As a team who cares deeply about children’s mental health, we at The Inspired Classroom wanted to share some effective and fun calming activities that you can use to help promote well-being in the young people in your life.
Calming Activity #1
First, let’s talk about mindfulness exercises. These can be as simple as having your child take a few deep breaths or as involved as a full body scan meditation. I particularly like to use visualization exercises with my children, where we imagine ourselves in a peaceful place like a beach or forest, focusing on the environment’s sights, sounds, and smells. This helps them relax and refocus and can even improve their ability to handle stress in the future.
Calming Activity #2
Another great way to help kids relax is through yoga and stretching activities. Yoga has been shown to have numerous benefits for mental health, including reducing anxiety and improving mood. You can start with simple poses like downward dog or child’s pose and build up to more advanced postures as your child becomes more comfortable. Stretching is also a great way to relieve tension and promote relaxation and can be as simple as stretching arms and legs while sitting or standing.
Calming Activity #3
Creative activities are also an excellent way to promote mental well-being. Art therapy, music therapy, and writing exercises are great ways to help kids express themselves and relieve stress. I love to give my kids a blank canvas and some paint and watch as they create something unique and beautiful. Music therapy can be as simple as listening to calming music or even singing along to a favorite song. Writing exercises can be as simple as asking your child to write about their feelings or creating a short story about a character they invent.
Calming Activity #4
Don’t forget about the power of nature! Spending time outdoors has been shown to reduce stress and improve mental well-being. You can take a nature walk, play outdoor games, or even do some gardening together. This promotes relaxation and helps children develop a sense of connection with the natural world.
Calming Activity #5
Lastly, mindful eating activities are a great way to promote healthy habits and help children feel more in tune with their bodies. You can try mindful eating exercises, where you encourage your child to savor and enjoy their food, or cooking activities, where they can learn about healthy ingredients and how to prepare simple, nutritious meals. Healthy snacks like fruit, nuts, and veggies can also be a great way to promote mental well-being.
Empower your child’s mind with calming activities – nurture their mental well-being today!
So there you have it! These are just a few calming activities that can help nurture children’s mental well-being. Incorporating these into your child’s routine can help them feel more relaxed, focused, and connected with themselves and the world around them.
Author Bio
Andrea Gibbs is the Content Manager at SpringHive Web Agency, where she helps create content for their clients’ blogs and websites. She is currently a blog contributor at Montessori Academy, a blog dedicated to helping parents with the ins and outs of parenting children within the Montessori tradition. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and her dog.
