10 Exercises To Make Children Relax
A relaxed child is a potentially healthy and happy child who will also be able to better control their emotional, cognitive and behavioral behaviors. In this article, we present 10 exercises to help children relax .
Relaxation in children
The ability to achieve relaxation is undoubtedly something positive at any age. As for children, it helps them to reduce muscle tension, it also decreases heart rate and blood pressure. Relaxation is based on keeping the muscles relaxed through different techniques, which end up having a physical and mental impact.
-William Shakespeare-
10 exercises to make children relax
Jacobson’s relaxation method
This is one of the most used methods around the world. It relies on the contraction of the muscles to relax them later.
For this, the exercises consist of contracting and stretching the muscles, which leads to a relief of the nervous system and muscles of the body.
Libra, one of the most effective exercises for children to relax
Technique that consists in imitating the movement of a balance, of a swing. It involves performing a reciprocating motion from front to back or right to left.
Schultz’s autogenous relaxation method
It is a global method which is divided into upper and lower level. We will start by explaining to children to stay calm and then massaging their body, we will guide them by voice.
We will ask children to focus on certain areas of the body and feel very heavy. You need to repeat until you notice that the baby’s muscles are no longer contracted.
Koeppen relaxation method
Koeppen’s relaxation method is very similar to Jacobson’s, because it is based on muscle tension and contraction, but the exercises and instructions are performed through games:
- For the hands and wrists, the child is told to squeeze as if squeezing a lemon and then release.
- You will have to make the child behave like a puppet with strings that pull him up and bend his back a little and suddenly release him.
- Now it has to become a cat, so move on all fours.
- For the shoulders and neck, he must become a turtle, imagining himself standing on a rock sunbathing.
- For the fingers, he has to become a pianist, a great musician who plays the piano very well.
The rag doll, one of the funniest exercises for children to relax
Among the exercises to relax children, there is one that generally amuses them a lot : you will have to tell them that they must behave as if they were robots, with rigid movements and very tense muscles. Then you will give him a visual cue to stop the tense muscles and become rag dolls.
Mandala
Drawing mandalas in a pleasant environment is a good relaxation activity. When drawing mandalas, our hemispheres work together and it is an activity that can help children focus.
The fall
It consists in letting the force of gravity act on the body. Then you have to let that part of the body rest for a few seconds, then the movement is repeated two or three times.
To sing
Music is a very important element for the human being. Music is able to accompany our emotional state and even alleviate our discomfort.
The massages
Whether it is for a hug or a caress, physical contact with another person tends to be a reassuring element for the human being, and more so for our children.
Resist the laughter
It is based on asking the child to look at another person while remaining still and keeping calm trying not to laugh, while the other person must do everything possible to make him laugh.
Benefits of exercises to make children relax
- In children, relaxation serves to relax the body and reduce muscle and mental stress.
- Helps to increase self-confidence, memory and concentration, improving the quality of learning.
- After intense activity, relaxation allows the child to reach a state of well-being and tranquility.
- It channels the energies of children, regulates the level of activation and produces global well-being.
- Various studies show that it also helps to overcome shyness.
- It improves blood circulation, reduces anxiety, panic attacks and helps eliminate stuttering.
- In the case of children with asthma, regular relaxation exercises help prevent seizures and act more effectively during them.
