5 Super Calming Tricks for Children

When little ones are overwhelmed with big emotions, our job is to share our calm, not to join their chaos.

L.R Knost

Children have a different way of looking at things. Things that seem little to us, could actually be big events for them. So, it is important to help them in situations wherein they face overwhelming emotions. Here are 5 amazing calming strategies for helping children become emotionally intelligent beings with strong coping skills.

JUST BREATHE

Breathing exercises are basic yet very powerful techniques. Check out these simple yet extremely effective exercises, the four BB’s:

Balloon Breathing

Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Imagine there is a balloon in your tummy. Take a deep breath in through your nose to fill your balloon. Place your hand on your tummy to feel it rise. Hold your breath for 3 seconds. Breathe out slowly through your mouth to deflate your balloon. Repeat 5 times.

Back to back Breathing

Sit comfortably back to back with your child. Close your eyes and begin inhaling deeply and exhale slowly. Try to sync your breathing with your partner and feel the expansion in each other’s back.

Bubble Breathing

Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Imagine you are holding a bubble wand. Inhale deeply and as you gently breathe out, imagine that you are blowing bubbles into the room, all around you. Think of bubbles being filled with love, happiness and laughter and feel that the whole room is filled with a happy and peaceful aura. Keep breathing gently and blowing out happiness bubbles!

Bumblebee Breathing

Sit comfortably and just relax. Use the tip of index fingers to gently close your ears. Now slowly breathe in through your nose and as you breathe out through your mouth, make the humming sound. Feel the vibrations and let your body become calm and relaxed.

MENTAL WALK

One of the powerful mindfulness technique is to take a mental or virtual walk. Close your eyes and visualize yourself taking a trip to your favorite place. It could be a beautiful garden filled pretty flowers and butterflies; or a gorgeous beach with sparkling blue water and the warmth of sun; or a peaceful mountain valley with birds chirping around. Experience the beauty of nature, listen to the amazing sounds and feel the calmness within. Rejuvenate yourself by taking such mental walks. Just think of a place that makes you happy and mentally experience it with all your senses.

5-4-3-2-1 FORMULA

This is an effective way to enhance focus and pacify oneself. Here’s how it goes:

5 _ _ _ _ _ Name 5 things that you can see around you. E.g. yellow bottle, white toy

4 _ _ _ _ Name 4 things that you can hear. E.g. birds chirping, moving fan.

3 _ _ _ Name 3 things that you can touch or feel. E.g. warm/cool breeze, confused feelings

2 _ _ Name 2 things that you can smell. E.g talcum/perfume

1_ Name 1 thing that you would like to taste. E.g pizza

Whenever you see your child losing his calm, try out this exercise with him/her.

FREE TALK

Also known as free association, encourage your child to talk freely. The idea is that you make the child sit or lie comfortably, and allow them to speak whatever thoughts that come in their mind for the next 5-10 mins.

Another variation of this exercise is to give your child a word, let’s say ‘cloud’, and he has to speak whatever comes in his mind after hearing ‘cloud’. Supposedly he says ‘white’, then you would continue the exercise, stating what comes next in your mind.

MY CALMING JAR

Practice these amazing calming tricks with children and help them enhance their coping skills and emotional wellbeing-being.

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