How to Introduce Tea Ceremony To kids
Tea ceremony is a practice that has transformed my life. As someone who has loved tea since childhood (thanks to my mom, who religiously has had morning, afternoon, and evening tea every day I’ve been alive), discovering tea ceremony was like a dream-come-true.
We know that meditation is good for us. Research has proven it over and over again. But not everyone finds “success” from sitting in silence and focusing simply on their breath. Personally, I think as a society we are so bombarded with media that going from constant screen stimulation to closed eyes and slow breathing is frequently a leap too big to accomplish. This is where a movement-based meditation swoops in to save the day. My favorite movement-based meditation happens to include the tastiest bevvy in existence. Tea.
A few years ago, I became obsessed and started sitting for tea meditation every morning. Taking classes and learning from life-long devotees… it really became part of my lifestyle. As a children’s book author and illustrator… and a teacher, I find myself yearning to give students exposure to experiences that have positively transformed my life in hopes that it will also transform their life as well. Maybe they’ll get to experience the peace I find from tea meditation way earlier in life than I did… that’s the dream.
This is where my plan to create Kapri Sits For Tea was born. Kapri Sits For Tea is my children’s book that introduces tea ceremony to kiddos through a sweet and interactive tale about Kapri sitting for tea with her friends; Tiger, Eagle, Bear, Elephant, Hummingbird, and Dog.
The book has been well-received and is honestly one of my favorite creations I’ve ever made. It’s also made me realize that tea ceremony is a FABULOUS practice for parents/teachers to introduce to their kiddos for mindfulness. Before you have a hay-day about me suggesting caffeine for kids… let me start with this… HERBAL tea is best.
So, you’re reading this because you’re curious or you’re ready to introduce your kiddos or students to tea ceremony and want a step-by-step plan on how to do so… I will give you MY plan and how I do it… There is no “right” way though, so remember that when you begin sharing this special practice with your lil’ humans.
How to Introduce Tea Ceremony To Kids
Share the history
Like many of my favorite traditions, tea has a pretty sweet origin myth… the story that has been passed down to me is the one of an emperor who accidentally “ran into” tea. The Chinese Emperor was sitting under a tree heating his water for drinking. He didn’t notice when a leaf from the tree above him fell into his cauldron and steeped in the water. When he took a drink of the water he had boiled, he realized it had a new, delightful taste…and it also gave him an energy boost to pay attention and stay alert during his meditation. The tree he sat below was the Camellia Sinensis, which is where most of our tea leaves come from today.
2. “Forage” your tea together
Okay, so you probably don’t have a tea tree or any herbal plants nearby that are ready to provide enough flowers or buds for tea right away, but it’s a really fun activity to have your kiddos smell and learn about the tea you’ll be drinking. My favorite way to give kiddos an experience like “foraging” is to let them smell a few different kinds of herbal teas, explain to them where the ingredients come from, and then I allow them to choose which tea they’d like to sit with for ceremony.
3. Set the Chaxi (Tea Table) Together
Once you have chosen the tea, it’s time to set the Chaxi (tea table) together. This is a meditation and exercise in it’s own right. Some people focus on the Chabana (flower arrangement) and go gather flowers or some sort of greenery from outside to add beauty to the tea table. This is definitely my favorite part of the Chaxi, but I also enjoy choosing which teaware is “perfect” for this particular tea ceremony. Have your kiddo/s choose tea bowls that they find beautiful for the tea sit. This is a great way to give them an opportunity to practice their decision making and identifying their “taste”. You’ll also need a teapot, kensui (a bowl for water you’ll use for heating the tea bowls and rinsing the tea leaves), and a few other pieces you can see in the illustration from my book below!
4. Make a plan for your wandering minds
Kiddos are going to need some guidance on what to do with silent moments. As someone who serves tea ceremonies regularly, I can tell you… adults need clear guidance on what to do with silence as well. It can get awkward. So, I like to explain to kiddos (and adults) that we’ll be sitting for tea in silence and sometimes our minds will try to “talk” over the silence. Then, together we make a plan on how to keep coming back to the moment… taking deep breaths, thinking about floating on a cloud, and'/or (most importantly) focusing on all five senses and what they are experiencing. Giving kids an opportunity to slow down and focus on their senses helps develop their self-awareness.
5. Take turns serving each other
Once you have served a few bowls of tea in silence, I recommend asking your kiddo/s if they would like a turn serving (a big reason not to bring out the fancy china for tea with your kids). Giving them a chance to do what seems like an “adult” portion of the ceremony is such an incredible opportunity for kids to feel capable and strong. The act of serving tea is also a meditation because you must stay focused in order to serve without spilling too much.
6. Share about your experiences at the end
This portion of the tea ceremony has really become one of the most important pieces for me; sharing about what they observed or felt at the end. Kids love to share about their experiences and verbalizing what they’ve experienced is a great way to help them process and remember what they’ve taken away from the activity. I always learn or hear about something I never would have expected from kiddos when I open space for them to share. It’s a beautiful experience for the kids and adults.
So there you have it… how I introduce tea ceremony to students and kids in my life. I hope you enjoy this special time with your kiddo/s. Giving a safe and clear container for kids to meditate and find mindfulness is one of the kindest gifts we can give them.
If you have any questions or comments about sharing tea with kids, please reach out! I’d love to chat with you about it and hear about your experiences!
Raising a tea bowl to you.
Remember to always be kind to yourself. You are incredible.