Destress and Relaxation Activities for Kids
Children of all ages need time to relax and let go of stress, and they often need activities that help accomplish this. Children experience stress because of events they can't control, like other children playing rough at the playground or looming tests at school. They might simply need help unwinding before bedtime. Parents and caregivers can design relaxation activities that meet their child's particular needs.
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Appreciate Nature
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Visiting a quiet place outdoors is one way to relax. Children, like adults, need to get away from busy cities, packed schedules and pressures of everyday life. If a weekend trip isn't an option, find a green space within your city to bird watch, look for butterflies or simply sit and relax. Walking or skipping stones in a quiet pond are also great relaxation activities. Encourage your child to forget about stressful events and concentrate only on enjoying nature.
Quiet Time
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Children, even young toddlers, need quiet alone time every day, if only for a few minutes. This is most effective if it is practiced every day at the same time. If your child is too old for afternoon naps, turn this time into "quiet time." Encourage your child to play quietly in her room, read a book or just lie down and rest.
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Yoga and Breathing
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While young children don't have the attention span required for a long yoga session, practicing yoga and deep breathing for a few minutes during the day is a fun way to help them relax. Teach your child to sit quietly and breath deeply, even for a few seconds. Then move into slow stretching exercises. This will help take his mind off of stressful activities.
Art Projects
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Allow your child to relax with an art project a few times per week. She can choose to color, paint or play with modeling clay. These projects work best to relax your child if she has a quiet space to do them as well as all the materials she needs. Set up the art space ahead of time and consider including soft music. If your child is stressed about one event, tell her to choose colors or create shapes that represent her feelings. She might choose red for anger or make hard scribbles for the pressure she feels.
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