Help your kids ground and settle with breath work

When kids are hyper, wild or misbehaved in any way, it's almost always the case that their breath will be shallow.

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But before we address the breath, my first step when kids get unruly is to check if they need food. It's common that kids are so enthralled in their play that they don't stop to eat until they are crashing. I strongly prefer high-protein snacks. Protein stabilizes blood sugar and helps kids ground (adults too).

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Once fed, if kids aren't moving in a centered way, my next go to solution is to get them to stop what they are doing and breathe. That might be weird if your kid aren't used to it but it won't take long to get them on board. .

I tell my kids, nothing good happens when we aren't breathing well. "Mommy can I X, Y or Z?" "Sure, just as soon as you sit with me and take five deep breaths". They'll put up a bit of a stink but I make deep breathing the perquisite for a lot of things.

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At bedtime, sit with you kids and put your hand on their belly. If you get slow and deep with your breathing, they will follow suit. If the child has an unprocessed upset, it will show up in their breathing. Part of the belly won't breathe smoothly and the breathe will stick there.

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No problem, just stay present. "You are doing so well, you just have something stuck in your body. Let's keep breathing and let it come out."

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Simple everyday stressors can get stuck. Things like, "I think the teacher was mad at me when I didn't put that away." "My friend didn't let me play the game at recess."

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Breath work teaches kids that life shows up in their bodies and they need to take care of their inner world. It provides an intimate connection between parent and child, helps the kid fall asleep quicker and shows the parent where the child is holding stress.

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If the child cries or fusses, don't ask what's wrong. Just stay present and come back to the breath. .