Relaxation Techniques For Children

Relaxation techniques for kids are very similar to those for us adults. Sometimes even the best natured and relaxed kid does need to calm down some. It is not always easy for a child to calm down, not that it is all that easy for adults sometimes either. It is our job as parents to make sure that our kids are prepared for life, and life sometimes includes stress and the need to relax. So give them the tools that they need early and it will help to make things easier for them later on.

It is usually good to use the KISS method for things, Keep It Simple Stupid. So when adapting relaxation techniques for use by kids I have tried to simplify them a little bit.

READING GAMES FOR KIDS

Music

Using music as a way to help your child to relax has many benefits. It is a passive method, it can be used with no real effort from us. Music can be something that we react to, so listening to calm music can have a calm effect on us. The hard part with kids is to find the right music. Kids can be very picky, if you do not pick calming music that they like, it can just add to their agitation. What I have found is to often not use "kids music" at all, so leave Dora and the WIggles out. I tend to go with some lesser known music that my little one loves, John Mann, Spirit of the West, Larry Kirwan, Great Big Sea and some other celtic artists. Her iTunes library has a playlist just for going to sleep with all of those artists on it. Do try those artists, but all little kids will be different of course. Besides any of the relaxation benefits it can also help to develop a love of music which can last a lifetime.

Breathing

Breathing techniques are the first active relaxation technique to learn. They are very broadly applicable, and can be used in almost any situation at any time. So to keep this one very simple for kids. Breathe in through your nose. Hold the breath for a few seconds. Then breathe out through your mouth. Just have them put one of their hands on their stomach to see it rise and fall as you want them to be breathing through their stomach. Thats it, just have them practice that when they are calm, and they can get used to doing it so they can do it when they need it,

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Here is a bit of a harder technique to learn but as with a lot of things the more work you are willing to put into something the more benefits that you gain from it. For kids you want to have them think about the muscles of one area of their body at a time. The groups I recommend for kids are feet and legs, and hands and arms. Have them start with a foot, concentrate on tightening these muscles, and letting them relax, repeat 2 or 3 times. Then the other foot, the legs, and right on through the list. Do not let the kid get frustrated if this is not very easy for them to begin with. It does take practice.

These 3 simple things should help you child get a good start on being able to calm down when needed.

Relaxation Techniques For Children

For more information on relaxation techniques for kids and adults read the stress management [http://www.relaxation-techniques-made-easy.com/stress-management.html] on my site.

Aaron Drake is the author of the Relaxation Techniques Made Easy [http://www.relaxation-techniques-made-easy.com/] website.

READING GAMES FOR KIDS