Reiki for Kids: What It Really Looks Like (Even for Anxious or Active Children)
If you think your child might benefit from Reiki, but the idea of them lying still on a massage table in serene silence for an hour feels impossible and a waste of your money, I have good news: lying still is not a requirement for Reiki to work.
As a practitioner who's worked consistently with kids as young as two, with newborns, and with teens in inpatient facilities, I can safely say that stillness is not necessary. In fact, for some children, restricting movement can actually hinder the benefits (more on that below).
Somewhere along the way, we've developed the idea that healing requires perfect stillness, complete quiet, and following instructions. But here’s what I’ve observed: relaxation, calm, and stillness can be a result of the session—not a prerequisite for it.
Why Kids Could Benefit from Reiki
There are already excellent articles and books out there covering the general benefits of Reiki for children, so I won't reinvent that wheel.
But here's what those articles often miss: kids benefit from Reiki because they're still connected to something most adults have forgotten, their body's natural wisdom.
Research (although limited) consistently shows that Reiki reduces anxiety and pain in both adults and children. But kids often absorb Reiki energy the way a sponge absorbs water. They haven't spent decades learning to override their instincts or ignore what their bodies are telling them. So those stuck moments, those mental loops we replay haven't yet solidified into their sense of identity. They’re not as attached to their stories as we are.
While adults often need time to "get out of their heads" during sessions, kids are already present. They feel everything authentically. That fidgeting five-year-old isn't being difficult, they're responding to energy shifts in real time. That chatty eight-year-old processing their day out loud? They're doing exactly what their nervous system needs in order to settle.
How Sessions Can Be Customized for Every Child's Personality
Working with children means throwing out the adult rulebook (to be honest, adults don’t need one either) and following their lead. Here's how we adapt sessions to match their energy instead of forcing them out of it:
For the movers and shakers: We might start standing, sitting in a chair, or even walking around the room. Some children receive their best healing while gently swaying or rocking. Movement isn't a distraction from the process, it can be part of it. In fact, movement-friendly Reiki can help children regulate more easily by leaning in to what their nervous system is already doing.
For the talkers: Conversation is absolutely welcome. Sometimes shifts happen while a child is sharing what's on their mind. Their words give insights into what they need, and talking helps them process what they're feeling. I’ve found kids to be extremely honest, and often get the best feedback from them in session.
For the shy ones: They can bring whatever makes them feel safe: stuffed animals, blankets, books, even a parent's hand to hold. Some kids need time to warm up to new adults, in the meantime silence is also a beautiful way to communicate. Creating emotional safety is always more important than following a protocol.
For the curious minds: I encourage questions about everything. What does Reiki feel like? What are those crystals for? Why are my hands warm? Their curiosity is a sign they're engaged, not distracted. As someone who was a curious child myself, I appreciate their questions — and honestly, they often help me explain Reiki better to others too. Win-win
For the anxious spirits: We go at their pace, always. Sessions can be shorter, positions can be adjusted, and we can stop anytime they need a break. Their comfort is the priority. Crystals and stones work beautifully for anxious kids. They love choosing which ones "feel right" for them, holding them up to spots that instinctively feel connected, or telling stories about what the color or shape reminds them of. It gives their hands and minds something gentle to focus on while their energy settles.
For parents and kids new to Reiki, our guide on How to Prepare for a Reiki Session offers practical tips, from clothing choices to sensory needs for a comfortable experience.
Why Forcing Them into Stillness Might Be Counterproductive
When children feel stressed or overwhelmed, their nervous systems often respond through movement—fidgeting, rocking, pacing, or shifting. It's just their body's natural way of regulating. Since research shows children's developing brains are highly sensitive to stress in their environment, my job is to create the calmest, most accepting space possible, one where their natural movement is welcomed, not restricted.
Somatic therapy research shows that movement helps children process and release stored emotions and let go of stress or tension they may not realize they're holding. When we force children into stillness, we risk pushing them into a shutdown state rather than guiding them into genuine calm.
The goal isn't to create compliant children who perform stillness on command. The goal is emotional regulation: helping children understand they can have feelings and still be okay. Sometimes that regulation comes through movement, not despite it.
When I insist that a child lie perfectly still during Reiki, I'm essentially asking their nervous system to override its natural wisdom. For an anxious child, that forced stillness might actually heighten their anxiety. For a hyperactive child, it becomes yet another moment where they feel like they’re failing at being the “right” kind of kid.
Instead, when we allow children to move, fidget, shift, and settle naturally, we're supporting their innate capacity to find balance. We're teaching them that healing doesn't require perfection, it requires presence. And presence can be wiggly, chatty, and beautifully imperfect.
The stillness and calm we're looking for? That comes as a result of feeling safe and supported, not as a requirement to begin.
How to Talk to Your Child About Reiki (If They Ask)
Kids are naturally curious, and if they're interested in what Reiki is, here's how to explain it in ways that might make sense to them:
For younger kids (ages 4-8): "Reiki is like giving your body a gentle, invisible hug that helps you feel calmer and more comfortable. Just like how a real hug can make you feel better when you're sad, Reiki is a special kind of energy that helps your body remember how to feel peaceful."
For school-age kids (ages 9-12): “You know how sometimes you get a 'gut feeling' about something, or you can feel when someone is happy or upset just by being near them? Reiki works with that same kind of energy. It's like when your tablet or phone gets glitchy and slow, and restarting it helps everything run smoothly again. Reiki helps your body's energy 'restart' so you feel more balanced and calm.
For teens: "Reiki is an energy healing technique that works with your body's natural ability to relax and restore itself. It's kind of like meditation, but you don't have to clear your mind or do anything special. The practitioner just creates a calm space where you can reset."
The best part? You don't need to have all the answers. Kids often understand energy work intuitively better than adults do. If they ask questions you can't answer, it's perfectly fine to say, "That's a great question, we can ask the practitioner when we get there." Ready to give it a try? Contact me with any questions or to schedule a session where your child can be completely, authentically themselves.