Do Meditation Toys for Kids Really Work?

Whether it’s separation anxiety or making new friends, kids—like adults—sometimes stress about the stuff that's outside of their control. 

Michelle Faber founded Busy Minds Ed., a collection of in-person programs teaching yoga and mindfulness to school-aged children. “It helps them to pause, reflect and really process their feelings before reacting to a situation,” she says. But Faber also acknowledges that no child really wants to meditate. 

“It’s hard for kids to pay attention and stay in the moment because there are so many exciting things in their environment,” she says. Enter meditation toys. Designed to introduce children to everyday mindfulness in an engaging, playful way, these devices are supposed to make mindfulness more appealing.

Bringing toys into a practice that's supposed to be about connecting with your inner self may seem counterproductive. But meditation is more than sitting alone in a dark room, trying to force wandering thoughts out of your brain. The point is to reduce overthinking by focusing attention on the present moment—even if that moment is loud, chaotic or emotionally charged. 

Studies show that practicing mindfulness can positively impact your child. A 2019 review published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies found that mindfulness can increase kids’ empathy and compassion; while an article published in the National Library of Medicine found that mindfulness meditation in educational settings can be useful in improving cognitive, emotional and social abilities.

Why bring play into meditation?

According to Faber, play is a crucial part of childhood development. 

“It’s how they learn to navigate the world and it also helps them learn how to handle challenges,” she says. Making something like breathwork playful, by pretending that the belly is a balloon expanding with each inhale, makes the activity kid-friendly. 

Sue Hutton is a social worker trained in mindfulness-based stress reduction who teaches the practice to educators and caregivers. She also says that children’s meditation should be play-based. “If kids don’t have a buy-in, they’re not interested,” she says. 

Hutton recommends tailoring meditation to a child’s passions to get them excited about mindfulness. When working with a basketball-loving child, Hutton compared meditative focus to the split-second before shooting a ball, where all focus is honed in on a single event. “I find that moment where their interest dovetails with the benefits of mindfulness,” says Hutton. “Turning it into a game, turning it into something that’s going to be meaningful and engaging for them.”

Both Faber and Hutton say meditation toys are a great way to teach mindfulness through sensory experience. “At a really young age, children need something tactile, something visual to learn,” says Faber. “It’s kind of like tricking them into learning this great skill that may be, you know, boring to any other child.”

Making a calm-down corner

Parents and educators can create a calm-down corner to encourage children to practice mindfulness. Faber says filling the space with calming visuals or posters identifying various emotions can bring a child back into the present moment when they are upset. 

Faber also says putting meditation toys, sensory balls and other tactile tools in the corner may help kids take their minds off stressful thoughts, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Making the space fun and engaging will also frame mindfulness in a positive light. 

“I had teachers say that they’ve seen mindfulness turn into a punishment program,” says Hutton. “Like you’re acting out, you’re not behaving, go off to the mindfulness room.”

To avoid making meditation a chore, customize your calm-down corner to your child’s interests. Additionally, remind kids that while meditation toys are great, the calming effects are ultimately coming from within. Rather than saying, “Wow, that toy really calms you down,” try saying, “Look at how you are able to calm yourself down. That’s amazing!” Hutton says this approach can reduce the risk of a child developing an unhealthy dependence on a toy. 

If you’re looking to make a calm-down corner or get your child excited about mindfulness training, check out these toys.

7 meditation toys to inspire mindfulness

mediTATE

mediTATE is an adorable plushie with four “breathing paws” to help children trace patterns as they practice breathwork. Plus, its Bluetooth speaker delivers audio meditation, stories and activities. Kids can connect to their breath and build resilience skills while parents run the content through a phone for a screen-free experience. 

With an essential oil patch that retains fragrance and a super-soft texture, Tate is the ultimate sensory experience. The product is certified by MESH Helps, an organization identifying toys that promote mental, emotional and social resilience. 

Rachele Harmuthe, board president of MESH Helps, says mediTATE scored strongly in developing communication and self-advocacy skills.

Zenimal Kids+ 2.0

This screen-free meditation companion is crafted to nurture mindfulness in children ages five to twelve. The turtle-shaped device plays nine pre-loaded, guided meditations and three sleep soundtracks.

Take Zenimal on-the-go to unwind wherever and whenever you need. Keep it in the bedroom or calm-down corner for a calming, grounding ambiance.

Imagine Meditation Cards for Kids

These 26 cards have vibrant pictures and scripts with breathing exercises, guided imagery meditations and create-your-own options. Encourage individual play by having your child read the cards or read together for a memorable, nurturing bonding experience.

4E’s Novelty Expandable Ball

Hold this breathing ball in front of your belly, inhale while expanding and exhale while closing. By coordinating movements with the sphere, kids can develop their focus and fine motor skills while calming the mind.

Time to Focus, Grover!

This Sesame Street and Headspace collaboration is a terrific board book to teach children how to focus on the task at hand when they feel overwhelmed. With art matching the show’s Monster Meditation YouTube videos, the story is sure to entertain young Sesame Street fans.

As a bonus, the book comes with an offer for a free month of the Headspace app.

Mindsight Peaceful Pebbles

Inhale when the pebble turns green, hold when the pebble turns purple and exhale when the pebble turns blue. This toy’s two easy-to-use modes use fade-in and fade-out colour prompts to simulate popular breathwork techniques.

Fisher-Price Meditation Mouse

This plush mouse with a glowing belly light introduces ages two to five to guided meditation. The cuddly companion features a daytime relaxation session, soothing sounds for nighttime and a bedtime wind-down exercise.