From ABCs to mindfulness: Why are US schools suddenly teaching kids to meditate?

Time of India

13 hours ago

Third graders at Roberta T. Smith Elementary School in Georgia had only an hour before lunch and just a few days left until summer break. Yet, there was no chaos, no complaints. The students lined up, closed their eyes, and traced their thumbs from forehead to heart as a pre-recorded voice led them through a meditation called the 'shark fin'—part of their daily mindfulness routine, according to the
Associated Press.
'Listen to the chimes,' teacher Kim Franklin said. 'Remember to breathe.'
For these children, this isn't just another class. It's the part of the day they actually look forward to. And across the US, classrooms are quietly embracing a new subject: Mindfulness.
From curiosity to the mainstream
Mindfulness has traveled a long road in the last two decades. Once a fringe, new-age idea, it has now become a practical tool in American life, helping people manage stress and stay grounded. Researchers estimate that over 1 million children in the US — mostly in elementary schools — have experienced mindfulness in the classroom, usually guided by teachers or school counselors, according to
The Conversation.
The pandemic made the need urgent. After months of isolation, children returned to schools carrying anxiety, sadness, and stress. In 2023, the
CDC
reported that over a third of students struggled with persistent sadness or hopelessness, and recommended that schools use mindfulness practices to help children manage their emotions.
Why mindfulness matters for kids
At Smith Elementary, the mindfulness program is supported by Clayton County Public Schools and GreenLight Fund Atlanta, which focuses on making these programs accessible to communities of color. The Inner Explorer platform guides students and teachers through short five- to ten-minute sessions of breathing, meditation, and reflection, several times a day. Today, the program is in over 100 districts nationwide, including Atlanta Public Schools, as reported by the
Associated Press.
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Director Dr. Mandy Cohen told the AP, 'We know that our teenagers and adolescents have really strained in their mental health. There are real skills that we can give our teens to make sure that they are coping with some big emotions.'
Students themselves feel the impact. Nine-year-old Aniyah Woods said the program helps her 'calm down' and 'not stress anymore,' while Malachi Smith added, 'You can relax yourself with the shark fin, and when I calm myself down, I realize I am an excellent scholar,' according to the
Associated Press.
Mindfulness in schools
: What it really means
Mindfulness is not just about breathing. Jon Kabat-Zinn, a mindfulness expert, defines it as 'paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, nonjudgmentally, in the present moment.' It's a way of being — a child's approach to every moment, whether pleasant or unpleasant.
Yet, not all programs are the same. Some focus on movement or yoga, others on interpersonal skills like kindness, and still others on self-awareness or understanding the brain. Lessons range from as few as five to as many as 44 sessions, stretching over weeks or a full school year, according to
The Conversation.
Research shows mindfulness can improve focus, emotional regulation, and mental health, but results aren't always consistent. A 2022 study found no significant changes in students who received mindfulness instruction, though some experts argued the curriculum may have been too advanced for middle school children, as reported by
The Conversation.
A lifeline for students of color
Mindfulness is also a response to gaps in mental health support. Black children face the fastest-growing suicide rates among racial groups. Between 2007 and 2020, suicide among Black youth ages 10 to 17 increased by 144 percent, according to
CDC
statistics.
Tolana Griggs, assistant principal at Smith Elementary, said, 'With our diverse school community and wanting to be more aware of our students, how different cultures feel and how different cultures react to things, it's important to be all-inclusive with everything we do,' as reported by the
Associated Press.
In many schools serving mostly students of color, access to psychologists and counselors is limited. Programs like Inner Explorer offer an accessible way to provide tools for mental health support and emotional regulation.
The classroom of today, and tomorrow
Mindfulness is slowly becoming as fundamental as reading, writing, and math. Short meditations, mindful movement, and reflection exercises help students calm down, focus better, and regulate emotions.
Students are learning more than ABCs, they're learning how to breathe, reflect, and be present. And in a generation navigating post-pandemic stress, social media pressures, and academic demands, those skills might be just as essential as any lesson in a textbook.
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