by on 26/11/2021 3057
Kids between the ages of two and five years can get troublesome at times, especially when things aren’t going their way. You too may have experienced your kids throwing massive tantrums and acting out in the unlikeliest of situations.
It essentially happens when cortisol surges through your child’s body, which makes them act out of instinct even if they did not intend to. Think of it as the body’s natural response to what they presume to be dangerous situations.
Therefore, controlling your child at that moment can be a pain for every parent.
So how do you workaround to get your little one to calm down? There’s actually a simple way to do this and that’s through deep breathing.
Not just for adults, but breathing exercises are great for kids as well. And the earlier you train them, the more they will be able to stay in control of themselves.
But how to do breathing exercises with the kids to make it effective for them? Well, we’ve got you covered.
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A child’s tantrums have a lot to do with anxiety. When kids get anxious, they may act out. This is accompanied by a fast heartbeat with fat and sugar rushing to the bloodstream to provide accessible energy.
Anxiety also makes our senses sharper and we tend to breathe frequently, which actually reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the body.
Fast breathing further causes the blood pressure to drop by limiting blood flow to organs and tissues. It can also trigger panic attacks in children. That’s why kids start hyperventilating in the middle of a tantrum.
The best way to naturally reverse this process is: taking slow and deep breaths. Deep inhalation and exhalation help restore the body’s carbon dioxide levels. It also eases the body from alert mode to rest mode.
One of the most tangible ways of seeing the effects of deep breathing is anxiety reduction.
There’s no particular moment to practice deep breaths. The best time is every day and especially when your child is feeling particularly anxious.
Getting them to practice every day will only help them take the edge off when necessary. This helps children feel a sense of calm, irrespective of anxiety issues.
Here’s how to do breathing exercises with kids:
For children who may have a breathing disorder like asthma, do consult your paediatrician on a more personal recommendation for breathing exercises.
You should also consult a doctor if your child is struggling to do deep breathing exercises.
Image courtesy: iStock
While breathing is an activity we all do subconsciously, deep breathing can help children gain control and stay alert of their selves in the long run. Here are seven breathing exercises for kids you should try at home:
Try these simple techniques and you’ll surely spot in difference in your child’s anxiety and overall sense of calmness.
This article was first published on theAsianParent.