NEWTON, MASS. (WHDH) – Back to school can mean back to stress for students.
As kids return to class, they can deal with the stress and anxiety they may be feeling by taking a breath.
7NEWS spoke to instructors at Down Under School of Yoga in Newton who said breathing exercises can be an important tool for children of all ages.
A simple act like expanding your exhales longer than your inhales – inhale for 3 exhale, for 5 – slows down the nervous system,” said Justine Cohen, director of Down Under School of Yoga.
Those breaths can help children calm themselves and become aware of their emotions, which is the first step to processing emotions.
“The resilience to feel what we’re feeling – knowing it will pass, breathing through it and experiencing discomfort – is a fundamental life skill,” Cohen added.
This skill is often called mindfulness and experts say it can help children as young as three stay mentally healthy.
“Teaching how to check in with your own self – Are you feeling sweaty? Are your hands hot? – just this basic level of self-awareness and teaching kids how to take that time to check in on their own selves can have a huge impact on how they turn that behavior outward,” said Emily Sullivan, director of kids programming.
The CDC endorses mindfulness for children, saying it can help them “be more in control of their feelings and actions.”
If you would like to start practicing mindfulness with your child, there are some short breathing exercises online that you can try:
Breathing Exercises for Kids for Calm and Focus
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