The Mandala for Kids
A mandala ritual can be a very empowering experience for a child. The first step in working with children is making it easy for them to express themselves. Children are blessed with wonderful imaginations, but are often held back by fears of criticism. One of the most important things you can instill in a child is a positive self-image.
The Mandala in School
Many districts have strict rules about prayer in school. When teaching the mandala process in public school settings, it might be a good idea to omit any religious connotations you might have about the exercise. Be careful not to introduce any specific religious beliefs and keep the exercise very general by using words such as “wish” or “intention” rather than “prayer”. If you are unfamiliar with your school district’s guidelines, you may want to check with the principal, superintendent, school board, or parent-teacher association.
On the other hand, if you are creating this mandala as part of a children’s prayer group or religion class, you may wish to incorporate the religious beliefs of the group into the exercise.