Managing stress with children

Ready to Snap? Tips for Stressed-Out Parents – Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials

You work hard in a high-stress job. You fight traffic to pick your kids up from daycare, school or sports. Then you go from chauffeur to chef at home.

It’s no wonder toddler tantrums or teenage rebellion can push a parent over the edge.

Learning to manage stress can give you the patience, energy and perspective to be the parent you want to be. And it will pay dividends for your health and ability to function well.

Here, our pediatric experts share some tips on managing stress for parents:

Try not to bring stress home

It isn’t easy, but separating work life from home life is important, says pediatrician J. Michael Wertman, MD.

Try talking briefly to a friend, spouse or coworker to help defuse stress before you leave work.

Imagine putting your problems in a box to compartmentalize them. This can help redirect your energy to your home life and children.
“On the drive home, be aware of how you’re feeling,” he suggests. “Is traffic increasing your stress? If so, try to ‘chill.’ Take a deep breath, play music.”

There’s nothing better than coming home to a warm welcome from your kids and family. “If not, find your child and get a hug,” he says.

Seek opportunities for fun

Choose activities to do with your kids that make you happy. “You’ll feel better about yourself and will deal better with your kids,” says Dr. Wertman.

Love sports? Coach or cheer for your child’s team (but avoid making everything a win-lose situation).
Are you a bookworm? Read to your kids, then discuss the book. “It’s an opportunity to be positive, to encourage and to enjoy a unique closeness,” he notes.

“My biggest joy was always looking for the laughter and finding the smile. If that happened, I considered my day a success.”

Remember to relax and recharge

Take time for yourself every day.

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“Even if it’s just an hour in the evening after the kids go to bed, it’s really important to have time to ‘reset’ as a parent,” says pediatric nurse practitioner Crista Zufan, CNP. “I find reading in the evening a great way to decompress and relieve stress.”

You probably know what works for you. “Whether it’s yoga, meditation, reading a book, playing cards, watching TV or playing sports, try to incorporate it into your day,” says Dr. Wertman.

At day’s end, “get a good night’s sleep,” advises pediatrician Svetlana Pomeranets, MD. Equally important is keeping kids on a routine schedule, especially for bedtime.

Ask for backup when you need it

Feel overwhelmed at times? Don’t be afraid to ask your family or your spouse for help. Trying to be “supermom” or “superdad” is a recipe for stress, and your kids will benefit from your reaching out.

“You’ll make better decisions, you’ll be a better listener, and you’ll enjoy interacting more with your children,” says Dr. Pomeranets. “You’ll be less tempted to yell and more likely to model proper behavior for them.”

Find yourself feeling excessively and continuously worried? Talk to your healthcare provider, she says.

Connect with fellow parents

“Form connections with families whose kids are similar in age to relate to others in the same boat,” suggests Dr. Pomeranets. “You’ll find you’re not alone.”

This helps to normalize any feelings of stress, explains Ms. Zufan. “Talking with other parents lets me know that everyone goes through similar stressors,” she says.

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Take a break from it all

When did you last truly connect with your partner? Plan to get away from your everyday routine.

“Make time to do things on your own, as a couple,” says Ms. Zufan. “A ‘date night’ once a month can help to keep your marriage strong and alleviate stress.”

Plan a getaway or vacation for your family, too. “I schedule time off when my kids have school breaks, so we can enjoy our time together,” says Dr. Pomeranets.

Keep your life well-balanced

Avoid overscheduling yourself every day and on weekends, says Dr. Pomeranets. Signing kids up for too many extracurriculars can stress them out — and the extra time, coordination and driving required kicks up the pressure on parents.

Also, every balanced life should include physical activity. The fact that working out and playing sports are great stress-relievers is icing on the cake.

“You can exercise in your own basement — you don’t need a gym,” says Dr. Pomeranets. “I try to do a little every day.”

The best reason of all to manage your stress is a simple one: “It allows you to feel the joy of parenting,” she says.

The more you experience good times and happy interactions with your kids, the easier it will be to handle bed-wetting, sibling rivalry and other parenting challenges with grace.

Childhood Stress: How Parents Can Help (for Parents)

All kids and teens feel stressed at times. Stress is a normal response to changes and challenges. And life is full of those — even during childhood.

We tend to think of stress as a bad thing, caused by bad events. But upcoming good events (like graduations, holidays, or new activities) also can cause stress.

