> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://knowledge.theholisticcare.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://knowledge.theholisticcare.com/knowledge/research-and-evidence/mindfulness-and-children.md).

# Mindfulness and Children

What current research suggests about mindfulness-based interventions for children and adolescents, with important limitations.

Research on mindfulness-based interventions for children and adolescents is promising in some areas, but it does not support sweeping claims.

An updated meta-analysis of 66 randomized controlled trials involving more than 20,000 young people found small improvements in some outcomes when mindfulness programs were compared with passive controls. Benefits were smaller when compared with active controls, and follow-up effects were not consistently significant.

[Read the PubMed summary](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35820989/)

A 2024 meta-analysis focused on preadolescent children reported small overall benefits across areas including attention, emotional and behavioural regulation, positive emotion, self-appraisal, and social competence, while noting that comparison with established social-emotional learning approaches remains limited.

[Read the 2024 meta-analysis](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38143094/)

A 2025 review also highlighted substantial heterogeneity across interventions and outcomes, reinforcing the need to consider program type, age, duration, and study quality.

[Read the 2025 review](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40407584/)

## THC interpretation

For children, mindfulness should be:

* developmentally appropriate
* brief and experiential
* voluntary
* supported by responsible adults
* integrated with emotional literacy, movement, rest, play, and safeguarding

The evidence is best understood as support for careful use, not as proof that mindfulness will benefit every child in every setting.

## Related guidance

* [Research & Evidence](https://knowledge.theholisticcare.com/knowledge/research-and-evidence)
* [How THC Uses Evidence Responsibly](https://knowledge.theholisticcare.com/knowledge/research-and-evidence/how-thc-uses-evidence-responsibly)
* [Mindfulness in Schools](https://knowledge.theholisticcare.com/knowledge/research-and-evidence/mindfulness-in-schools)


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