Ever wonder how to teach kids with anxiety to relax? Color, breathe, run, or something else? Research tells us there are 3 key relaxation skills that work to relieve the physiological experiences of anxiety. Keep reading to find practical and creative ways to teach these skills to your students or kids!
Anxiety Relaxation Skills for Kids
1 – Diaphragmatic Breathing
Teaching kids to slow their breathing and really pay attention to the inhale and exhale can help them to lower their heart rates and calm their bodies and minds. The act of simply paying attention to their breath serves as a distraction technique while the
Want to get creative with it? Try these breathing art activities:
Controlled Breathing Painted Waves
Worry Monster Deep Breathing Activity
Learn more about easy tools to help you teach kids how to perform diaphragmatic or controlled breathing:
2 – Progressive Muscle Relaxation
In progressive muscle relaxation, kids learn to gradually and systematically tense, hold, and release their muscles. This is a great skill for kids to learn because they can do it anywhere, even when they’re seated at school. Here is a great video from GoZen! to introduce the skill:
With my younger students, I introduce them to Betti Spaghetti, a student just like them who learns to calm her body with progressive muscle relaxation.
3 – Grounding
Grounding is all about helping kids feel connected to their current environment and surrounding, especially when anxiety is making them feel disconnected! Kids can use their senses to connect with the environment or do a room scan to notice specific things that are close by.
Check out these 10 grounding techniques to teach your kids and visit the post to download free grounding exercise cards.
Resources to Help Kids Who Worry:
Keep Learning:
- 11 Essential Skills for Kids Who Worry
- What to Say to Help Kids Who Worry
- Help Kids Understand What Anxiety Is
How do you teach kids with anxiety to relax?
Leave your best tips to teach kids with anxiety to relax below!
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