play, practice, share, & apply

The mindful games included in the Inner Kids model loosely follow the sequence “play, practice, share, and apply.” This experiential, activity-based sequence is inspired by the scientific method, with a nod to the shorthand description coined by Douglas Adams in his novel Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy:

“See first, think later, then test…But, always see first. Otherwise, you will only see what you were expecting.”

Like scientists, meditators “see first” when we observe what’s happening within and around us with an open and curious mind. A prerequisite for this type of open, receptive observation is the capacity to quiet and focus one's mind. 

"Think later, then test" are the next steps in the scientific method, and they apply to meditation and mindful practices well. Thinking like scientists asks us to use the resources we have to better understand what we’ve seen. Testing like scientists asks us to find out whether something makes sense and is helpful by checking it out for ourselves. 

The Buddha himself encouraged his followers not to believe anything simply because they heard it from teachers or elders, even if it’s been passed down for generations. Instead, the Buddha’s teachings promote a line of inquiry that is empirical, skeptical, and experimental. Both the Buddha’s teachings and the scientific method value direct experience and evidence over blind acceptance, fostering a deeper, more reliable understanding of reality.  

In the Inner Kids model, the resources we use to think and test like scientists include the  life skills focusing, quieting, seeing, reframing, caring, and connecting, as well as an understanding of time-tested universal themes that are threaded through what we’d call a wise, compassionate worldview. 

When these steps—"see first, think later, then test"—come together, we have an opportunity to glean insights from life’s experiences that can be difficult to find in other ways. Strong emotions often bubble up during meditation, and when they do, even people who have clocked hundreds of hours sitting on a meditation cushion can still find it challenging to “see first, think later.” 

Like meditation itself, this process is a practice and the aim is presence not  perfection. By returning to our intention to “see first then test,” we develop our capacity to be present in the moment and recognize when our perspective is limited and we are seeing only what we were expecting to see. , 

The activity-based Inner Kids model flexibly follows the scientific method using the sequence—Play, Practice, Share, and Apply.

Play

First, we have some fun. This is crucial to creating an open, receptive mindset which sets the stage for what’s next.

Practice

Next, we play a formal or informal mindful game. Whether we’re sitting, standing, walking, or lying down, we observe our minds and bodies from the perspective of a friendly and curious observer, with an open mind as free of preconceived notions as possible.

Share

Then, we talk about our experiences. While sharing, we do our best to hold back from projecting our experiences onto another person's story, offering advice, or drawing conclusions about others. Instead, we ask one another questions intended to help the other person look at their meditation experiences from various angles and draw their own conclusions. Sharing is also an opportunity to encourage kids and adults to seek outside help, when appropriate.

Apply

Last, we consider and talk about ways to use what we learned in our daily lives, informed by an understanding of the life skills and themes we’re developing

This framework—Play, Practice, Share, and Apply—provides a safe, contained space for kids and adults to speak openly with one another after they practice together. It's also an opportunity for them to help each other contextualize their meditation experiences and, when appropriate to reframe them. 

Through these conversations, children and families develop relational mindfulness by tuning into their own and other people's inner and outer worlds. As they sit together and tell their stories, kids and adults watch, listen, sense, interpret, and respond to what other people say and do in a way that they better see and understand them, and in ways that help them feel better seen and understood.