Teaching Your Child Relaxation Techniques To Manage Anxiety

Introduction

Children nowadays are getting busy with their lifestyle in a harsher environment to compete and to fit in. Due to this major lifestyle shift, children have become more anxious nowadays. Get to know how the environment and competition are affecting the kids, pushing towards the anxiety-building pressure harming their mental health. Along with that, also discove different relaxation techniques that can be very helpful to your child to manage anxiety and stress. Keep on reading to know more about various reasons and the overall perspective of managing anxiety through these relaxation techniques.

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Why Are Children More Prone To Anxiety Nowadays?

Here are a few reasons that will help you understand why children are more prone to anxiety nowadays.

Increased competition: Parents make their children work hard, which pushes some children to the edge of over-achievement, setting unrealistic expectations for other children. It is essential to understand that competing with such children who are very close to being prodigies is not healthy for the mind. Children should only act at their own pace, doing what they love, fulfilling their own desires to live a healthy life. Helping children do what they love in such increased competition is the only way out of the rat race, where children naturally perform better without any anxiety or pressure.

Social media: Many parents and children get under the influence of social media, where not everything shown is true. Social media is the major reason teenagers and older kids create insecurities and peer pressure. Getting recognized in social media negatively impacts youth as social media has increased unrealistic standards over unnecessary competition. 

Generational Pressure: Most Indian kids go through this pressure where the parents do not allow children to do something because of their unfulfilled dreams. The pressure of forcing children to do something they don't like and managing the competition alongside can be difficult for children to bear, causing stress and anxiety. 

How To Recognize Anxiety In Children

There are a few ways to recognize anxiety in children:

1. Children are timid for no reason and are always scared to express themselves.
2. Children are scared rather than polite, which results in low self-esteem and boldness. 
3. Children can have people-pleasing or isolated personalities. They are often moody or irritated during socialization. 
4. There are some physical symptoms of anxiety, too. Nail biting, hair grabbing, shivering, and excessive sweating can be seen as physical symptoms of anxiety.
5. Loss of appetite and acne are other symptoms that can be seen early in children who are constantly stressed. 

Teaching Your Child Relaxation Techniques to Manage Anxiety

Here are a few relaxation techniques that will help you manage your child's anxiety better.

Yoga

Yoga can be very helpful for children to concentrate more and focus on the task, increasing self-esteem and confidence. Yoga also promotes relaxation and calmness, which helps children to get control over their emotional side, stress less, and think more about the solution. Yoga also helps with mental exercises that keep the mind strong and prepared, which cannot be easily distressed over, and handle emotions, taking up a rational side.

Breathing Exercises

Breathing exercises also promote relaxation and peace of mind in a mentally disturbed body. Breathing exercises can help a child focus more on the problem and get a solution rather than increasing overthinking and anxiety. There are different types of breathing exercises that enhance the activeness and increase the focus, promoting a relaxed and stress-free mind.

Pranayam

Pranayam is also part of yoga, where different specific asanas and breathing exercises are combined. Pranayam connects the soul and body, which boosts relaxation to its peak calming the mind. Pranayam mixes up yoga poses/ activities with controlled breathing pace to enhance the concentration and relaxation in the child.

Stretching

Stretching can be another beneficial activity that can be done when the child is stressed. A lazy body can promote high stress and stiffness, pushing the mental well-being to the curb. Stretching regularly during exercise or breaks can help children stay active and avoid stress easily.

Mind Exercises

There are different mind exercises and games that can help children stay stress-free. Anxiety can be curbed with other distractions similar to mind exercises. Children can play chess, sudoku, and other mind exercises to calm their minds and think rationally.

Conclusion

Now that you know many relaxation techniques, ensure your child learns them correctly. Breathing exercises and yoga poses are only valid and working when correctly mentored with guidance. All these techniques depend on how children are unwinding with them rather than stressing over how to do it. Make your child healthy with these techniques with a strong well-being.