Resources for regulating stress, relaxation,  meditation, and self-care for parents and teachers

For the Kids, Parents, and Teachers!

• Meditation 

• Social-emotional tools 

• Creating space in the day and encouraging for brain and body breaks 

• Encouraging deep breathing and finding internal steadiness as a tool for relaxation and regulating challenging feelings 

• Checking in/routinely taking your emotional temperature

Meditation and Relaxation Tools and Apps

Meditation and Relaxation Apps for Kids

• Stop, Breathe, & Think for Kids

Meditation and Relaxation Apps for Adults

• Headspace

• Calm

• Atmosphere

Meditation and Relaxation Music and Visual Tools

(DISCLAIMER: Youtube.com video links below may contain advertisements before the start of the video. Please  enjoy supervised viewing with your child or class from start to finish.)

Relaxation Aids 

If you're short on time, try these:

• Ten Minute  Meditations from Calm

• Soothing nature sounds from Calm

Soothing Lighting Options

• Ocean Projector Light with Nature/calming sounds

• Colored bulbs for sleeping and relaxation 

• String lights (assorted colors)

Meditation and breathing activities for Younger children  (PK-2)

• Butterfly Breathing 

• On and off breathing Meditation from Go Noodle

• Morning stretch and breathing activity from Go Noodle

• 5 Finger Breathing 

• Square Breathing 

• Figure 8 Breaths 

Guided Meditation for older children (3rd - 5th)

• Simple breathing exercise from the Honest Guys

• 3 Minute Mindful Breathing Meditation 

• On and off breathing Meditation from Go Noodle

• Morning stretch and breathing activity from Go Noodle

• 5 Finger Breathing 

• Square Breathing 

• Figure 8 Breaths 

If you're looking for nature sounds without guided meditation, try: 

• Forest sounds

• Ocean waves with nature sounds

• Rain

• Fire and wind

If you're looking for calming music with nature images, try:

• Relaxing Celtic music

• Piano music

• Music with water sounds

• NEW: Piano, guitar, cello, and violin

If you're looking for calming music and nature water sounds with moving visual nature scenes, try:

•  Just breathe presentation

• Piano in the Rain (a favorite of mine!)

If you're looking for calming piano with nature sounds and moving visual nature scenes, try:

• Peaceful piano and guitar music

• NEW: Stunningly beautiful nature time lapses with classical piano

If you're looking for calming fantasy meditation stories:

• The Honest Guys: The Unicorn Glade

• Calm Sleep Stories 

Stress Management for the Kids: 

Resources:

• Kid-friendly article about stress in your body (a good discussion starter), KidsHealth

• Resource for managing stress for kids, KidsHealth

Positive Thinking Video Read Alouds (K-3):

• Happy Right  Now by Julie Berry

• Mindful Day by Deborah Hopkinson

• I think I am  by Louise L. Hay

Books for Mindful Breathing (Pk-2):

• Alpha-breaths

• Breath with me 

Tools for Identifying and Managing Anger and Other Challenging Feelings for Children 

Feelings Identification and Strategy Flip-book

The Color Monster: A story about emotions

Just Breathe Video (video of children talking about their experiences with anger):

For Teachers and Parents

• Stress effects on the body, the American Psychological Association. (A resource to help you understand how stress physically affects your body and to understand how stress manifests for you

• How stress effects your health, the American Psychological Association

Stress Management Strategies for Teachers

• Guided meditation

• Mindfulness

• Yoga

• Exercise 

• Social support

• Eating Healthy 

• Treating your body

• Spending time with people you enjoy

• Visual or sound meditation

 Examples of Guided Meditation for Aiding Sleep for Adults 

• One-hour free meditation from The Honest Guys (they have many videos available free at varied lengths)