To reduce our children's stress we must find activities that help them clear their minds and express their feelings. These 10 activities to reduce stress in children are an excellent option, because in addition to being fun, they will help them find that calm they need so much.
Stress in children usually occurs when there is a change in their lives; in their routine, in their family, in school or in a situation that requires adaptation.
It is very important for adults to be aware of this, as excessive stress can affect their physical, psychological and social well-being.
These are some of the activities you can do with your children to help them reduce stress.
10 Activities to reduce stress in children.
1. Painting
Painting is an excellent activity to relieve stress and anxiety. Let your children choose the material they want to use, no matter if it's colors, paints, watercolors or crayons, the idea is to clear their minds through their strokes and use of color.
If your children are older, painting by numbers books are excellent, as they require a little more attention and will help keep their mind focused on that, instead of focusing on negative thoughts.
2. Counting Jokes
Laughter is undoubtedly one of the best medicines and an excellent way to reduce stress, both in children and adults.
Laughing has direct effects on heart rate and circulation, which increases when we laugh a lot and then decreases, leaving us with a feeling of relaxation. Here are some jokes to make your children laugh out loud.
3. Dance
Dance is an activity with many benefits, both for mental and physical health. Through dance, children can improve their communication skills, increase their confidence and self-esteem.
Music in the company of body movements will help them express themselves and reduce stress. You can vary the type of music and ask your children to move as they feel the melody. They will certainly clear their minds and feel more relaxed.
4. Yoga
Practicing yoga lowers blood pressure and slows the heart rate, which will make your children feel more relaxed.
Yoga combines exercises for the mind and body, postures that require controlled breathing, meditation and relaxation. It's the perfect activity for your children to get rid of stress. Here we share with you a great video of Yoga for Children.
5. Meditation
Meditation increases activity in all parts of the brain that control positive emotions. This activity is perfect for children with stress, as it will help them strengthen their physical, mental and emotional health.
You can teach them sound mantras such as "om mani padme hum" or "ho oponopono", or you can create your own phrases and ask them to repeat them, using phrases that make them feel good.
Here are some positive phrases that you can adapt for your children to repeat while they relax.
6. Outdoor Walks
Being in contact with nature is one of the best ways to reduce stress. The fresh air, the noise of the trees, the song of the birds and the sun, are the perfect combination for a child to clear his mind and leave his worries aside.
Try to take your child somewhere quiet, away from the chaos and noise of the city, so he or she can reduce their cortisol levels. If you want to know more about this topic, read this article.
7. Musical instruments
Playing a musical instrument can effectively reduce stress levels, as music is a natural tranquilizer.
Music has been shown to lower blood pressure, calm stress, and reduce aggression and anxiety.
If your children play an instrument, in addition to feeling more relaxed, they will improve their memory, spatial intelligence, coordination, language skills, and will put aside negative thoughts.
8. Anti-stress toys
There is a wide variety of toys that are specifically designed to reduce stress for both adults and children. So having some of these on hand is always an excellent option.
Our favorite stress reduction toys for children are: textured balls, squeeze figures, puzzles, rubik's cube, play dough, fidget spinner and slime. These toys will make your children relax while having fun.
9. Writing a diary
One way to help your children reduce stress is to ask them to keep a journal, where they can write down day by day how they are feeling, what their concerns and fears are.
Writing is therapeutic, because it puts into perspective what is troubling and can express any feelings without fear of judgment.
Another advantage of writing is that it slows down thoughts, which will help your children process them more calmly and slowly.
10. Proper nutrition
Without a doubt, one of the most important factors in feeling good is eating well.
Increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables in your children's diet and reduce as much as possible the consumption of sweets and processed foods.
Vitamin C, magnesium, calcium and omega-3, are the most recommended nutrients to combat stress, so incorporate them into your diet.
Blueberries, cassava, pistachios, oranges, sesame seeds, chocolate, bananas, lentils, chard and other green leaves are foods that can help you feel better about yourself.
Now that you know what these 10 stress reduction activities are for children, choose the best one for your children and help them find the calm they need so badly.
If you notice that your children's stress is starting to show signs of being a problem, be sure to consult a specialist.
