Stone Meditation for Kids

One of my favorite meditations to do with children is a stone meditation.  The practice involves sitting each child cross legged on the floor with four stones in front of them.  Each stone represents a different element - air, water, earth, and fire.

Encourage the child(ren) to close their eyes and pick up one stone at a time.  Let them know which element each stone represents and which attributes are symbolic of that element.  Ask them to feel each attribute and imagine that they possess each one.  This will encourage them to use their imagination and will boost self confidence and self awareness.

You can conclude the exercise with a reflection.  Asking each child how they felt, which attributes they feel the strongest about, and which stone was their favorite.

Basic instructions:

Pick up your first stone.  Think about how this stone feels in you hand.  This stone represents air.  Air is cool and calm.  It moves freely and softly.  Imagine that you are air.  Imagine how cool and calm you can be.  Feel the air around you.  Imagine that you are one with the air.

Pick up your second stone.  Think about how this stone feels in your hand.  This stone represents water.  Water is fluid and flexible.  It moves easily.  Imagine that you are water.  Imagine how flexible you are and how easily you can move around.  Imagine the last time you were in water - in the bathtub, or the pool, or the ocean - and how the water felt.  Imagine that you are one with water.

Pick up your third stone.  Think about how this stone feels in your hand.  This stone represents the earth.  The earth is strong and stable.  It is the base for everything that exists around us.  Imagine that you are the earth.  Imagine how strong you are.  Imagine the feeling of the stable earth under your feet.  Imagine that you are one with the earth.

Pick up your fourth stone.  Think about how this stone feels in your hand.  This stone represents fire.  Fire is warm and glowing.  It provides heat and light.  Imagine that you are fire.  You are warm and full of light.  Imagine the feeling of warm fire.  Imagine that you are one with fire.

Reflection:
How did the stones feel?
Did each one feel different or did they feel the same?
Which stone was your favorite? Why?
Which stone do you wish you were more like?