“Like adults, children often have bad feelings and have difficulty handling their stress. Unlike adults, though, children do not have the means or the skills to understand or manage their stress in appropriate ways.” says Novella J. Ruffin in the article “Children and Stress: Caring Strategies to Guide Children.” Thankfully, kids can gain lifelong benefits from having relaxation techniques implemented into their daily lives.
Get Children Involved with Yoga
Not only is yoga a good form of physical exercise, which is an essential element in relieving stress, it also incorporates meditation and breathing practices that can provide children with plenty of relaxation benefits. Yoga should be introduced to kids gradually and in a way that’s fun for them. There are several resources available for parents who have no clue about how to get kids started with yoga, such as the DVD titled, Yoga Kids, Vol 2: ABC’s for Ages 3-6 starring Marsha Wenig.
Teach Kids Mini-Meditation Techniques
Mini-meditations are short techniques that can give children quick relief from stress. One such mini-meditation is a deep breathing exercise that parents can introduce to kids. Youngsters should stop what they’re doing, sit in a comfortable spot, and close their eyes. Children should then take three slow, deep breaths – inhaling through the nose, and exhaling through the mouth. The deep breaths should be repeated two to three times before the children slowly open their eyes.
Encourage Kids to Have a Good Laugh
Laughter provides children with a physical release that reduces blood pressure and decreases stress hormones. Having a good chuckle causes the body to release endorphins, which elevate moods, and acts as a natural pain killer in the body. So go ahead and pop in a funny movie, do a silly dance, tell jokes, or make a goofy face – just get those little ones giggling.
Give Children Calming Activities
When kids are stressed, it helps to give them a soothing way to channel their anxiety. Playdough works great for this. The kneading action required to work with playdough has a soothing effect, and it's a good way for children to unwind. Also, allowing youngsters to do creative things like coloring, painting, and drawing pictures can be a good way to help them relieve stress.
Encourage Kids to Get Plenty of Rest
When a child doesn’t get enough sleep, it weakens his body’s defenses and lessens his ability to cope with stress. It’s recommended that children between the ages of three and five get 11 to 13 hours of sleep, and older children should get between 10 and 11 hours of sleep every day.
Stress is always going to be a part of life – there’s simply no way around it. But teaching children ways to unwind when they’re young will give them the long-term ability to manage stress – which in turn will lead to a healthier way of life.
References:
American Sleep Association. Accessed: 10-18-08
Mayo Clinic. Accessed: 10-18-08
Virginia Cooperative Extension: Virginia State University. Children and Stress: Caring Strategies to Guide Children. Accessed: 10-19-08
Charlina Stewart - Charlina has dedicated more than a decade of her life making a positive difference in the lives of children. During her time as an early ...
