

There are also scripts to practice mindfulness with children. If you prefer not to read a script, there are ones that are pre-recorded. Check out Inner Health Studios list of scripts you can use with your child. Slowly and carefully read the words as your child listens and follows the instructions. There are scripts you can read to your child to help them relax and calm down. Your child can listen to these podcasts as a way to have some down time. Here are some more ideas of what to say to calm an anxious child.įrom Go Zen - 49 Phrases to Calm an Anxious Childįrom Lemon Lime Adventures - What to Say to Calm an Anxious Child Listen to Story Podcasts for Childrenĭid you know there are podcasts with stories for children? Usually the hosts have a soothing voice and the stories tend to be pretty short.

Use the following phrases as a way to support your child, let them know that you’re going to support them and help them in any way that you can. Use Understanding and Supportive Language Luckily, there are some fun ways to teach kids deep breathing techniques Things to use Taking deep breaths, instead of shallow breaths, is one way to tell your body to get back to resting and digesting. Your muscles tense up, your heart rate increases and your breathing becomes more shallow. However, when stress or anxiety or anger occurs, your body automatically switches into “flight, fight or freeze” mode. You breathe normally, your heart rate is lower and your muscles are relaxed. When you and calm and relaxed, your body is in “rest and digest” mode. It’s so simple, yet has such a big impact on your body’s physiology. But I will continue to say it and explain why. People usually roll their eyes initially when they hear “breathing is important”. Here are two more short lists of ideas for calming down at home or at school.įrom Imperfect Families - Strategies to use at homeįrom Encourage Play - 10 Strategies to Help Kids Calm Down at school or home Deep Breathing It’s great to have a big list of coping skills to try when your child needs to calm down. Swoop your hands and arms toward your body and then place your interlaced hands on your chest.Ĭross your feet at the ankles and put your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Put one hand over the other at the wrists and interlace your fingers.

Put your arms straight out in front of you, palms facing out. Squeeze Something (play dough, clay, silly putty, your fists, a stress ball)ĥ4321 Grounding - go through each of your 5 senses Name animals alphabetically (alligator, bear, cow, dog, etc…) Imagine your favorite place - it’s like taking a mini vacation wherever you are These tips will come in handy at those times: Maybe it’s when you’re out at Target or stuck in traffic. Sometimes you’ll need a quick way to help your child calm down and you don’t have much with you.
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Here’s a collection of the best tools and tips I’ve found to teach children how to calm down and relax. We tend to tell our kids to “calm down” without ever giving them explicit directions on how to deal with stress and anxiety. You say calm down, but she yells back “I don’t know how to do that!!!” Your daughter is frustrated and stomping away down to her room, slamming the door and in general “has her cranky pants on”. Inside: Kid tested strategies used by child therapists for calming anxiety, including ideas to calm down, books to read and videos that can help This page contains affiliate links, read the disclosure statement here