Kids and teens feel stress when there’s something they need to prepare for, adapt to, or guard against. They feel stress when something that matters to them is at stake. Change often prompts stress — even when it’s a change for the better.

Stress has a purpose. It’s a signal to get ready.

When Can Stress Be Helpful?

In small amounts, and when kids have the right support, stress can be a positive boost. It can help kids rise to a challenge. It can help them push toward goals, focus their effort, and meet deadlines. This kind of positive stress allows kids to build the inner strengths and skills known as resilience.

When Can Stress Be Harmful?

Stress or adversity that is too intense, serious, long-lasting, or sudden can overwhelm a child’s ability to cope. Stress can be harmful when kids don’t have a break from stress, or when they lack the support or the coping skills they need. Over time, too much stress can affect kids’ mental and physical health.

As a parent you can’t prevent your children from feeling stress. But you can help kids and teens cope. You can:

Help them use positive stress to go for goals, adapt to changes, face challenges, and gain confidence.
Give extra support and stability when they go through stressful life events.
Protect them from the harmful effects of too much stress, such as chronic stress and traumatic stress.

What Is Positive Stress?

Positive stress is the brief stress kids and teens feel when they face a challenge. It can prompt them to prepare and focus. It can motivate them to go for goals, get things done, or try new things. They might feel positive stress before a test, a big game, or a recital. When they face the challenge, the stress is over.

Positive stress gives kids the chance to grow and learn.

Here’s an example: The everyday pressure to get to school on time prompts kids to get their shoes on, gather their things, and head for the bus. But if kids don’t know how to use that positive stress, or don’t yet have the coping skills they need, it could mean a hectic race to the bus that leaves both parents and kids upset.

What parents can do: When it comes to handling that morning school prep (or any other moment of normal stress), it's tempting to step in and get everything ready for your child. But that won’t help kids learn how to use positive stress. Instead, teach kids how to prepare without doing it for them. This takes more time and patience, but it’s worth it.

This type of positive stress can prompt kids to adapt and gain coping skills they need. It can prepare them to handle life’s bigger challenges and opportunities.

What Is Life Event Stress?

Difficult Life Events

Many kids and teens face difficult life events or adversity. Some get sick or need a hospital stay. Some have parents who split up. Some face the death of a loved one, move to a new neighborhood, or start a new school. Any of these life events can cause stress.

When kids face difficult life events, they might feel stress on and off for a few days or weeks as they adjust.

What parents can do: Parents can provide extra support and stability. Listen and talk with your child. Help them feel safe and loved. If possible, let them know what to expect. Talk over what will happen, what they can do to cope, and how you’ll help. Give comfort and show caring. Set up simple routines to help them feel settled.

Good Life Events

Even life events that we think of as good can be stressful. A big birthday, the first day of a school year, graduation, holidays, or travel can prompt kids and teens to feel stress.

What parents can do: Parents can help kids and teens prepare for what’s ahead. Talk them through the situation, focusing on the positive parts. Give kids a say in the plans when possible. Listen to what they think and how they feel. If they feel stressed, let them know it’s OK and they can cope. You’ll be there for them as needed.

What Is Chronic Stress?

When difficult life events lead to stress that lasts for more than a few weeks, it’s called chronic stress. Chronic stress is hard on kids when they don’t have a break from it or when they don’t have the support they need or coping skills to offset the stress.

Having a serious health condition that lasts for a long time can lead to chronic stress. So can losing a parent or close family member or going through lasting adversity. Over time, stress like this can affect kids’ and teens’ mental and physical health. But there are things that can prevent the harmful effects of chronic stress.

What parents can do:

Help kids feel safe, loved, and cared for. This is the best way to offset stress. Feeling close to you and knowing you love and accept them is more important than ever. Provide routines, like the same bedtime, eating a meal together, or being there after school. Routines provide a rhythm and let kids know there are things they can count on.
Teach coping skills. Kids feel better when they know there are things they can do for themselves to offset their stress. Kids of all ages can learn and practice calm breathing and meditation. There are many other skills to learn too.
Help them take a break from stress. Make time to play, draw or paint, spend time in nature, read a book, play an instrument, be with friends and family. These activities are more than just fun. They help kids and teens feel positive emotions that offset stress.

What Is Traumatic Stress?

This is the stress that comes with trauma events that are serious, intense, or sudden. Traumas such as serious accidents or injuries, abuse, or violence can prompt this type of stress.

Parents can step in to protect kids when they know they are being mistreated or bullied. But it’s not always possible to protect kids from every type of trauma. If kids and teens go through traumatic stress, parents can help them get the care they need to recover.

