10 Fun Techniques to Help Children Relax
Sometimes, it’s necessary to help children relax, both for them and for their parents. There are many situations that can generate stress or anxiety in children, such as an argument with a friend, exams, or an oral presentation in front of their classmates. If we can learn some techniques that, besides relaxing them, amuse them, we’ve succeeded in our purpose.
During childhood, there are many challenges that children have to face. For example, situations that frighten them, shyness, or an event that makes them nervous. Little ones usually react in the form of crying or tantrums, as these are their ways to release the tension that the anxiety they feel produces.
Many times, breathing alone doesn’t help children to relax, and perhaps it doesn’t work with your child. So, if you see that they need to relax, take note of some of the techniques we’re going to give you below.
Write down these fun techniques to help children relax
To help children overcome stress or anxiety situations and feel calmer, we can teach them these techniques to relax in a simple and fun way. Try them! You can choose the one you like or prefer!
1. Visualize a quiet place or a place that transmits peace
Visualizations are one of the most beneficial techniques to reduce anxiety and stress. We can get together on a bed or on the carpet and, with our eyes closed, ask our child to imagine a quiet or calm place.
We can describe the place, how it smells, how the wind moves the leaves, and how we feel when we’re there, and guide them to create that image that will generate peace. This way, we’ll spend a pleasant time together and, in addition, we’ll end up very relaxed, which is the goal.
2. Singing out loud
Most children love to put on a show at home. Also, when they sing out loud, even if they sing out of tune, they release endorphins, a chemical produced by the brain that makes them feel good.
3. Touching your toes
Touching your toes can be relaxing. Bringing the head below the level of the heart helps to calm us. This position can be in a sitting position with the legs straight. This inversion of the body produces a restorative effect and normalizes our body’ s stress response.
4. Paint and draw
Painting and drawing give our brain a target to focus on and thus calms stress. So, if your child is nervous or anxious, you can give him paper, colors, and a pencil and let them give free rein to their imagination. Also, we can buy them a book with mandalas, so they can color them as they wish, which will help them feel calm.
5. Do the downward Dog Pose
This yoga pose, known as the Downward Dog Pose, has great benefits, as it activates our arm, leg, and core muscles. This stretch causes the muscles to start burning excess sugar in our blood, which is available as a flight or fight response when we feel anxious. Do the pose together and relax while stretching!
6. Blow bubbles
What child doesn’t love blowing soap bubbles? Well, blowing and popping bubbles helps little ones control their breathing and, in this way, their mental state as well.
7. Jumping rope
We can ask our child to jump rope to the rhythm of a song they like for 2 minutes while you time it. After this activity, they’ll have burned off excess energy, so they’ll feel tired and more relaxed.
8. Take a hot bath
Who doesn’t find a hot bath relaxing? After a stressful day at work, there’s nothing like getting home and getting in the bathtub. Well, the same goes for children. If they’re nervous or stressed, hot water will help them relax. Plus, you can include their bath toys and have a fun time while relaxing.
9. Have a cup of hot chocolate
Yummy! If you give a cup of cocoa or hot chocolate to your child when you find them upset, this will also help them to relax. The warmth of the chocolate milk will do wonders.
10. Blow out a candle
This technique, of course, must always be done under your supervision. You’ll light the candle and ask them to blow it out. Each time, you’ll move the candle farther away so that they have to take a deeper breath and blow harder to blow it out. In this way, you help them to control their breathing.
Have fun and relax!
As you’ve seen, these techniques to relax children can be very helpful. They can also be fun for them. So, when your children are stressed or nervous, don’t hesitate to put these ideas into practice. Stress isn’t good for anyone. So, if we teach our children these techniques to calm down when they’re anxious, we’ll contribute to improving their physical and mental well-being.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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- Ahmed, M. D. (2010). Actividades de relajación en Educación Infantil y Primaria. Innovación y experiencias educativas, 34, 1-9.
- Nadeau, M. (24). Juegos de relajación. Málaga: Sirio.