5 Simple Relaxation Exercises For Children

Here are some simple relaxation exercises for kids that can teach your little ones how to rest and recharge their batteries.

Although childhood is often seen as a time when children are full of energy, it is important to help them with how they can stay active without ending up in sudden slumps.

It is very useful for children to know how to relax for a while, rest, and then return to the activities with more enthusiasm, interest and perseverance. Then the children’s learning also becomes more effective.

It may seem that young children’s lives are just about having fun. But because they are constantly learning things, they can become both physically and mentally exhausted.

The simple relaxation exercises listed below work for children of different ages.

They do not require high technical ability, but they do require empathy, patience and perseverance.

5 simple relaxation exercises for children

1. Breathing exercises

This type of exercise is an example of one of the most effective relaxation techniques for both adults and children.

Tell your baby to lie comfortably in his bed, close his eyes, and place one hand on his chest and the other on his stomach.

Then ask him to pretend that he is an accordion, and that he should inhale deeply and slowly through his nose, and exhale softly through his mouth.

Ask him to take at least five breaths, rest, and then repeat. Join him in doing the exercise – your presence will make the exercise feel more comfortable for him.

A tip is to perform this exercise in the evening before bedtime, and after a nice, warm bath. Your child is guaranteed to sleep soundly all night long.

2. Hug a stuffed animal

This exercise will help the muscles relax in young children. The exercise involves asking the child to take a deep breath and hug his stuffed animal (or a small pillow) really hard.

Then guide the baby to release the tension in her arms while she exhales slowly through her mouth. This technique results in a complete mental and physical relaxation.

3. Play with a dustpan or ball

The third of our simple relaxation exercises for children can even serve as a kind of play. The child can practice it together with younger siblings and playmates.

The exercise involves the child lying on a comfortable surface and closing his eyes. Then you let a feather duster slide down his arms and legs.

It is just as effective to use a small soft ball instead of the dustpan. After three to five minutes, it’s time to change seats.

Try to guide the activity to make sure that the exercise is performed correctly.

4. Massage

A fourth type of relaxation exercise is to simply give your child a massage. You do not have to be an expert. Just take the time to help your child relax. 

A massage can involve pressing the palm of your hand a number of times against the baby’s back, possibly combined with a little skin oil. The slower the movements, the more relaxing they will be.

A back massage is not the only option. You can also try massaging the palms or soles of the feet.

5. Visualization exercises

Visualization exercises are great to do before bedtime if your child feels scared or has woken up from a nightmare.

Ask the baby to close her eyes and start stroking her forehead. Then start describing places, situations or nice things that she is going to imagine.

This will help her focus her attention on pleasant things and forget the nightmare a little at a time.

It is often easiest to read to your child or tell a short story to distract her. Or you may prefer to rock the baby in your arms while singing lullabies.

We hope that our five simple relaxation exercises for children will be useful to you whenever you need them.

If you experience that your child is too stressed during the day, or has any abnormal stiffness in the muscles, you should contact a doctor immediately.