Two activities to help with Stress Relief for Kids.

The following activities are designed to be read aloud very slowly and clearly. Use a calm, quiet voice and pause a few seconds at the end of each sentence. Your listeners will need plenty of time to enjoy every step of the experience without feeling hurried.

Be sure to end each activity with some gentle suggestions such as, “Begin to stretch like a cat; open your eyes very slowly; come back to a sitting position when you feel ready.” For the guided imagery activities I recommend a warm, carpeted area and low lights.

I suggest doing all these activities yourself before trying them with others.

These directions serve only as a guide for the reader. You may want to change the wording or the length of the activity. Use your creativity to expand these images as
you wish.

You may want to tape record the directions and/or play quiet music in the background.

Many of these activities can lead very naturally into creative writing and art experiences. Encourage group discussions and sharing of feelings afterwards.

Help children learn to direct themselves and each other in these activities.

I sincerely hope that you will enjoy participating in these creative relaxation experiences.