澳大利亞近期在全國推出冥想課程計劃，旨在幫助青少年學生減輕壓力，沉靜心態，從而減少校園欺侮事件的發生。冥想課程計劃是在2006年由澳大利亞昆士蘭州北部城市敦斯維爾率先推出的，參與課程的學生會接受諸如靜坐、默誦口訣等相關輔導。掌握了相關技巧的學生就可以通過冥想讓自己注意力集中，并產生安全感和幸福感。學生的冥想時間因年齡而異：5歲的孩子每周冥想三次，每次5分鐘；而17歲的學生則是每周5次，每次17分鐘。

Children as young as five are being taught to stay still, keep silent and recite an internal mantra through Christian and non-religious meditation programs throughout Australia.

The tantrums. The tears. Every parent knows that life can be stressful for toddlers, tweens and teens, so Australian schools are trying to add a little zen to their day through meditation classes.

Children as young as five are being taught to stay still, keep silent and recite an internal mantra through Christian and non-religious meditation programs throughout the country.

The classes have been dubbed by some practitioners as the cheapest way to combat bullying at school, with teachers reporting meditating students are mostly calmer.

"When children are empowered with the know-how to meditate, they can use their superhero or fairy power to feel safe, focused and happy," Sarah Wood, author of "Sensational Meditation for Children," said on her website.

In 2006, Townsville, in northern Queensland, hosted Australia's first Christian meditation program, which has now spread to schools across the country.

"It teaches the kids to be more attentive and more mindful and certainly more present," Ernie Christie, assistant director of Townsville's Catholic Education Office, told Reuters.

"In fact it's been referred to as the cheapest anti-bullying campaign, as the teachers report that the kids are calmer afterwards and nicer to each other."

The meditation program is part of the children's religious education class and the length of time they meditate corresponds to their age: 5-year-olds learn to meditate for 5 minutes, three times a week, while 17-year-olds meditate for 17 minutes up to five times a week.

The practice is also helpful for children with learning difficulties and conditions such as Down Syndrome, Christie said.

"The children not only like it, they ask their teachers if can they meditate. I think in their busy lives, that's the one time that it's okay to be absolutely still and silent," he said.

Sydneysider 7-year-old twins Taj and Lauren Cronin have been practicing meditation for about 12 months, and their parents believe the ability to switch-off will benefit them for life.

"It just gives them something they can do if they are over excited. It's more a long-term benefit," Jennifer Cronin said.

"It's going to be a helpful tool to really free themselves from the stress that comes through on a daily basis, particularly in teenage years," added Tom Cronin.

"It helps hormonal levels and helps alleviate the build-up of the pressures that come with student life."

The Cronins, who meditate themselves, say they don't push their children, as their brains are still rapidly developing and too much down-time for the mind can backfire.

But for the children, meditation is something they look forward to.

"It makes me feel relaxed," Taj Cronin said.

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(Agencies)

Vocabulary:

bullying: 欺凌弱小

down-time: 非工作狀態時間

（英語點津 Helen 編輯）