Children's Brains & Stress: Making Meditation Kid-Friendly

Photo: Barbara Gini-©2010
Serenity Health & Fitness Center

This is your brain on stress: environmental data collected by the sensory systems and interpreted by the brain reads that you are in danger or being threatened in some way. The brain quickly sends the alarm to the body as adrenalin floods into every cell causing your heart and respiratory rate to increase. Every muscle in your body is ready to spring into action, and all before you can even cognitively understand what has just taken place, or even that you are being threatened.

This is your body's "Fight or Flight" mechanism and its commonly known as the Stress Response. Its a natural reaction to stress that the body sets in motion all on its own.

The interesting thing about it, is that the brain cannot tell the difference between a real stress event (such as being stalked on a dark street at night by a group of thugs) or an artificial one, (such as watching a movie scene where someone is being stalked by a bunch of thugs.) In each case, it will react in the same manner.

While we know that the stress response is the body's safety mechanism, we also know that sustained stress, whether real or perceived, can cause a number of health problems. In fact, it is estimated that stress is the underlying reason for more than 70% of all doctor's visits.

In children, especially children with special needs, stress can be equally as devastating. In one study, 20%-40% of the children ages 8-12 reported feeling stressed or worried, yet only 8%-17% of the parents & educators in their worlds realized that they were stressed. Clearly, our children need to have support and guidance in recognizing stress and coping with it so that it does not get out of control. Un-managed stress in children causes a variety of physical, mental and emotional health problems, aggressive behaviors, isolation and illness. This does not just affect the person experiencing stress, but has a ripple effect and will impact every single person a child comes in contact with.

In addition, a stressed brain cannot learn.

Once the brain goes into Fight or Flight mode, all it can do is fight, or flee. This is why its especially important for educators and therapists to know the outward signs of stress in kids and develop plans to minimize and cope with the stress response, but most importantly to teach children how to self-regulate and manage their own stress on a regular basis, no matter where they are. They need to know when its important to react quickly, and when they need to stay calmer and respond rather than react.

Stress management, like brushing teeth, is a vital part of a child's health & learning. It is a life skill that needs to be taught in a patient and clear manner, just as we teach our children the days of the week, how to set the table, put their belongings away, and other everyday tasks. It is a skill that not only serves them in health, but in regulating behavior, relationships & academic learning, in the classroom, at home and in all of life.

One of the topics discussed in our "Calm & Connected" workshop is how to simplify stress management & meditation techniques so that kids can understand and use them independently. When presented in a fun, matter-of-fact, simplified manner, (while children are calm & having fun) using everyday language, kids will respond and actually want to do it. This gives them tools to use to, transition to a new situation, calm quickly after a stressful event occurs or to stay focused on what's important as one is occurring.

Our book, "Calm & Connected: Yoga-Based Tools for Self-Regulation" takes it a step further and draws a connection between sensory integration, stress and the yoga techniques that address both.

The key to helping kids manage stress is to make it "Kid-Friendly". Simple stories, games, props and most of all practice will help a child learn when to "Fight or Flee" and when to "Stay Calm & Keep Connected".


How do you cope with/manage stress?

What are some ways that you help your children or students cope with stress? 


Please tell us in the comments below.


Related Articles:

The Pizza Game (Sensory Based Stress Management for Kids)

Peace Garden Imagery

Pool Noodle Reflexology

Helping Children Cope with Anxiety

Three Minute Neck Massage

Calming Anxious Lives

Meditation: Children and Teens as Mindful Warriors (Roots of Action Blog-Dr. Marilyn Price-Mitchell)




Contact:  barbara@bodylogique.com


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