What parents can do:

Give kids and teens extra support and care. Be there to listen and talk. Let kids know that they are safe. Validate and accept their feelings. Let them know that, with time, they will feel better.
Reach out to your child’s doctor or a therapist. Some need therapy to heal from traumatic stress. Parents can take part in the therapy and learn how to best help their child.
Spend positive time together. Encourage kids and teens to do things they enjoy. These might be things you can do together or things your teen does on their own, like enjoying music, nature, or art. These things prompt positive emotions that can offset some of the stress left over from trauma.
Give kids and teens a chance to use their strengths in everyday life. Trauma and stress can leave them feeling vulnerable, anxious, or unsure of themselves. Knowing what they can do and who they are as a person can help kids and teens feel strong and confident.

Reviewed by: D'Arcy Lyness, PhD

Date reviewed: April 2022

17 games to relieve stress and anxiety in a child

Child and family psychologist Svetlana Royz talks about games to relieve stress and anxiety in a child.

We accept the version that our subconscious seeks healing, is looking for a way to harmonize. The subconscious mind speaks the language of symbols, sensations, images and metaphors. By offering a "healthy" metaphor, we give impetus to this magical healing work.

For the following practices, the harmonious state of the adult who will conduct them and the time resource are especially important.

1. Plant

Use the metaphor of a plant taking root in a new place. We compose a fairy tale (draw a picture, sculpt from plasticine-clay, use natural materials and “revive” them with eye stickers or drawings) about a Grain (Flower or Tree), which is transplanted into another pot (it is carried by the wind, relatives carry it along), to look after and take care of. Or the seed itself went on a journey.

A fairy tale about how a tree looks at the new “soil”, looks at who is growing nearby, takes root. Takes root. And over time, it begins to bloom, bird friends fly to it, animals come running . .. If the tree, according to the child, feels uncomfortable and unsafe, we ask what would help him, perhaps a fence, perhaps an angel or tree fairy, perhaps an adult friend. (After practice, you can go to a real tree, tie a ribbon, hug it, stroke it)

2. Lifeline

Stressed children are encapsulated in past traumatic events. They seem to be separated from reality. We return them to the "present" game - "life line". This practice can be done only when an adult has a reserve of time and resources. With a thread or a long ribbon, lay out a straight line. (It is ideal to use a garland with glowing lights). Depending on how old the child is, we put bright objects on the line (shoes can be) - a few steps apart. The number of marks by the number of years + 1 (one year from the real age) and +1 after 5 years from the real age.

The thread line should be much longer than the age marks. The child stands on the first "notch" - we remind him that this point is where he is only a year old. At this place, the baby is just starting to walk (the child can sit down, ask for arms, be sure to hug him if he asks. You can even give him a drink of water from a straw). As you move along the line, the child straightens up.

At every stop, we speak sincere words. "O! One more year! How glad I am for you. This year you became / a ... (we say some kind of achievement) ”.

Be sure to stay a little longer at the mark of real age... And then the child takes a step into the "future" - the parent says - "Oh! You will be such a happy adult!” It is possible to pick up the child in your arms and “fly” over the thread ....

For reading children, you can lay out pieces of paper with written wishes or resource words on the marks of years. A simpler option is “classics” drawn in chalk. The child jumps into the cell of age. In this cell, an inverted sheet with a picture, words, a heart, a surprise awaits him, which needs to be opened. The last cell - joyful symbols are drawn. (in secret: this is a wonderful birthday game).

3. Face games

A traumatized person of any age may have a mask set on the face. (Constant indifferent or frozen in one hard-to-define emotion facial expression). In this case, any "plastic" games will be useful.

You can start by kneading a real piece of plasticine. Then, we “turn” the child into plasticine. We “sculpt” different shapes from his muzzle (we touch the cheeks, we ask you to puff out your cheek ...)
We play the contest of "grimaces". We make all sorts of faces with the child.
Masks. We use ready-made, cut, paint. The child chooses a mask of his "strength" - he walks, speaks, gesticulates from this role. Then, puts on a mask of "weakness" (for example, fear). Speaks on behalf of this mask. Then, he takes off his mask. At the end of the work, we ask, when would you need the first mask? how can she help the second mask?
We become actors and make a small production of any fairy tale. The simplest is a turnip, a mitten ...

4. Simple holidays

A person who has gone through a difficult experience often has a feeling - the impossibility of joy in the future and "betrayal" before a difficult event or other affected people, great guilt and resistance, if you allow yourself even a little pleasure.

