Here are some potent tools that will help you to help your children develop their emotions in a healthy way:
Tool 1: Listening to the Heart
Let your child know that every time he or she needs guidance or simple reassurance, to close their eyes and take in a few deep breaths and place his or her attention directly on their heart. As your child focuses on their heart for a few moments, he or she can then ask for guidance from their heart. Your child should trust whatever feelings come up. Reassure him or her that whatever comes up is okay, and that nothing should be discounted. If nothing arises for your child that’s okay too. Just ask your child to remain open and patient throughout his or her experience.
Tool 2: Breathing
Very often when children are upset they forget to breathe or begin hyperventilating because of intense emotions that may arise that they can’t deal with. Remind your child to breathe in deeply as the emotion arises. Taking in just five deep breaths can totally change a child’s state of mind from highly emotional to quite calm. This is a wonderful tool for children who are prone to fits of anger or are highly anxious. Breathing practice is highly recommended on a daily basis so children can learn how to self manage their emotional state and become more responsive and less reactive to challenging situations in their lives.
Tool 3: Meditation
Meditation is a wonderful tool to teach children starting as young as age five. Through simple techniques such as focusing on the breath moving in and out, or counting the breath, children learn how to train their mind which allows them to be more focused, calmer, have better memory retention and more emotional stability. It has been scientifically proven that meditation can also greatly reduce depression and aggressive behavior. In addition, children who meditate often have a strong self esteem and are less likely to succumb to peer pressure.
Tool 4: Hand on the Heart
Sometimes children have a hard time listening to their parents and are unfocused or easily distracted. When we put our hand on our heart we often find that we can speak our truth and really listen to one another. This gesture brings us back into our bodies if we have floated off into space. It is a wonderful way for our children to learn how to be really present with whoever they are speaking or listening to.
Tool 5: Be in the Moment with Your Children
When you leave work, leave work and just be with your child. Don’t take phone calls during dinner. Afterwards, read a bedtime story to your child or make one up. Your child will love it when you use your imagination to create a personalized story just for him or her. It’s also nice to do projects together like planting a garden or baking cookies. Be sure to avoid television as a substitute for quality time. One of the best things that I did one year ago was stopping my subscription to cable TV.
Each child is unique, so how we nurture one child may not work for another. We need to really listen to what our children our asking for and what they aren’t asking for but may truly need. While there are times your child may drive you crazy and you want to jump in the car and drive off to Lovina for the weekend, there are also those magical moments that are etched in our minds – the first time our child rode a bike and didn’t fall down; their first day at school when we kissed him on the cheek and waved goodbye at his classroom door not wanting him to see the tear that quietly slipped out of our right eye. Our children learn how to be brave, vulnerable, kind, loyal, generous, loving and inspiring through our encouragement and example. As parents, we are their role models of how to become conscious beings. It’s a tall order, I know, but it’s definitely worth it!
Michele is an energy healer, consciousness facilitator, spiritual teacher & Transpersonal Hynotherapist who works in the international arena. Her highly empathic nature & inherent gifts, together with her extensive training in a wide variety of healing methods enables her to assist you with healing on all levels. She leads retreats & workshops for personal empowerment both on & off Bali. www.spiritweaverjourneys.com; www.michelecempaka.com
Copyright © 2014 Michele Cempaka
Originally posted @ New Earth Institute
