Helping kids relax

I am a huge fan of anything that helps kids manage the daily stresses of life. My daughter is a worrier, although less so since turning seven and becoming a little more independent. She still gets anxious about new situations, and at the moment she is particularly worried about starting swimming lessons at school.

She is also guilty of spending far too long looking at a computer display or television screen, and if I hadn't become incredibly strict at bedtimes, she'd spend that last hour of the day playing on her Nintendo DS. It is no wonder that there are days when she finds relaxing and drifting off to sleep very difficult.

Some time ago Relax Kids sent us a copy of their Quiet Spaces CD to review. Rather ironically, we were so busy rushing round, becoming slightly stressed in the process, that we just did not have the time to set aside to try it out properly.

So we made the deliberate effort this weekend to sit down, relax and listen to the CD. If only we had done it sooner.

The CD comprises a selection of 16 deeply calming meditations to encourage deep rest and reassurance. It is designed to help children relax while introducing them to relaxation and stress-management techniques. The relaxations incorporate breathing exercises, visualisation, muscle relaxations and affirmations.

I wasn't sure what IJ would make of it. In fact, she loved it and wasn't self-conscious at all about visualising herself as a melting snowman or a robot, or imagining herself as a floppy piece of elastic.

Normally in such circumstances she ruins the mood by saying something highly inappropriate, or making an offense noise. But this time there were no Scooby-Doo antics, and by the third exercise she was actually quite sleepy.

The CD one of several available on the Relax Kids website, priced £14.99.  I particularly like the look of their Princess Fairytale Meditation CD for girls aimed at helping young girls develop their self-esteem, inner beauty and confidence. There is also a CD to help children manage anger, plus another for stress management.

I'm impressed with the range. They are certainly products I would recommend. I could certainly benefit from a little relaxation and meditation at times. It isn't designed for me but actually, I really like the idea of playing it as background music.

Comments

[Pippad]

Sounds great, will buy for Top Ender for Christmas!

[Kirsty]

Sounds good, although I'm a little sceptical to say the least about girls improving their self esteem with yet more girly pink princess imagery. Seems to be a massive contradiction there!

[Rosie Scribble]

Kirsty, that's a very very good point indeed. I hadn't thought of that. I agree with you. Pink princess imagery is not the best choice.

[marneta Viegas]

Hi Kirsty and Rosie - It is a really interesting point. When I wrote the meditations and had the CD designed, I wanted to make something that it was beautiful and appealed to little girls and their mums. I was a children's entertainer and most parties I went to, little girls dressed up in pink princess dresses. I guess the pink princess CD is an introduction to relaxation for children - using what they know - fairystories. I do agree with you that there may be a contradiction.

In my book Aladdins Magic Carpet, I have turned all the fairystories into meditations and in the forward I mention that it is good for girls and boys to enjoy a mixtures of boy and girl themed meditations so they get a balance between the feminine qualities and masculine qualities as both are important in our development.

The princess CD was one of my first (almost 10 years old) and I would be sad to let it go as it is still such a best seller and little girls love it. The other ones are more generic.

I hope that helps a bit - thanks for your comments though.