022
  • Talking with Your Kids about Gender: In Conversation with Jodie Patterson

     June 9, 2022
  • A Message on the Infant Formula Shortage

     May 16, 2022
  • Seasonal Allergies

     May 12, 2022
  • Spring Break Activities

     April 14, 2022
  • Nightmares and Night Terrors

     March 10, 2022
  • Vitamins and Supplements

     February 9, 2022
  • COVID 2022: Q&A with Pediatric Infectious Disease Expert, Dr. Jason Perlman

     January 19, 2022
  • Your Guide to a Toyless Holiday Season

     December 8, 2021
  • Pediatric COVID Vaccine Approved for Ages 5-11

     November 3, 2021
  • FAQs on Cold and Flu Season During the Pandemic

     October 14, 2021
  • Flu Shots

     September 8, 2021
  • Back-to-School During COVID: What to Expect

     August 11, 2021
  • Summer Reading 2021

     June 30, 2021
  • Q&A on Ticks and Lyme Disease

     June 4, 2021
  • COVID Vaccine Update

     May 11, 2021
  • Just for Laughs!

     May 7, 2021
  • COVID Vaccine FAQ

     April 6, 2021
  • Guilt-Free Ways to Keep Your Toddler Entertained

     March 9, 2021
  • Points to Consider – Recent Report on Heavy Metals in Baby Food

     February 9, 2021
  • COVID-19 Vaccine

     February 4, 2021
  • Establishing Discipline and Boundaries

     January 13, 2021
  • Mental Health During the Pandemic

     December 10, 2020
  • Let Them Fight

     November 9, 2020
  • Approaching the Flu Season During the Pandemic

     October 16, 2020
  • Flu Shots

     September 11, 2020
  • Daycare During the Pandemic

     August 4, 2020
  • Summer Reading List

     July 2, 2020
  • Talking to Your Kids About Racism

     June 4, 2020
  • We Stand in Solidarity

     June 4, 2020
  • COVID-19 Antibody Testing in Kids

     June 2, 2020
  • Potty Training

     May 21, 2020
  • COVID-19 Antibody Testing

     May 19, 2020
  • FAQs on Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, Kawasaki Disease and Toxic Shock Syndrome

     May 12, 2020
  • COVID and Kawasaki Virus

     May 8, 2020
  • Virtual Visits

     May 5, 2020
  • Practice Updates on COVID-19

     April 29, 2020
  • Making the Best of Being Stuck at Home

     April 13, 2020
  • Ibuprofen Use During COVID-19

     March 31, 2020
  • COVID-19 and Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

     March 30, 2020
  • Good News Concerning COVID-19 in Kids

     March 25, 2020
  • COVID-19 Practice Update

     March 23, 2020
  • COVID-19 FAQ From The Practice

     March 13, 2020
  • Letting Kids Entertain Themselves

     March 12, 2020
  • Dr. Michel Cohen’s COVID-19 Update

     February 26, 2020
  • Picky Eater

     January 9, 2020
  • Dr. Jason Perlman on Flu Testing and Treatment

     December 11, 2019
  • Eczema

     November 6, 2019
  • Sibling Rivalry

     October 10, 2019
  • Resisting Toilet Training

     August 22, 2019
  • There is Such a Thing as Good Screen Time

     July 11, 2019
  • Fever: When to Worry & When Not to Worry

     June 12, 2019
  • Take a Walk with Your Kids

     May 9, 2019
  • Measles Update

     April 10, 2019
  • Your Child’s Persistent Cough

     February 6, 2019
  • The Best Games for Family Game Night

     December 20, 2018
  • Why it’s Okay to Say “No” Even During The Holidays

     December 5, 2018
  • Camp Brooklyn Fund Honors Dr. Michel Cohen

     November 5, 2018
  • Having the #MeToo Conversation With Your Children

     October 10, 2018
  • Coxsackie

     September 13, 2018
  • School Anxiety; An Excerpt from Dr. Cohen’s “The New Basics”

     August 23, 2018
  • Flying with Your Baby

     July 12, 2018
  • Q & A with Dr. Cohen on Temper Tantrums

     May 10, 2018
  • Six Things to Know About the Stomach Bug

     February 27, 2018
  • Dr. Michel Cohen Debunks Cold Treatments

     December 5, 2017
  • Flu Season

     September 7, 2017
  • Shoestring

     August 16, 2017
  • Sunscreen and Bug Spray Q & A

     July 13, 2017
  • Summer Time, Ticks and Lyme

     June 13, 2017
  • Springing into Allergy Season

     May 16, 2017
  • Standardized Stress

     April 13, 2017
  • Embracing the New

     March 14, 2017
  • Your Little Thumb Sucker

     February 14, 2017
  • Let Them Eat Peanuts

     January 12, 2017
  • Happy Holidays! No Hugs Just Yet

     December 15, 2016
  • Car Seats and Public Transportation

     November 10, 2016
  • Flu Shots

     September 14, 2016
  • Back to School Blues

     August 9, 2016
  • Kids, Germs, and Immunity

     July 14, 2016
  • Summer Health in the Summer Heat

     July 7, 2016
  • Toddlers and Tics

     June 6, 2016
  • Ear Fears

     June 2, 2016
  • Circumcision Decision, Penis Maintenance, and…Circumcision Revision

     May 10, 2016
  • Allergy Season

     May 5, 2016
  • Let’s Get Physical

     April 14, 2016
  • BEDTIME RITUALS

     February 29, 2016
  • HEALTHY DISCIPLINE

     February 2, 2016
  • For Your Anti Antibiotic Consideration

     January 8, 2016

About Us

  • Our Story
  • The Team
  • FAQs
  • Locations
  • Info Sessions
  • Affiliated Hospitals
  • Insurance

Your Office

  • Well Visit Info
  • Vaccine Schedule
  • Adolescent Support
  • Mental Health Support
  • A-Z Health Guide
  • Medication Dosage
  • Breastfeeding Support
  • Classes

Health Resources

  • Medical Release Form
  • Patient and Staff Code of Conduct
  • Newsletter
  • Podcast
  • Community Giving
  • Media Inquiries
  • Careers

Contact Us

212-226-7666

info@tribecapediatrics.com

Tribeca Pediatrics

© Tribeca Pediatrics 2025