We all know how challenging it can be to drop into feeling calm and relaxed when we are already feeling stressed, anxious or overwhelmed and its the same for our kids but have you thought about the importance of feeling emotionally confident and safe in your body before you are able to drop your guards and really relax
I've spent over 7 years teaching kids and families yoga and mindfulness and what I have noticed consistently is that some kids really struggle to relax and slow down and find it challenging and confronting to 'calm down' especially when they are being told to do so. Instead of telling them what to do, I suggest and offer opportunities to try things out and I role model the suggestions to them in a calm and supportive way. For many children this is all they need to start to feel more confident and safe to give it a go.
This is where practices like Yoga and Mindfulness can really help to provide them with simple and practical tools, breath awareness and supportive practices to help them to navigate adn understand their big emotions and feelings in their everyday lives
What is Emotional Safety?
Emotional safety means providing an environment where children feel accepted, understood, and supported without fear of judgment or criticism. It’s about helping children feel that their feelings are valid and that it’s okay to express themselves. When emotional safety is established, children feel more secure in their surroundings and confident in managing their emotions, which makes it easier for them to relax and feel grounded in their bodies.
My Journey from chaos to calm
It wasn't until my late 20's that I discoverd what feeling calm and relaxed was like and it was due to my severely dysregulated nervous system from living in high stress chaotic situations with an overly critical parent and an overactive ADHD brain that loved to overthink, overstress and overwhelm my body and mind.
It literally took years to calm my nervous system and be able to sit still but eventually over the years with practice I started to experience little moments of calm and deep peace and was able to find practices and experiences that I really enjoyed and that were supportive of my busy mind and body. It's still a work in progress but the change in my mindset, emotional capacity and nervous system and my health has been life changing
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This approach to my classes can be adopted in our parenting and everyday lives, its all a matter of building a strong and calming foundation that supports loving kindness, positive communication and reasurrance for our children with actively role modelling to teach them these values and empower them with the tools they need to live a happy, healthy and confident life
If you would like some support in learning and sharing yoga and mindfulness and emotional regulation skills with your children, connect with me on Instagram and Youtube, book into one of my face to face or online sessions and find some more helful tips below
How Parents and Caregivers Can Help
Creating emotional safety doesn’t stop at the yoga mat. Parents and caregivers can help foster emotional safety by offering a nurturing environment where kids feel free to express their emotions without fear of criticism. Here are some ways to do this at home:
Validate Their Feelings: When children express their emotions, make sure to acknowledge and validate what they’re feeling. Phrases like “It’s okay to feel sad” or “I understand you’re frustrated” let kids know that their feelings are important and valid.
Create Calm Spaces: Designate a quiet area in your home where your child can retreat to when they need to relax, read, or practice breathing. This can help them learn that taking a break and calming down is a healthy way to cope.
Model Relaxation Techniques: Show your child how you use relaxation techniques, like deep breathing or taking a moment to pause and reset. Children learn by watching, so demonstrating these practices can help them feel more comfortable using them themselves.
By providing children with emotional safety, we give them the tools they need to connect with their bodies, relax, and experience moments of calm amidst life’s challenges. When children feel safe to express themselves and practice mindfulness and relaxation, they begin to develop the resilience they need to handle future challenges with ease. Creating a safe, supportive environment where kids can truly relax is one of the best gifts we can give them for their mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
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