Here are some more tools you can teach your child to equip him or her to deal with stress, worry and anxiety.
Talk to a friend
There’s nothing better than a trusted friend to talk to during times of stress. Just remind your kids that it’s not a complaining session. They can tell your friend what’s going on… and discuss possible solutions. Talking it out relieves stress.
Visualize a Positive Outcome
Visualization is used by athletes all the time. They imagine the game as they would have it be and mentally go through the motions of the outcome they desire. They see themselves as having already achieved victory. Use this same concept in anything you do in life. Instead of worrying and fretting about what can possibly happen, envision what you want the situation to be like.
Spend time on this each day and you will find that it improves how you feel on every area you focus on. People who practice visualization even discover some great secrets of the universe. Our minds are very powerful tools in creating our destiny. Use yours! Don’t waste the opportunity worrying and allowing your mind to go over every possible scenario and outcome. Focus on what you want. You automatically lower your stress.
Keeping a journal
Keeping a journal is a good way to head off stress. It lowers your stress level because you constantly evacuate the pressure you feel. (Helping children understand the power of writing as healing is very beneficial.)
Eliminate toxic self-talk
Negative self-talk causes a lot of stress in our lives and also adds to any stress we may already feel. Check in with your self-talk regularly to make sure it is positive and uplifting. Negative self-talk is just a habit. We all talk to ourselves constantly every day. Make your self-talk an opportunity to improve your self-esteem and make your life easier and better.
Meditation
Meditation is a practical skill to use each day to ensure inner peace and calm throughout the day. It centers you, helps you focus, and become more productive. It is as simple as restorative relaxation (explained below) but can also be practiced as guided meditation with a CD, or simply sitting quietly relaxing the mind from all its busyness. Meditation takes practice. But as we learn to sit peacefully and just be still, we derive great benefit and insights into our lives, even for children.
Daily Restorative Relaxation
This is simply 5-10 minutes of deep relaxation practiced on a daily basis. Your kids should be encouraged to use this at home for only 5 minutes a day, perhaps before bedtime. Use the countdown method to achieve this. Starting from 5… slowly count down and tell yourself to relax in between each number. Take your time and imagine yourself melting further and further into relaxation with each number. This relaxes the mind and the body and allows for some much needed mental and physical restoration. Don’t be surprised if your children say they feel like they slept an hour after only 5 minutes of restorative relaxation. It really works!
Relaxation and the above-mentioned keys to stress relief do not, of course, solve every problem that causes stress in your child’s life. However, practicing them can help kids find solutions to problems more easily. Kids will feel calmer and more peaceful, which will help them effectively deal with stress more quickly and easily.
When children learn how to relax, their minds are clearer and more focused. Life doesn’t seem so hard and days are more enjoyable. Additionally, when children are relaxed, they are not creating more stress themselves. Stress reduction is good for the nervous system and helps us function better physically, mentally and emotionally.