It is important for us to help children to allow themselves joy again. Not feeling guilty about the past or those people who are more difficult. We make surprises for loved ones. We focus on achievements (write down, draw them), note what was good for the day.

Inventing holidays.

For example, a bed-making festival. A celebration of pillow fluffing, a celebration of soap suds on the cheeks, a celebration of washing the toothbrush. I specifically focus on "corporality". Often traumatized children either begin to wash very thoroughly, or avoid the topic of washing, cleanliness, touching the body.

5. Color Therapy

The child often "hangs" in the past, ceasing to pay attention to the current day. The experience of a difficult past brings into reality. His eyes seem to be turned inward. We show the child the “flow of time” and fixate on every day, revive feelings. For example, each day is given a specific color. Let's say Wednesday is red. Throughout the day, we are looking for red objects, we eat red foods, we ourselves use the red color in clothes and accessories.

6. Where are you?

To fix on the present, we often play the game “where are you?”. We ask unexpectedly, at any time of the day, the question - “where are you?”. The answer should begin with the words "I'm here!". Then a few sentences about this "here", with a description of different modalities - aroma, hearing, physicality, taste. For example: I am here. In the room, I sit on a soft pillow with a computer on my knees, I eat a sweet berry.

7. Making a schedule

To stabilize the state, to return support and relieve anxiety, the child needs more information and external “predictability”. Those. fairly clear schedule. And any structure. What can be planned, we plan. Be sure to notify about changes in plans. You can make a schedule together, decorate it, instruct the child to follow the implementation of the plan - this is a good practice.

8. Garland

Many children need more communication, but avoid contact. This little practice is good both for shy kids and for adjusting to a new group.

Cut out a garland of little people holding hands from paper. You can draw faces, you can write the names of friends, relatives, children from the group. This is how we create a metaphor for connectedness - "we are together"

9. Paint drop

For stress relief, relaxation, transformation of fixation on one experience, state, event. We drip watercolor paint into the water, examine the patterns on the water, observe how the paint dissolves. It will be great if you then dance with the child, live the movement of paint in water with the plasticity of the body. Let the child show the movement of the watercolor waves with his body.

10. Prints

Another very simple environmentally "revitalizing" technique helps to remove the ban on fantasy and feelings.

Injured people freeze sensitivity - if I allow myself to feel, fear, pain and anger will appear along with joy. And also to create a metaphor for "multiple options". (This technique also helps in dealing with neurotic constipation).

Dip your finger in paint or beetroot juice. We put a few fingerprints on the sheet. We ask what needs to be finished to make a pig, a hare, a swan, a fish ...

11. Draw on dark or black paper

Chalk, pastel, gouache. Any topics. This method helps in the transformation of anxiety, brings "to the surface" encapsulated fear. From the darkness of the unknown, the past, the terrible, something new and colorful emerges.

Metaphor: out of the darkness of the night, a new life is born - day.

12. Letting go to the sky

Past experience is difficult to let go. A person who has experienced trauma or loss may begin to "cling" to what he considers important and dear. We need a metaphor for "letting go with joy" - balloons. We release balloons into the sky, we launch boats along the river ...

13. Return identification

Work with name. We write the letters of the name in a column. For each letter of the name, we recall some kind of resource quality.

For example: VANYA - Attentive, Neat, Gentle, Bright

14. Turning into superheroes

Often a child who has gone through a difficult experience, faced with increased care and attention, with the fact that adults do a lot for him. Such a child becomes more infantile, passive. It is important not to provoke "learned helplessness" in the child.

Each action made by him gives a resource for his future. We do not do for the child what he can do for himself! When a child says “I can’t! will not work! help!" when it whines and evades action - we play a game - we turn into supermen.

“Now I am you, and you are turning me into Superman. You just need to eat (candy, berry, vitamin, drink juice, fruit drink ....).
"Which superpowers will you have? I have to carry items. Look, I'm taking this laundry basket to the bathroom. And you have - come on - speed. And can you go fast? (Get out of bed, get dressed, eat ...) "

15. Playing baby

Often the subconscious of children takes them to an age when they were happy and lived in a sense of security. They begin to behave like babies, lisp, ask to be held. We play “baby” with the child, we give energy-strength to his childish part. And then we “turn” him into an adult.

