As your children grow, they start to experience more and more of the world around them – and encountering a lot of big feelings as they do so. On any given day, your child can go from one extreme to the other, and as they work out how to respond to and manage all these feelings, they may need support and guidance from you.
Helping your children find their calm when life gets stressful, scary, or exciting is a great way to teach them the basics of mindfulness, as well as to discover which activities and routines bring them peace and which ones make them frustrated. Here are several simple ways to help in those moments when emotions get the best of your kid.
- Talk it out. If your little one is really upset about something, talk it out instead of trying to get them to move on. Ask them to tell you what they're feeling and why, and be sure not to portray sadness, anger, or anxiety as “bad.” Encourage them to feel their feelings and reinforce that you’re here to help them feel better.
- Make time for mindfulness. Something as simple as sitting down in a quiet space and taking several deep, cleansing breaths can help your child adjust their energy and refocus. Many schools have begun practicing mindfulness to help kids focus and adapt their behavior. YouTube is a great resource for kid-centric yoga and meditation videos, and you can also consider working on mantras together, like repeating “I am calm” or “I am loved” to soothe worries. Find a solution that works for your family and practice together — never underestimate the power of child’s pose!
- Create a calming nighttime routine. Finding time to relax and unwind is important no matter your age. If your children have trouble going from active to calm at night, establish a regimen. For little ones, it could be a warm bubble bath, then a quiet, happy story or two. For older kids, reduce screen time in favor of quiet reading time to help their brains slow down.
- Get artsy. Every child is different, so their “calm down” routines will likely differ, but if painting or art projects help your child relax, whip out the art supplies when things get messy and let them express themselves with colors or make some shapes with Play-Doh.
- Consider a supplement. We know that sometimes your child may need help to settle down without losing their sparkle. That's why we created Nature's Way KiDS Cool, Calm & Collected gummies. They're formulated for children 8+ with magnesium and vitamin B6 to support a calm mood, and also contain an herbal blend of lemon balm, passionflower, and L-Theanine.* Oh, and did we mention they’re delicious? Not only do they taste like sweet, juicy grapes, they're also made with pectin, sweetened with organic tapioca syrup and cane sugar, and made with plant-based colors.
- Sweat it out. Sometimes you just need to set the kids loose and let them run! If they're dealing with excess energy, work it out in the yard, playroom, or playground. Have them do as many jumping jacks as they can or run as fast as possible for one minute to help them expend some of that go-go-go.
- Give them an action for their anger. When your littles are experiencing anger or frustration, tell them to pretend it's a ball inside of them and imagine throwing that ball as hard and far away as they can. This gives them a tangible way to recognize their feeling, work through it, and let it go.
- Call Grandma. Hey, sometimes you just need to distract them with something positive. When your child is feeling anxious or upset, the calming voice of someone they love can be a great way to reassure them that everything will be OK. Keep grandma and grandpa or a favorite friend on speed-dial for an instant dose of love and affirmation.
- Take a water break. Water doesn't cure everything, but it can give you an actionable way to get your child to stop and take a break — and hydrate! — when they're mid-meltdown. Instead of having them count to ten, have them drink an entire glass of water to “cool down.”
Once your child has found a few methods that work for them, getting them to calm down, relax, and unwind will be so much easier, and the whole family can enjoy peaceful, quiet moments together.