Meditation traditions (zen, for example) often encourage meditation without any thought of personal gain. However, this has not prevented researchers from looking for possible benefits (and harms) that meditation might bring about. Stress, focus, attention management have all been investigated, and now researchers are looking into academic performance.

Today’s Well column in the New York Times (The Mindful Child, 10 May 2016) describes a number of studies showing that school children who have practiced meditation perform better in the classroom. Interestingly, enhanced academic performance seems, in these early studies at least, to be targeting youthful brains. One study compared benefits for children and their parents and the intellectual gains were much larger in the children.

The Times article also contains a link to three ways to introduce your child to meditation: Three Ways for Children to Try Meditation at Home (Well, NY Times, 10 May 2016).