We give the child the opportunity to command - how many steps to go (the game "giants-midgets"), we become his "cook" in the kitchen, we give him the opportunity to choose the route of the walk (you can even give the steering wheel-cover from the pan in your hands)

16. Regular step

Aggression - we are looking for ways to live ecologically - popping bubbles of packaging, fighting with pillows, knocking down skittles, hammering "nails".

Fear of loud sounds - games with applause, musical instruments.

Fear of touch - imagine that it is raining. first, he knocks on the palms of the child (we tap on the palms with the fingertips), then, all over the body. Rain can be of different strength.

17. Jumping

Anxious children intuitively choose jumping games for themselves. It is important for them to jump on a trampoline (instead of a trampoline, they will still choose a bed :-). Jumping relieves tension, makes it possible to feel the support on the foot, "weightlessness" when jumping affects the brain stem structures. Instead of banning jumping, "special jumping spots" can be created. For example - "here you can jump on one leg, here on two .." ...

It should be borne in mind that the child will ask to play or read what is important and healing for him, several times. An adult patiently and joyfully plays and reads. The child will not play a game that causes him emotions that he is not ready to handle. We treat it with respect and do not insist.

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"Get off me!". A child is stressed - how to relieve stress and why pop-it can hurt

There are an endless number of games and exercises to relieve stress on the Internet. Parents are offered to meditate, play "melting snowmen" with their children, and draw mandalas. But let's be honest - in a truly stressful situation, all this is difficult to apply. And then what to do? Svetlana Lazurenko, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, head of the Center for the Development of Inclusive Education of the Russian Academy of Education, tells.

Today's children are in an extremely vulnerable position: the requirements for them are growing every day, and parents strive to invest in a child as many skills and competencies as possible from an early age, so that in adulthood he will be the smartest, most successful and at the same time healthy.

But excessive physical and psycho-emotional stress, their inconsistency with the psychophysical capabilities of the child's body, as well as regular stress and overload deplete the adaptive reserves of the child, which can lead to various deviations in the functioning of the nervous system. Then parents have another request: how to eliminate or at least minimize the undesirable consequences of all this.

Why pop-it is needed

Store shelves are filled with anti-stress toys. They are advertised at every turn, and manufacturers position their products as having a magical relaxing effect. Spinners, simple-dimple, pop-it... Indeed, the effect is achieved - due to the repeated execution of monotonous, simple hand movements. Such a process can be compared with knitting, collecting puzzles or weaving baubles.

“This leads to calming through pleasant perceptual sensations, getting positive emotions from the sensory effect that indicates the result of the action,” explains Svetlana Lazurenko. However, the achievement of such a result, in her opinion, has a short-term effect. But addiction happens quite quickly - the child develops a need for hand movements, which can eventually develop into a habit or acquire the features of an obsessive action. In this case, having got into a situation of tension or boredom, the child will not be able to occupy himself with anything other than simple manipulations with his hands. “He gets used to having fun without making any effort, without participating in the game, communication, physical, cognitive or creative activity,” warns Svetlana Borisovna.

Photo: Shutterstock / Eviart

The so-called substitute methods for the release of negative emotions can also be quite useless.

Of course, hitting a punching bag or tearing paper to shreds is better than acting asocially towards other children or adults. However, all these ways of expressing negative emotions are also not constructive.

Svetlana Borisovna explains: “A child, as in the case of an anti-stress toy, gets used to behaving in a certain way in a situation of discomfort or when negative emotions arise in him. However, this is not always appropriate, and with other, socially acceptable and effective ways, he is simply not familiar with and does not know how to use them.

It turns out that all anti-stress toys and various methods and techniques, although they have a situational practical effect, are useless in case of chronic stress or an acute stressful situation.

It is impossible to survive the loss of a beloved pet or parting with a loved one by blowing soap bubbles

habits (decrease or increase in appetite), as well as sleep disorders, you should not buy an anti-stress toy, but seek help from specialists.

“Usual psycho-relaxation techniques may not be enough, and the child's psychological resources themselves may be so depleted that it would be inappropriate to use them,” explains Svetlana Lazurenko.

Only specialists can give a professional assessment of the child's psychological state and select recovery methods.

How to deal with stress

Most people and parents now associate a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition, sports and numerous distortions in the direction of "faster, higher, stronger. " However, a healthy lifestyle as one of the means of mental hygiene is “the most accessible, effective means of preventing overload, tension and stress in children,” Svetlana Lazurenko is sure.

