Many children are fascinated by the sound of a Singing Bowl. The ease with which it can be played and the vibrating sound that fills the room invite children to explore and experiment. This is exactly why Singing Bowls are such versatile companions for children: They can accompany movement and play just as easily as moments of calm, imagination, small exercises, and everyday rituals.
In this post, you'll find simple Singing Bowls exercises to do with children at home, in preschool, and in elementary school. You'll also learn about the effects Singing Bowls can have on children and which Singing Bowls are particularly well-suited for them.
Are Singing Bowls good for children?
In general, Singing Bowls can be used wonderfully with children—provided that the activity is age-appropriate, voluntary, and conducted mindfully. What makes Singing Bowls so special is that sound can be discovered not only through hearing but also through feeling. Children can observe and explore how long the sound of a Singing Bowl lasts, feel the vibrations on their bodies, try out the strike for themselves, and connect sound with movement or their imagination.
This makes it easy to find the right sound exercises for every age group. An exercise doesn’t have to take long—just a few minutes are enough to explore the Singing Bowl and perhaps even experience its effects. It’s important to pay close attention to the children’s reactions and adjust the volume and duration accordingly. Also, Singing Bowls should not be struck directly against the ear.
What effect do " Singing Bowls " have on children?
Sounds can appeal to children on a variety of levels. They can have a calming effect and help improve concentration and body awareness. The lingering sound of a high-quality Singing Bowl invites children to listen attentively for a moment and notice how the sound slowly fades away.
Singing Bowls can also stimulate the imagination or help make transitions in daily life more conscious. Playful Singing Bowls exercises can also help combine movement, perception, and creativity. The playful exercises and the independent strike of the Singing Bowls can also foster a sense of self-efficacy and strengthen inner balance.
However, how a child reacts to a “ Singing Bowl ” is always unique to that child. While some children quickly settle down and listen intently, others prefer to explore the sound through movement or try out the “ Singing Bowl ” themselves. The goal, therefore, is not to achieve a specific effect, but to allow children to have a variety of experiences with “ Singing Bowls .”
7 Simple " Singing Bowls" Exercises to Do with Kids
You can do the following " Singing Bowls" exercises with minimal preparation at home, in preschool, or even in elementary school. Depending on the children's age, you can simplify the stories and movements or make them more elaborate.
Note: In the exercises, we refer to “children,” but of course you can just as easily do them with only one child.
1. The Lion and the Mouse
The " Singing Bowl " is struck with great force. As long as the sound is loud and powerful, the children move like brave lions—taking big strides and holding their heads high. When the sound grows softer, they turn into little mice and tiptoe quietly across the room. With the next loud strike, they become strong lions once again.
This exercise combines attentive listening with movement and allows participants to directly experience different sound intensities.
2. Stardust
As soon as “ Singing Bowl ” begins to play, the children look up. They imagine sparkling stardust floating down from the sky and settling on their hair, shoulders, hands, and feet. Each star brings a special gift—perhaps courage, joy, or peace. As the music fades, the stars slowly fly back up to the sky.
A short sound exercise that combines imagination, body awareness, and calm.
3. Discover Colors
Singing Bowl is gently struck. As the sound rings out, the children look for a specific color in the room—for example, red, blue, or green. When they find a matching object, they touch it gently. With the next sound, the search for a new color begins.
In this way, the " Singing Bowl " becomes a signal for a small, mindful journey of discovery.
4. At a snail's pace
As soon as the sound “ Singing Bowl ” is heard, the children move forward very slowly—step by step, like little snails. When the sound fades away, everyone stops and remains still for a moment. They feel the ground beneath their feet and take a calm breath in and out. With the next sound, the snail walk continues.
This " Singing Bowls" exercise is similar to mindful walking meditation and can bring a sense of calm and relaxation.
5. Animal Migration
As soon as the song “ Singing Bowl ” starts playing, the children choose an animal and move around the room like that animal—for example, like an elephant, a duck, a frog, or a cat. When the music stops, everyone freezes. When the music starts again, they transform into a new animal.
This exercise is particularly well-suited for combining sound with movement and creativity.
