Regardless of how old we are, the need to decompress is important after a long day or a
stressful event. Many adults have tips and tricks that help them regulate their nervous system,
relax their bodies, and make sure their emotions are in check. When babies are born, they are
almost pure emotion and need. As they get older, they learn how to manage themselves
internally and externally. Decompression is one of these regulation tools; it is a way someone
regulates emotional, and sometimes even physical, pressure. For children, especially when they first start going to school for 8 hours a day, being able to decompress from school and reset for the rest of their day is very important, but it doesn’t come naturally.
Here are 4 ways to help kids decompress after school or after a stressful event:
1. Coloring or other simple artistic pursuits. This decompression tool has become so
popular even adults are getting in on it. Getting to sit in one spot and focus on easy
creativity, and the repetitive motion of moving the crayon back and forth, helps them
focus on something that isn’t too stimulating and allows their brain to begin to process
and move forward from the day. If painting or chalk art relaxes a child, those are other
great options. As long as the artistic craft isn’t stressful or overly demanding of their
energy, art is a great way to decompress. It shouldn’t be a craft related to school, since
that keeps them hyper-focused on the day, and won’t necessarily help them wind down.
2. Playing with clay or sand. Tactile activity can relieve tension built up in the body, and
the feel of clay, sand, or putty between fingers (or maybe even toes) engages the
muscles in the same way a relaxing massage does. Just because children do not have
the language to express they are carrying tension in the body the same way adults do
doesn’t mean they do not. Especially for the kid who may be hyperactive, the focus and
motion provide a healthy outlet to engage the body in the act of decompression.
3. Move the body. Sometimes the only way to release tension and take the mind off the
day is to expend a lot of energy through play or exercise. Ride bikes! Throw a ball! Play
tag! Whether it is taking a walk, going crazy on a jungle gym, or just going bananas
outside for 30 minutes, some kids really benefit emotionally and mentally from using
physical activity as a form of stress release. For children who don’t like sitting a lot all
day, in school in particular, getting to release pent-up energy can be cathartic.
4. Talking - or Silence. Depending on the personality and needs of a child, talking through
their day, or enjoying the benefits of 30-60 minutes of silence, can be the best thing.
While these two activities are opposites and depend on the unique kid, there is no
denying that giving them time to process is going to help move forward with the rest of
their day, and family time. If a kid enjoys talking, make it a ritual. Have a beverage, a
snack, and a special corner dedicated just to talking. If they need silence, create a quiet
corner with stuffies, books, and a privacy screen. Create the right environment.
But what about screen time? The great debate about giving kids screen time continues to rage,
with some parents using it, and others moving away from it. While ultimately that is a choice for
every parent, guardian, or caregiver if using screen time to decompress, follow a few simple guidelines:
1. Make sure the child is actually decompressing. Many programs for kids are geared
to wind them up and keep them watching. This programming is stimulating, not
decompressing.
2. Make sure there is a limit. Having a program or two kids watch daily can be enjoyable,
but then they need to learn how to turn off the blue light and transition to another
activity.
3. If it can be time with the family, do that! If the whole family watches together,
discusses what they watched, and then transitions together, it can teach children that
screen time is best shared with others and not alone in their room.
How do you decompress? Do your kids decompress in a way that is similar or different to you?
Let us know!
: Bethany Verrett
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments