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I am really grateful that the amazing Zenimal company gifted me a Zenimal Kids+ to try out at home with my toddler, and to try out with students! According to their website, Zenimal Kids+ is a screen-free meditation device that helps children develop mindfulness. Loaded with nine guided meditations (pre-loaded via removable SD memory card), this super portable device can be used at home, in school, or on the go. If plugged in, Zenimal Kids + also plays three sleep sound tracks continuously for a peaceful night’s sleep.
After spending some time with our Zenimal, I am more and more convinced that this little turtle is a game changer for the classroom. Here are 3 easy ways to use a Zenimal in your classroom.
Whole Class Meditation
While this device is tiny and great for individual use, it can also be used with your entire class. The speaker on the device actually gets pretty loud when you use the volume buttons. After a hectic time in your day, maybe after recess or PE, busting out the Zenimal could be a great whole class mindfulness time. If you’ve followed me for awhile, you know I really believe in a class-wide quiet time. Using one of the 9 tracks on the Zenimal might be a good way to ease into that time together. So often we rely on YouTube videos to provide meditative tracks for kids. I do this too, and honestly, I LOVE it. I do love the idea of students engaging in sound-only, screen-free meditation time. This helps kids learn that they can meditate at ANY time, and they don’t necessarily need the aid of a screen.
Calm corner enhancement
I know you’re not surprised to hear me say that I truly believe that a calm corner belongs in every classroom in the school! Having a dedicated space for students to retreat to that is safe and open for their big feelings is so important. I love the idea of adding a Zenimal to your classroom calm corner. You may be thinking that it would be really distracting to hear guided meditations coming from the calm corner while the rest of the kids are doing math centers. Well, time to introduce my favorite feature of this device! The Zenimal has a headphone jack. That sounds like a small feature, but I think it expands the use of this device enormously. If you add a pair of headphones with it, students can engage with the meditations at any time without distracting their peers! Amazing.
Help make transitions less painful
Transitioning from activities and spaces in the school can be really tricky for some kids. I have tons of tips and tricks for smooth transitions, and some students need even more support. What if the Zenimal could help?
I love the idea of having struggling students pick a meditation and hold the device for the class to engage with together as the transition occurs. If the class is transitioning through the hallway requiring quiet/silence, the student can use headphones and se the Zenimal independently.
What is great about this device is the size of it, and that it’s fairly discreet. It’s a very child friendly device with and easy to clean silicone cover, but doesn’t look too juvenile. This helps make the Zenimal a great transition tool for kids across the grade span.
So what do you think? Could the Zenimal make a home in your classroom? I hope these 3 ways help spark your imagination of the multitude of ways this little device could benefit your classroom. You can grab it using Amazon gift cards and get it in two days (sometimes even less!) using this link. Happy meditating!
