Relax with Your Child (or Inner Child)

Guided Relaxation for Kids

Here is a guided relaxation exercise I recorded for you in MP3 format. Feel free to download and listen with your child. Written for younger children, this exercise takes less than 10 minutes. It incorporates breathing and muscle relaxation with fun imagery to help you both learn to relax your body and breath deeply. Relaxation becomes easier with practice and a great time to practice is bedtime.

Let me know what you think!

Stress Buster

This is a great stress-reliever! First, sit-up straight. Pretend you have a hot-air balloon tied to the top of your head and its gently lifting you off your seat. Let your shoulders fall. Do you feel that? Do you feel the tension you didn’t even know you were carrying start to drain away? Very nice.

Now, I want you to pretend your nose is at your bellybutton. Go ahead, breath right into your belly-button. Do you see how different that feels? Practice that for a few breaths. Good.

OK, now think about the number 4. Your going to breathe in through your bellybutton nose for 4 seconds, breathe out for 4 seconds, wait for 4 seconds (its OK if you can’t wait the full 4–just breathe slowly and comfortable). Repeat 4 times.

Doesn’t that feel great? Well done!