Assess whether mindfulness can be considered ethical when used to enhance children’s development. (8)

Question 1

Mindfulness based interventions of meditation in school can promote the ability to concentrate on tasks.

Answer 1

Weare (2013) found that mindfulness programs that were delivered well, improved academic learning in children, so they can be ethical if the delivery is appropriate to the children.

Question 2

Children can learn to use mindfulness-orientated meditation (MOM) to improve emotional wellbeing.

Answer 2

Children may not be fully aware of the implications of engaging in mindfulness programmes, so the use of this may breach UNCRC (1989) guidance on child participation and protection.

Question 3

Mindfulness programs may be delivered by non-specialist practitioners, such as teachers and parents.

Answer 3

Lustyk et al. (2009) highlights the need for practitioners to be trained in the delivery of mindfulness programs as vulnerable participants can suffer from adverse side effects such as hallucinations and insomnia which cause them harm and distress.

Question 4

Ethical considerations include the social control of vulnerable groups who should not be influenced to behave in ways they would not choose for themselves.

Answer 4

Schonert-Reichl and Lawlor (2010) found an improvement in social and emotional competence of pre-adolescent and adolescent students, but this was based on teacher judgement and not the children’s thoughts about their own development.