Relaxation Tips for Kids

For some children, relaxing presents a serious challenge. These easy-to-anger children often find the task of dealing with anger or even extreme excitement quite difficult and, as a result, are unable to process these emotions effectively. If your child is not as adept at relaxation as you would like, consider some ways in which you can help him accomplish this task.

Induce Laughter

Laughter induction is one of the best ways to combat situations of stress or anger. If your kid seems overly wound up, do something to get him laughing such as telling a joke or making a funny face or two. This chuckle break may be just what he needs to cool down so that he can approach the situation with a more level and calm head.

Practice Controlled Breathing

By controlling their breathing, worked up children can lower their blood pressure and pulse rate, leading to a natural calming effect. If you notice your child getting overly worked up, encourage her to sit down and take some deep breaths. Model this desirable breathing for her by taking some deep breaths of your own and encouraging her to follow your lead.

Teach Tense and Release

As FamilyEducation reports, the controlled tensing and releasing of body parts can help your child exercise control over his body and calm him down. To engage your child in a tense and release exercise, ask her to isolate different body parts and tense, then release her muscles. For example, you can ask her to tense her hand into a fist, then let her muscles loosen and shake out this tensed appendage. Move through several different body parts, encouraging your child to exercise muscular control. Continue this exercise until you see that your kid has calmed down.

Create a Mantra

Provide a ever-present relaxation opportunity for your tot by working with her to compose a mantra. As the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children reports, writing and repeating a mantra can be an effective means for children to deal with their personal stress. Consider the cause of your child’s stress and help your child compose a mantra that is tailored to that stressor. For example, if your child becomes stressed when taking tests in school, write a mantra related to this task, such as, “Just do your best.” Encourage your child to repeat this mantra silently when he becomes stressed or, if in a situation in which he can make noise, actually repeat the mantra aloud to himself to sooth his nerves.