How Can You Teach Children The Art Of Silence?
In a world full of stimuli and instability, silence is almost as hard to find as gold. That is why it is very important to teach children the art of silence from an early age.
How many minutes a day do you take to appreciate silence? Do you like a quiet atmosphere in the house, so that each family member can connect with their own inner thoughts?
It may sound like a utopia when it comes to young children, but teaching them to appreciate those moments of rest and relaxation is important, especially these days.
Note the benefits of teaching your children the art of silence. And if you like it, you can also use it in your home.
Benefits of silence
Enjoying a few minutes of silence at different times of the day has great benefits for people. And, of course, this includes children.
Science has proven that being quiet has the following benefits:
- It fights stress, because one of the biggest causes of stress is excessive noise. Sounds above 30 decibels are capable of causing stress and high blood pressure.
- It improves concentration when solving problems and also gives peace of mind when dealing with problems.
- It helps to develop and repair the immune system.
In that sense, relaxing for a few minutes during the day or before going to bed can be a good option. Activities such as yoga can also be practiced by children and provide good moments for meditation.
Why is it advisable to learn the art of silence?
Now that you know the reasons why silence is an important element for your well-being, it is necessary to explain why it is necessary to learn the art of silence.
Children are active on their own, but our current technology and lifestyle have magnified this constant stimulation.
Therefore, there is now an even greater need to show them the benefits of these moments. Here are the top reasons why you should teach children to appreciate silence:
A moment to enjoy life
Small children are the busiest and most curious explorers in the world. Everything around them catches their attention and they want to see, smell and feel it.
However, older people do not always give them the freedom to do this.
We live in a hectic world, running everywhere without getting anywhere. The worst part is that we take our children with us.
What should we do then? Everything a little quieter. Sit with your child in the park and give him some space, time and freedom to move and explore.
Set aside a time for both of you to do nothing. It is possible to stop, and see and think about what is going on in the world.
Quality over quantity
Have you heard about the concept of multitasking? Or about children who multitask?
Both concepts encompass the idea that people are able to do several things at once with the same attention and level of ‘perfection’.
However, our brains are not made for this. On the contrary, it only wears us out if we try.
The education children receive today says that it is better to do several things than one thing very well.
As a result, they become involved in a constant coming and going of thoughts and assignments without being able to really listen to their will.
Learning the art of silence means leaving this space to think, even when you’re busy.
In general, the best and most creative work comes when there is plenty of rest and you are in an atmosphere that makes you think, analyze and decide.
Understand and admire the world
Silence is a great tool for children to think about what they have around them and how it came about.
They wonder how that tree got so high; how that bird built that nest branch by branch; at which time the sun disappears behind the buildings on the horizon.
We live an alienating life, at a pace that is not ours. As a result, we don’t notice the small but obvious changes right in front of us.
This ability to observe is fundamental to the development of critical thinking and analytical skills. Learning the art of silence is a good way to develop it.
The Montessori Silence Game
This is one of the best activities when it comes to learning the art of silence. This game, proposed by the Italian educator Maria Montessori, invites children to create a place for reflection and relaxation.
It’s very easy to do:
- Children should sit on the floor, in a circle.
- Ask them to imagine they are flowers, stones, or some other immovable object. They must sit still for 30 seconds.
- If they get a signal from you, or hear their name, the children should open their eyes.
- Ask them to explain how they felt in that moment of silence.
Every day you practice this activity, add a few seconds to the silence. It is a very useful activity, and at the same time something very different than usual for children.
It teaches them to practice discipline, self-control and patience.
As a mother, you must ensure that you provide your children with everything they need for their entire development. This contains what is often invisible but very valuable.
Silence belongs to this category: introduce your child to the relaxing world where sounds are absent.
