[英语阅读]澳推出冥想课程教学生沉静

Meditation classes offer tranquility for kids

澳大利亚近期在全国推出冥想课程计划，旨在帮助青少年学生减轻压力，沉静心态，从而减少校园欺侮事件的发生。冥想课程计划是在2006年由澳大利亚昆士兰州北部城市敦斯维尔率先推出的，参与课程的学生会接受诸如静坐、默诵口诀等相关辅导。掌握了相关技巧的学生就可以通过冥想让自己注意力集中，并产生安全感和幸福感。学生的冥想时间因年龄而异：5岁的孩子每周冥想三次，每次5分钟；而17岁的学生则是每周5次，每次17分钟。

Children as young as five are being taught to stay still, keep silent and recite an internal mantra through Christian and non-religious meditation programs throughout Australia.

The tantrums. The tears. Every parent knows that life can be stressful for toddlers, tweens and teens, so Australian schools are trying to add a little zen to their day through meditation classes.

Children as young as five are being taught to stay still, keep silent and recite an internal mantra through Christian and non-religious meditation programs throughout the country.

The classes have been dubbed by some practitioners as the cheapest way to combat bullying at school, with teachers reporting meditating students are mostly calmer.

"When children are empowered with the know-how to meditate, they can use their superhero or fairy power to feel safe, focused and happy," Sarah Wood, author of "Sensational Meditation for Children," said on her website.

In 2006, Townsville, in northern Queensland, hosted Australia's first Christian meditation program, which has now spread to schools across the country.

"It teaches the kids to be more attentive and more mindful and certainly more present," Ernie Christie, assistant director of Townsville's Catholic Education Office, told Reuters.

"In fact it's been referred to as the cheapest anti-bullying campaign, as the teachers report that the kids are calmer afterwards and nicer to each other."

The meditation program is part of the children's religious education class and the length of time they meditate corresponds to their age: 5-year-olds learn to meditate for 5 minutes, three times a week, while 17-year-olds meditate for 17 minutes up to five times a week.

The practice is also helpful for children with learning difficulties and conditions such as Down Syndrome, Christie said.

"The children not only like it, they ask their teachers if can they meditate. I think in their busy lives, that's the one time that it's okay to be absolutely still and silent," he said.

Sydneysider 7-year-old twins Taj and Lauren Cronin have been practicing meditation for about 12 months, and their parents believe the ability to switch-off will benefit them for life.

"It just gives them something they can do if they are over excited. It's more a long-term benefit," Jennifer Cronin said.

"It's going to be a helpful tool to really free themselves from the stress that comes through on a daily basis, particularly in teenage years," added Tom Cronin.

"It helps hormonal levels and helps alleviate the build-up of the pressures that come with student life."

The Cronins, who meditate themselves, say they don't push their children, as their brains are still rapidly developing and too much down-time for the mind can backfire.

But for the children, meditation is something they look forward to.

"It makes me feel relaxed," Taj Cronin said.