7 Apps To Help Kids Relax

02 Apr 2012 2 Comments

by zemirah in All Relaxation Activities, Bedtime Relaxation Activities, Educator Resources, Family Relaxation, One Minute Relaxers, Relaxing on Airplanes, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , ,

My iPhone and iPad have become instant hits with my kids.  They love to play games on them.  They are great for when I’m out at a restaurant or waiting at the airport and they need something quick to stay occupied.  In spite of the battery run down and the fact that I rush to get text messages that end up being reminders to “feed the horse before it dies,”  it has been a great portable tool to keep busy.   The other day we were riding in the car and my older daughter was stressing about her homework.  I was wishing that I had a relaxing application on the iPhone to help her relax.  So, I started researching and here are some ideas that I found:

Take a Chill http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/take-a-chill-stressed-teens/id496802813?mt=8

This app is great for tweens and teens.  It sends gentle reminders to practice mindfulness and affirmations periodically throughout the day.  It provides a way to track your mindfulness practice and has small activities built directly into the app.  Great introduction to mindfulness practice!

My First Yoga http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-first-yoga-animal-poses/id365336362?mt=8

I use this app almost every day during a sensory break with one of my students at school.  The poses are cute, simple, and provide easy, step by step directions to follow.  Do just one or all of them, it is easy to choose.  I love the peacock pose.  The fun animals join us every day in my office.  The stretches are relaxing and provide an excellent opportunity to focus in the moment.

iZen Garden  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/izen-garden-2-portable-zen/id347232643?mt=8

Just like the sand trays with little rakes that allow you to calmly draw beautiful lines in the sand, this app is perfect to promote a moment of calm.  Using your fingers instead of a rake, you can draw lines in the sand while listening to cheerful chimes.

Gratitude Journal  http://itunes.apple.com/app/gratitude-journal-your-positive/id299604556?mt=8

The Institute of Heartmath (http://www.heartmath.org/), shares extensive research on the relationship between thinking thoughts of appreciation and feeling relaxed and at ease.  What better way to practice with your child than to keep a gratitude journal.  Try out this adorable app that reminds you and your child to think of 5 things you are grateful for each day.

Arabian Nights by Relax Kids http://itunes.apple.com/app/arabian-nights/id500474568?ign-mpt=uo%3D5

Just out in March by Relax Kids, this Arabian Nights app is delightful.  Soothing voice, calming journeys, you can travel to exotic places in your imagination.  Topics include belly dancing, snake charmers and magic carpets, your children are sure to be engaged and practicing relaxation right along with this app.  Enjoy!

Silent Island Relaxation Lite  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/silent-island-relaxation-sale/id296191442?mt=8       Listen to the peaceful sounds of a bubbling brook, rushing waves, rain, or birds.  Bonuses include videos of floating ice and a slideshow of the islands.  It is perfect for those much needed mini moments of relaxation.  This version is free, but a full version can be purchased to forego the ads.

For the iPad only:

Enchanted Meditation  http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/enchanted-meditations-for/id490096965?mt=8

This app has brief meditations for kids and also includes a tree pose activity.  Christiane Kerr’s voice is pleasant and soothing, easy to listen to.  I especially love the jellyfish meditation.  What fun to flop like a jellyfish!

Imaginations that Fly: In-Flight Guided Imagery Relaxation Activity

02 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment

by zemirah in All Relaxation Activities, Guided Imagery, Relaxing on Airplanes

Magic Carpet Adventure
Since you are already flying, close your eyes and imagine that you are going on a magic carpet ride.  Before you begin, you can use the flight magazine in the seat pocket in front of you to talk about different destinations that you might want to visit.  Talk about what you might see there.  Then invite your child to take a trip in their imagination on a magic carpet.
 Read the following relaxation script to your child:
Close your eyes and get comfortable in your seat. . . Allow your body to relax and be quiet. . .Tell your legs to rest, your arms to hand free, your head to just be heavy on the back of the seat.  For the next couple of minutes, just a little time, invite your body to be still.  Ask your ears to listen and pay attention.  Great!  You are going to take a journey in your imagination.  Now look down in front of you.  There is a magic carpet just floating there.  It seems to be waiting there just for you.  Notice its color, its shape.  Curious, you get on and it starts to fly!.  While you are riding you know that you are safe.  You are feeling good, very calm and relaxed.
As you are riding, you look down to see a glistening lagoon beneath you.  The carpet takes you close to the water and there are little colorful fish weaving in and around some stones.  There are tiny bubbles rising to the surface of the water, making little fizzing noises as they pop.  The carpet takes you close enough for you to dip your fingertips into the warm pool and swirl them through the water as the carpet flies along.  Looking behind you, you can see the watery trail your fingertips left behind.  Up, up, up the carpet flies again.  This time it turns and you can see mountains in the distance.  The moon is shining brightly and the stars are twinkling.  You feel so close to the stars that you can almost reach out and touch them.  Flying over the mountains, you can see they are dusted in snow.  The snow sparkles and shimmers in the moonlight like jewels in a treasure chest.  There, on the horizon, you see some bears rolling and playing in the snow.  The carpet flies you close enough so that you can wave.
Now the carpet starts to slow down its flight.  You know that you have many explorations ahead of you and you feel excitement inside as you think about your next adventure.  Take a deep breath and thank your body and mind for traveling along on this carpet ride.  Allow your attention to come back to sitting in your seat.  You can open your eyes when you are ready.

In-Flight Breathing Relaxation Activity

01 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment

by zemirah in Deep Breathing, Relaxing on Airplanes, Uncategorized

Summer vacation is upon us!  As a parent, have you ever been caught off guard and experienced a non-relaxed state with your child at 33,000 feet?  Flying provides the perfect opportunity to practice the art of relaxation and prepare our minds and bodies for the trip ahead or returning home.  Here are some in-flight relaxation ideas to get your relaxing groove on.  Calm mind=peaceful heart.  Pack this thought in your suitcase and you are poised for a wonderful journey.  So, reconnect with your inner child, play along and start your trip off on a fun, positive note!

Tummy Dancing:  Start your relaxation practice off with some tummy dancing, a.k.a. diaphragmatic breathing.

  • Step One:  Place your hand on your tummy.
  • Step Two:  Take a slow, deep breath in to the count of 3, fill your lungs with air and feel your tummy push your hand out.
  • Step Three:  Slowly let the breath out, watching your hand go back in as the air goes out and your tummy collapses back down.
  • Step Four:  Repeat at least 1 to 3 times.
  • Variation:  if you are able to recline in your seat, place a sticker or a stuffed animal or toy on your tummy and give it a ride with your deep, slow, rhythmic breathing.

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