Calm and Quiet Tip #1

Need to chill your kids out?  I want to give those of you with young children a couple of quick calming activities and tips over the next couple of days.  These tips and activities are easy to use and implement.   

Tip number one is a deep pressure massage:

• Have your child sit on your lap or lay them on their back on a soft surface such as a carpeted floor.
• Take both of your hands and with a semi-firm grasp start squeezing their arm in a continuous motion working away from their body starting at the shoulder moving down to their wrist.
• Repeat this four to six times on each arm (or as long as the want!)
• Use the same technique on their legs working from the upper thigh down to the ankle.

Always work away from the heart.  Some parents question how much pressure to use.  Think about when you get a massage.  You don't want a really light touch (what's the point, eh?).  Some people like really deep pressure during their massage, others not so much. 

Remember this:  Light touches stimulate the central nervous system while deep touches calm it.  Deep pressure activities to the muscles and joints (or the proprioceptive sense -- see "Our Seven Senses?" post from last week) stimulate the release of chemicals to the brain and the rest of the central nervous system telling it to relax. 

I have put more kids than I can count to sleep demonstrating this technique to parents on home visits!  I used this technique with my kids as well when they were younger.  They are now 5 and 8 and still ask to have their arms "squeezed" on occasion!

Now, some kids will like more pressure and some will like less.  Some may not like it at all!  Be sure to read your child's cues and stop if you see any signs that they are not enjoying it.  If they are squirming and giggling, you may not be giving enough pressure.  Just follow their lead and your gut.

I recommend doing this activity before nap time and just before bedtime.  It can also come in handy if your child is over-stimulated from say a family reunion with lots of unfamiliar people or after any type of busy or hectic day when their normal routine is out of whack.  Great for vacations when kids are often anxious about being in an unfamiliar area.

The two benefits of this technique:  1)  It puts them in a state of relaxation; 2) It gives you an opportunity for more snuggle time (which is sometimes difficult to get once they start walking, running, etc.).

If you try this technique on your child, please let me know how it worked out!  I've demonstrated this technique in person to MANY parents, but have never tried to explain it in written form.  Feedback on whether the instructions were clear and if you had success with the technique helps me make sure my content is on target.  If you have any questions regarding the technique itself, post or drop me a line via my personal e-mail. 

Here's to calm and quiet kids!