MANAGING STRESS THROUGH PLAY: FINDING THE BALANCE BETWEEN MIND AND BODY
Many kids have many sources of stress these days and we know that stress, if not controlled, can have long-term negative effects on emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Stressful experiences can leave kids in a demotivating state. Stress can also cause an imbalance between the body and the mind, causing health problems and even diseases.
As advocates for children, all adults, parents, healthcare providers, teachers, and others can help promote the idea that children can manage their health and well-being by learning self-care skills. This offers children the opportunity to take the power to be the masters of their bodies and minds.
With regular practice, self-care skills, also known as mind-body relaxation techniques, can help reduce worry, more joy, and promote social and emotional regulation and improve attention.
"Teaching about self-care through play and practice gives kids the opportunity to be in control and be the masters of their minds and bodies."
Although we have all heard that daily practice of relaxation technique to combat stress is very good for us, for many (most) it is difficult to commit to a daily practice. Rather than presenting the need for children to learn and practice relaxation or meditation techniques as another item on their daily dreaded to-do list (along with homework, showering, and cleaning up their room), https://holygames.org/ can offer fun ways to engage children.
Coloring is a simple activity that helps relax the mind while helping kids develop fine motor skills and creativity. All that is needed is a coloring book and crayons or colored pencils.
Pretend play allows kids to act out their emotions and work on their fears while creating a world in which they feel in control. Let them take the reins of that world and only interfere to play with them.
Active play is not just fun. It is shown to help children and adults fight stress. If you don't have much time, try one of the more popular yoga moves, like the cobra or the dog. Try doing this as a family and see if they feel better every day.
Crafting helps promote creativity, a skill highly valued by employers in this era, but also one of the simplest ways to relax. And not to mention all the art and works that you can later collect and show to your friends and family.
Puzzles and other games that require concentration are not only good for helping to develop cognitive skills, but they also help to distract the mind and take it away from worries and stressful situations, while helping children to gain confidence in themselves.
Most of us can benefit from daily practice of self-care (relaxation) activities and skills. It starts with about five minutes of daily practice, perhaps in the morning, before taking the kids to school (to start the day calm), or a practice before going to sleep (it helps the kids fall asleep faster). Practice before doing homework can help you stay more focused. Gradually increase the time until you achieve about 10 minutes twice a day.
Although many people can feel immediate benefits from self-care and relaxation activities, it is between 8 and 12 weeks when changes in the brain and body really begin to be noticed. You may feel less angry or less frustrated, or you may feel more at peace and present during the day. You may even be able to think more clearly. You may also notice that you have fewer headaches, stomach aches, and feel more energetic and less fatigued.