Tips for building a child's daily routine are simple:

regular alternation of work and rest;
alternation of physical and mental activity;
change of bright and impression-rich events and quiet periods of the day;

When planning the daily routine of a preschooler and a younger student, parents can focus, for example, on the daily routine that is set in kindergarten or recommended for elementary school students.

Photo: MNStudio / Adobe Stock

Changing impressions and the nature of activities in general is the first and most reliable means of preventing overexertion, stress and overload. This is especially important when dealing with gadgets. One of the most successful methods of "information detox" can be considered the one in which the child himself determines the mode of work with electronic devices and the time of rest from them.

It would seem that if parents give a child complete freedom, then he will sit in gadgets non-stop, and then overvoltage cannot be avoided. But the trick is, Svetlana Borisovna explains, that first, parents need to teach the child to plan their affairs on a daily basis and analyze what has been done during the day: “This teaches the child to use time rationally, forms a sense of responsibility for what is happening to him, makes him more independent.”

What else allows you to relieve emotional stress and study load?

Physical exercise and labor. It is very important that all activities are selected by parents together with the doctor;
Psycho-gymnastics. What is it - in 2 words Psycho-gymnastic exercises help to activate the work of various muscle groups, increase overall physical tone. They can be selected to solve certain problems or achieve a specific result;
Breathing exercises;
Eye exercises;
Walks in the open air and in the forest;
Rhythmic walking and cycling.

When choosing exercises, Svetlana Borisovna strongly recommends "choosing methods of well-known authors who have undergone professional review." An example of such methods is:

"Speech, rhythm and relaxation games for preschoolers", L. I. Zaitseva;
“Gaming health-saving technologies. Psycho-gymnastics, exercises for the eyes, finger games, physical education, N.A. Deyeva.

Chilling in the bathroom - a working option?

It would seem that it could be easier than relaxing. Relaxation techniques are aimed at relaxing the muscles, but the result is achieved, as Svetlana Lazurenko notes, "due to the directed willpower of a person."

Involuntary relaxation, muscle relaxation and psychological comfort can be achieved with the help of certain techniques. Many children and parents use them everywhere and regularly, without suspecting it:

relaxing bath;
listening to calm melodies;
isolation from exposure to sensory stimuli;
absolute silence;
joint reading of books with good content;
sleep and rest.

All these methods have a cumulative psychophysical effect, because the human body is a system, not a set of individual parts. So when a schoolboy goes to “chill in the bath” in the evenings, it is better to offer him to do it without a phone in his hands, otherwise there can be no talk of any relaxation.

Do games work

Play activity is a leading activity for preschool children and a great way to relieve psychophysical stress. Svetlana Lazurenko explains: "The mechanism of influence is to switch mental processes by changing the type of activity."

Moreover, games can be completely different: board and electronic, games for the development of the emotional sphere and for cooperation / communication with peers, verbal, logical, associative - the effect will always be. “Emotional saturation occurs due to the achievement of a positive result, reacting to negative experiences, the formation of constructive ways to overcome failure or situational difficulties,” explains Svetlana Borisovna.

Switching from one activity to another is the easiest way to relieve tension

This works the same as with whims or excitement - attention is distracted and the person switches to something else.

In addition, the well-known art therapy techniques are of great help, here the effect is achieved through self-realization through creativity. Svetlana Lazurenko clarifies: “It is clear that this method is suitable for children with developed visual-figurative thinking, which makes it possible to obtain the expected result by recreating the image. The use of these techniques in early preschool age improves the emotional state due to the feeling of pleasure and positive impressions from the activity.

Art therapy techniques for preschool children:

coloring books;
drawing with paints;
modeling from dough, clay or plasticine;
weaving;
embroidery;
application;
construction, etc.

The older the child, the more methods you can use and achieve the expected result with their help. For example, schoolchildren can master verbal relaxation techniques that are inaccessible to children under 7 years old due to the peculiarities of psychophysiological development.

Photo: sandsun / Adobe Stock

Verbal relaxation techniques are techniques that involve relaxing a person with the help of words. “They require from the child sufficient concentration of attention, voluntary regulation of behavior, understanding and evaluation of their psychophysical state, as well as managing it. These can be games when a child needs to imagine something, imagine, remember, and then by an effort of will, due to muscle tension or relaxation, change his psychological state,” says Svetlana Lazurenko. She clarifies that "the choice and implementation of such games is best done together with a specialist."

The easiest way to relax

But the easiest and most effective way to relieve stress in a child is available to absolutely all parents and does not require any special knowledge and skills from them.

Learn more