School can no doubt be challenging for children, and is a big part of their life. Exams in particular can bring on stress and anxiety, which can make learning more difficult. To help children going through these emotions, we have some guidance below from a prep school in Farnham Common.
Mindfulness
One way that you can help your child is by introducing them to mindfulness. It’s a way of grounding, dealing with negative thoughts and emotions and improving focus on the present moment. It works by engaging the different senses (touch, taste, sound, sight and smell). To see a difference, they most likely will need to practise mindfulness a few times. Below are some specific techniques/exercises that you and your child can work through.
Mindful Breathing
The way we breathe can make a difference to how we feel and are able to deal with stressful situations, which is why when in difficulty people are reminded to take deep breaths. It helps improve oxygen flow to the brain, provides clarity and makes us feel calm and collected. For mindful breathing children must take note of how they breathe and breathe in and out to a count of three. This can also be coupled with other techniques that focus on what they can feel and hear.
A Walk
Walks can be relaxing and distract children from their worries. There is plenty they can observe and take in. When taking your child out on a walk encourage them to think about what they see, hear, and feel, and their other senses.
Colouring
Another activity to explore is colouring. It’s therapeutic and works well for those who feel stress and anxiety.
Body Scanning
Body scanning works by imagination. Laying on their back, your child must pay attention to their breathing and imagine a beam of light passing over their body. You will need to describe this imaginary beam so that they can envision it taking place and think about how they feel.
A Mindfulness Jar
If you have craft supplies to hand, such as glitter and an empty jar, you can create mindfulness jars which are like mini snow globes they can shake. All you will need to do is fill a jar with water, glitter, and any other funky materials they want to watch fall.
A Side Note for Parents
There’s one thing that must be said. What works for one child may not work for another, so you will likely need to experiment to see which of these work for yours.