12 Easy Relaxation Techniques to Share With Your Children

Life is difficult, let’s face it.

Regardless of your age, there are aspects of daily life that are tedious, infuriating, and unpleasant. Sometimes, we have seasons in our life that are more stressful than others.

If you have relaxation techniques that are effective for you, you might be wondering how you can influence your children to follow you. Since they are also attempting to make friends, achieve high grades, and adjust to the changes that come with growing up, their lives can sometimes be stressful.

Learning to relax can go a long way toward making life more pleasant for both you and your child.

Yes, it would be challenging to teach a young child to meditate for 30 minutes when they have trouble staying still long enough to eat. There are, however, age-appropriate activities that are suited for people of all developmental ages, from young children to teenagers.

Discover how you may support your children to become mindful and stress-free. 

Sharing Relaxation Practices with Younger Children

Try the following tips and techniques:

1. Be fun. Make sure to present relaxation practices as a helpful tool rather than punishment. Pay attention to your child’s limits so they’ll stay engaged.
2. Keep it brief. For a preschooler, even one minute of seated meditation can be a success. Plan a variety of activities so you can mix them up if your child appears to be becoming bored and losing interest.
3. Practice Breathing Techniques. At any age, focusing on the breath is an excellent starting point. Ask your child to visualize breathing air into their chest and stomach, then letting it out like a balloon.
4. Play music. Does your child have some favorite songs? Take turns singing different parts or ask them to listen for certain notes. Close observation is a form of mindfulness.
5. Meditation and Exercise. You can also meditate or appreciate your surroundings while you’re moving around. Go to the park and identify as many different kinds of flowers as you can. Exercise can help you cope with stress and prevent health issues while also enhancing energy and strength. You can show your children how to perform stretches like rolling their heads from side to side, from front to back, and from front to back while their eyes are closed. This technique helps to relieve neck tension by increasing blood flow to the brain, which is a natural and easy way to relax.
6. Smile and Laugh. Encourage your child to smile whenever possible. Explain to your child that smiling will make them feel better because it releases chemicals in their bodies that make them feel good. It has also been demonstrated that laughing instantly reduces tension. Use humor when you can to keep both you and your children entertained and motivated.
7. Talk to your child’s teacher and/or guidance counselor. Some schools include stress management and meditation in their curriculum. Check on what’s available and see if there’s anything you can do to help.

Sharing Relaxation Practices with Teens

With teens, you can build on the techniques designed for younger children and introduce some new lessons. Meditation may be especially valuable during these years as many teens experience depression and anxiety. Be sure to let your doctor know if your teen is already receiving treatment for such conditions.

Share these strategies with your teen:

1. Increase time gradually. Keep in mind your teen’s interests and abilities. If they benefit from meditating, they may want to sit for an hour or more a day. Otherwise, you can suggest other ways to relax, such as yoga or working on hobbies.
2. Share experiences. Listen enthusiastically to what your teen thinks about relieving stress and living mindfully. Discuss your own thoughts and feelings too.
3. Take turns teaching. Give your teen a chance to instruct you. If you do guided meditations together, you could alternate being the one to do the reading and provide directions. If you usually do tai chi, let them know that you’d appreciate their help in coming up with new ideas for the sake of variety.
4. Search for apps. There are apps for relaxation and meditation, and many of them are free. Your teen may prefer something created for their own age group or they may be happy with a general program for adults.
5. Sign up for classes. Check out the options in your area if you’re still looking for something more. To find classes on gardening or meditation, check the calendars of events at your neighborhood library and other sources. If your child enjoys singing or playing an instrument, you can also enroll them in music lessons.

Children and teens can benefit from relaxation practices, whether you use a modern app or an old-fashioned meditation cushion. Introduce your sons and daughters to wholesome routines that enable them to develop into happy and peaceful children.