In-Person: Mindful Kids Series
featuring Sharon Salzberg and her new children’s book, Kind Karl
Sunday, January 18th, 2026 | 2:00pm – 3:30pm ET
In-Person Location: New York Insight at 115 West 29th Street, 12th Floor
New York Insight Meditation Center invites you to our inaugural 2026 INSIGHT FAMILY PROGRAM — a series of monthly gatherings for parents, caregivers and children!
We are thrilled to launch the series with an afternoon with Sharon Salzberg. Sharon will be introducing her new children’s book, Kind Karl, which is a heartwarming tale (tail?) about a crocodile with a temper, who mindfully finds his way from being a snappy reptile, to self-compassion and kindness. After listening to a read aloud of Kind Karl, children will have the chance to engage in a mindful art and play while parents gather with Sharon to discuss meeting the joys and challenges of family life with mindfulness. There will be time for sharing and mindful snacks after the two groups come back together.
Over the next six months, we will offer monthly events for families to gather and engage mindfully with different themes, like kindness, courage and peacemaking. Each month’s gathering will feature a mix of storytelling or read-alouds by authors, as well as mindful movement, dialogue, meditation and play. We will begin in one big group for a check in, listen to storytelling, and explore the monthly theme together. Afterwards, children are invited to meet with teachers, work on an art project, experience the joy of community, spaciousness and mindful play.
Parents and caregivers will have the opportunity to meditate together and participate in a dialogue guided by a dharma teacher to explore the joys and challenges of parenting.
Registration:
The recommended child age range for this program is 4 – 15. One adult per family may attend free. For example, if two adults and two children will be attending from your family, please select 2 Child tickets and 1 Additional Adult ticket.
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Volunteering
All of our programs rely on volunteers to support our teachers and staff with various tasks and responsibilities. Volunteering allows you to participate in our programs at no cost. To inquire about volunteering opportunities, please fill out our inquiry form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Teacher(s)
Sharon Salzberg
Sharon Salzberg is a central figure in the field of meditation, a world-renowned teacher and NY Times bestselling author. She has played a crucial role in bringing meditation and mindfulness practices to the West and into mainstream culture since 1974, when she first began teaching.
She is the co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA and the author of ten books including NY Times bestseller, Real Happiness, her seminal work, Lovingkindness, and Real Love.
Beloved for her for her down-to-earth teaching style, Sharon offers a secular, modern approach to Buddhist teachings, making them instantly accessible. She is a regular columnist for On Being, a contributor to Huffington Post, and the host of her own podcast, The Metta Hour. For more information, visit www.SharonSalzberg.com.