A note from Sean
When I listen to a sound, I try to listen to the sound itself: its pitch, its volume, its tone. Not what is making it or why. And I notice the quiet between sounds too.
Try this today. Sit with your child by an open window or outside for one minute. Listen together. Then each of you describes one sound by how it sounded: loud or soft, high or low, long or short. Do not name what made it. Finish by listening for the quiet between sounds.
Keep going: Mindfulness of Sounds and 7 Mindfulness Exercises for Kids and Families.
This suits parents, teachers, and anyone guiding a young child. Keep it to a minute or two. If a sound startles or upsets your child, go gently and move on to something else. Stop when they need to.
Here’s a Sample of the “Guided Meditation Script on Sounds and Silence for Kids” Guided Meditation Script:
We’re going to play a game listening to this sound [ring your chime or app].You’ll try to listen to the sound all the way until it disappears–going, going, gone. When you hear it’s gone, you’ll let me know by raising your hand. Sit or lie down and get comfortable. And let your eyes gently close.Be nice and cosy. When I make the sound, try to listen with more than just your ears. Listen with your body and your mind and your heart. When we really listen to something, we’re listening with much much more than our ears.I’m going to make the sound a few times now.
Listen while the sound is getting quieter and quieter and, when you don’t hear it any more, quietly put up your hand. Then put your hand back down for the next time.Ok here we go.[ring the bell a few times, letting the sound recede into silence each time]Keep listening with your ears and with as much of you as you can.It’s like the sound fills you up.If you forget and start thinking about something else, that’s ok.Just start listening again.
