Metta Hour with Sharon Salzberg

Ep. 276 – Kid's Series: Sumi Loundon Kim

Dec 24, 2025
Sumi Loundon Kim, a Buddhist chaplain at Yale and author of children's mindfulness books, shares her journey growing up in a Zen community. She emphasizes the importance of teaching meditation to kids through creative methods like music and stories. Sumi offers practical tools for parents to cultivate mindfulness, including device-free family time and nurturing a kind inner voice. She highlights how early spiritual practices build emotional intelligence in children, enhancing their wellbeing as they grow, even into college.
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ANECDOTE

Raised Inside A Zen Center

  • Sumi Lownden Kim grew up living in a Soto Zen center and attended Insight Meditation Society retreats at 16.
  • Early immersion gave her lasting tools to cope with family crises and personal suffering into adulthood.
ADVICE

Begin With Books, Then Add Music And Community

  • Start teaching mindfulness to children with storybooks, then add music and group practice.
  • Use reading for connection, songs for repetition, and small communities for social support.
ADVICE

Match Practice To Developmental Age

  • Keep practices for young children very short and sensory-based, using tasting, visuals, and movement.
  • For older children, extend meditations to 5–8 minutes and add conversation and writing.
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