It can be tricky to get still and silent, especially if we don't ever talk about why we do it and how we do it, and why it's important. Here are some ideas for two sessions you can share in person or online about silence and Meeting for Worship. There are also additional activites and resources.
Draw or colour in mandalas, quietly & mindfully without talking.
Create a box of ‘Quaker quiet’ activities that can be used to support children attending MfW online, or having quiet time at home. This could include drawing materials, special stones, a candle, words, create this together, thinking about the things that help each person be quiet and centred.
Listen to a guided meditation, apps such ‘Smiling Mind’ have these for all ages.
Think of a phrase or word that helps with quiet and centring, make a poster or sign with this word and decorate it to hang in a quiet space.
Listen to a favourite piece of music - notice the pauses, the moments if quiet. What would the music be like without those pauses - it’s not just the sounds that make the music special.
Silence by Lemniscates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KpUupm07DM.
Read or watch one of the books on this page, or explore the other resources and lesson ideas: https://fgcquaker.org/silence-and-expectant-waiting-children.
Peaceful Piggy meditation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZalWNSBBXHo&feature=youtu.be.
The key idea for this Children’s Meeting is there are different kinds of quiet and different ways to be quiet.
Materials to gather: drawing materials, The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood (link to story being read aloud below)
Preparing yourself: think about different kinds of quiet in your life and how they make you feel. Read The Quiet Book in advance and spend some time sitting with the wondering questions yourself.
Worship opening: Silence with candle showing on screen.
Opening activity: Name round - and tell us something noisy you do - or show us with your body, without making the noise.
Brief discussion: How does it feel to be noisy?
Now, we’re going to get quiet
Guided quieting - get yourself still and comfortable
Listen to the sounds in your head, the thoughts the ideas, then let them go
Listen to the sounds your body is making, then let them go
Listen to the sounds in the room, then let them go
Listen to the sounds in the rest of the house, then let them go
Listen to the sounds outside the house
What did you hear? Go round the circle, invite everyone to share something they heard.
Sharing:
Watch The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood.
After watching the book, introduce the following Wondering Questions, one at a time. Give children a chance to respond to each one. You may not need to ask every question, and may spend longer on some questions than others.
Activities:
Closing:
Sit together in silence for a couple minutes, then closing question - what did that quiet feel like to you?