Festive Flamingo: Meditations for Children (Calm, Create, Meditate.)
#1 in Calm, Create, Meditate Series
What’s inside...
The Festive Flamingo: Meditations for Children (Calm, Create, Meditate.) by Shaula Maitland is a collection of meditations designed to help children cultivate calmness, creativity, and mindfulness. Through engaging and colorful imagery, the book encourages children to explore their emotions, develop a sense of inner peace, and foster a positive mindset. The meditations are tailored to suit the needs and interests of children, making it an accessible and enjoyable resource for young readers. Flamingo begins relaxation with a festive selection of breathing exercises and simple visualizations. She shares twelve magical meditations, each exploring positive themes such as kindness, self-belief, perseverance, independence and curiosity. Enjoy the benefits of meditation with journeys that spark the imagination. Build a magical camel out of snow, learn to ice-skate with the woodland animals and create an exciting game for the elves. Enjoy many traditional Christmas activities with a twist!
Discussion points
How do you feel when you practice the meditation techniques described in the book?
Which part of the flamingo's journey did you enjoy the most and why?
Can you think of a time when you felt calm like the Festive Flamingo?
What new things did you learn about meditation and mindfulness from this book?
If you were to teach a friend about meditation, what tips from the book would you share?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before starting a reading session, create a calm environment similar to the book's theme to set the right mood.
Encourage your child to express their feelings and thoughts about each section by asking them how they would react in the flamingo’s situation.
Use the meditation methods described in the book together with your child, making it a bonding activity as well as a learning experience.
After reading, ask your child to draw or visually depict their favorite meditation pose or moment from the book, reinforcing their comprehension and memory.
Continuously link back to the book's themes during daily routines to embed the principles of mindfulness and meditation in your child’s everyday life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Mindfulness
Explanation: Through the journey of the Festive Flamingo, children are introduced to various meditation and mindfulness techniques.
Real-World Application: Children can use these techniques to handle emotions, stress, or excitement in a healthy manner, fostering emotional resilience.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: The Festive Flamingo explores different ways of expressing oneself creatively through meditative art projects.
Real-World Application: Kids can embrace their artistic sides in daily activities, utilizing art as a form of expression and emotional release.
Example Lesson: Self-awareness
Explanation: As the Festive Flamingo embarks on meditation practices, it reflects on its own thoughts and emotions, teaching children about self-reflection.
Real-World Application: Children learn to understand and articulate their feelings, which aids in developing empathy and self-confidence.
Example Lesson: Patience
Explanation: The book demonstrates the value of taking one's time through the repetitive and calm nature of meditative practices.
Real-World Application: Children can apply patience learned from meditative practices to schoolwork, learning new skills, or interacting with others.