6. Washing Hands with Sound
Even everyday routines like washing hands can become little rituals with a " Singing Bowl " (Let's Wash Our Hands). At the first gentle chime, the children wet their hands and carefully lather them with soap. When the " Singing Bowl " chimes a second time, they rinse the soap off thoroughly. Then they dry their hands calmly.
Singing Bowl , for example, can help us become more aware of an everyday activity.
7. Storytime with Sound
Our shared storytime begins with the gentle sound of “ Singing Bowl .” The children find a cozy spot and listen intently for the story to begin once the music fades. At the end, “ Singing Bowl ” plays again, bringing the session to a peaceful close.
At home, too, this can become a lovely evening ritual that helps ease the transition from an active day to a time of rest.
Singing Bowls use in kindergarten
Singing Bowls are particularly well-suited for preschool and can be used in a variety of ways. In addition to simple sound exercises and mindfulness games, they can be used, for example, as a recurring signal for morning circle time, a quiet period, cleanup time, or transitions between different activities.
Active games such as “Lion and Mouse,” “Animal Migration,” and “Discovering Colors” are especially popular with younger children and allow them to have their first experiences with Singing Bowls without having to sit still for long periods of time.
As you gain more experience, you can also try out short sound stories, sound journeys, or guided imagery exercises. It’s always important to keep a safe distance from your ears and not to strike the Singing Bowl unnecessarily loudly.
Singing Bowl In elementary school: Sound as a ritual and a moment of mindfulness
Singing Bowls Singing Bowls can be particularly effective in elementary school for intentional breaks or to promote calm and concentration. are also frequently used as signaling instruments: For example, the sound of a can mark the beginning of a quiet work period, invite students to settle in together after a break, or accompany a brief breathing and mindfulness exercise. Singing Bowl
Age-appropriate sound exercises and sound stories for children can also be used in the classroom and in other childcare settings.
Which " Singing Bowl " is suitable for children?
When choosing a " Singing Bowl " for children, in addition to a pleasant sound, quality and good vibration characteristics play a particularly important role. A high-quality " Singing Bowl " has a long-lasting sound and exceptionally fine vibration characteristics.
Peter Hess® Singing Bowls are therefore ideal for working with children—we especially recommend the following bowls.
Singing Bowls for personal use or in kindergarten
Peter Hess® Bengali Singing Bowl
The Peter Hess® Bengali Singing Bowl is also suitable for sound work with children and can be used, for example, for sound games, storytelling, and simple mindfulness exercises. For use at home or for children’s first experiences with sound in preschool, we recommend size 70.
Peter Hess® Therapy Singing Bowl Universal Bowl
Our " Therapy Singing Bowls " were developed for professional sound work and offer particularly nuanced sound and vibrational characteristics. Depending on the model, they can also be used in educational settings. For particularly versatile use, we recommend the " Universal Bowl."
Fanello " Singing Bowls " Set
Fanello combines sound with playful and imaginative activities for children. The “ Singing Bowl ” is particularly well-suited for sound stories and musical journeys of the imagination. The Peter Hess® Fanello “ Singing Bowls ” Set includes singing bowl mallets and a book of imaginative journeys, giving you everything you need to get started.
Singing Bowls For use in elementary schools
Peter Hess® Therapy Singing Bowl Set for Children
For use in elementary schools, we recommend the Peter Hess® Therapy Singing Bowls Set for ChildrenTherapy Singing Bowls . It contains three harmoniously tuned gongs and various mallets. We’ve put this set together specifically for sound practice with children. It allows you to create a variety of sound exercises, sound games, guided imagery, and relaxation sessions.
Peter Hess® Tiny Bowl Set
The small Tiny Bowls are particularly well-suited as signaling tools—for example, to signal the start and end of an activity, a quiet time, or a ritual in elementary school.
Peter Hess® Mini Singing Bowls Set for Kids
The MiniSinging Bowls Set gives children a fun introduction to the world of Singing Bowls and encourages them to explore and experiment on their own.
Which " Singing Bowl " or " Singing Bowls" set is best for you depends on your preferences and whether you plan to use them at home, in preschool, in elementary school, or professionally in educational sound work.