Activity: create a mindful moment to relax or fall asleep
Here are two guided activities that work well for helping older children and teenagers feel calm and relaxed.
Imagine a calming space
Suggest your child brings to mind somewhere they feel calm and relaxed. This could be a real or imagined place. Encourage them to use all their senses to help them visualise how the place smells, looks and feels.
If they’re worried about something, they might prefer to bring that situation to mind, but imagine it going exactly as they want.
Relax the muscles
Another way to create a calm head space is to take a few moments to relax the muscles. Get your child to:
Tense and relax each limb, one by one.
Focus on the weight of their arms and legs, and feel how they’re sinking a little into the mattress.
Tense and then relax their stomach.
Finally, lie still for a few minutes just breathing. Be aware of the heavy and relaxed feelings in their body.
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