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Every Child's Right to Simply Be
March 21, 2007
As we grow old . . . the beauty steals inward.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
In their Exchange article, "Relaxation: Every Child's Right to Simply Be," Patrice Thomas and Wendy Sheppard from New South Wales, Australia, make these observations:

"We live in a world that is undergoing rapid and dramatic change, and our children are being placed under more and more stress �" at home, in care settings, and at school. Children's time is now more and more directed by adults, and there is little time for children to contemplate, reflect, or simply be. Without this balance of child-centred and teacher-directed play, children's health, well-being, and development are affected by the negative and damaging effects of stress. Some of these include long hours in a range of care settings and spending time with a number of caregivers, overstimulation and noise, the general fast pace of life, extracurricular activities, and family situations such as the separation or divorce of parents or adjusting to blended families....

"Much research to date has focused on stress and stress management strategies for adults in work and home settings. However, little research has been directed at how we can incorporate holistic stress management ideas into our curricula for young children.... Relaxation techniques are simple and easy to incorporate into early childhood programmes and provide valuable life skills for the children in our care....

"Relaxation helps children to slow down and to calm and quiet their bodies and their minds. Relaxation experiences are soothing and restorative for young children. We can teach children to handle stress through gentle exercise and techniques that provide inner peace and security.... We believe that before the mind can relax, the body must learn to relax. Our approach is different to that of most other practitioners as it involves the use of gentle exercise (Tai Chi movements) to relax the body, followed by progressive relaxation and visualization exercises to relax the mind, emotions, and spirit. The techniques we use are gentle and have been practiced for many years in a range of health and education settings. Teachers do not need specialist knowledge to implement these exercises as they are simple and easy to learn.

"Tai Chi or gentle exercise is an ancient form of slow, repetitive movements which bring the body back into balance and harmony. Tai Chi simply defined is "moving meditation" and, as such, creates peace, harmony, calm, and quietness in children. Tai Chi also promotes good posture, muscle tone, flexibility, and suppleness. We have practiced Tai Chi exercises with children from two years of age and have found that most children love the repetition and flow of the movements....

"Progressive relaxation and visualization practices can be used successfully with young children as a follow up to their Tai Chi practice. Progressive relaxation involves focusing the attention on the different parts of the body and using rhythmical breathing to help the muscles relax. It is important that adults keep their terminology and instructions short and simple here. Visualization or guided imagery involves the children engaging in an experience led by a teacher which creates a relaxing story or scene in their imaginations. These stories are often related to scenes from nature, imaginary friends, animals, and pets. The scripts can be created by adults or children.

"It is important to create a quiet time for children each day, that doesn't have the stressful associations that sleep time can often give. In quiet time, children learn to value learning to just "be" and to experience stillness, reflection, and calmness. These opportunities give children time away from busy routines and overstimulation from noise and activity during the day."

"Relaxation: Every Child's Right to Simply Be" is the first of 22 articles in the latest Exchange publication, Child Development II.



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Comments (6)

Displaying 5 of 6 Comments   [ View all ]
mukti a oza · March 25, 2007
bombay cambridge gurucool malad
mumbai, maharashtra, United States


i totaly agree with idea of relaxing. in fact at every age we need 10 mins minimum to relax take a pouse and hold the inner peace. even yoga helps to connect body mind and soul. however sadly every school does not have any quite corner, now a days the portation to be done is so much that teachers are so hyper that theirstudents are also hyper. however i am going to share this informatin wiyh my friends. thank you child care and thomas and wenndy


Patricia · March 21, 2007
St. Lucy\'s Benedictine Child Development Center
Glendora, CA, United States


Thank you so much for, first of all, recognizing the need for
this article. I am defiitely going to present it to my teachers.
Our children are rushed in so many areas of their lives.
I always feel that when they are with us in our center, we
can allow them the time they need to just be
and play and express themselves.
Thank you again and again!
Sister Patricia Schneider
St. Lucy's CDC, Glendora, CA

Cathy McPeek · March 21, 2007
Heavenly Gifts Day Care
Puyallup, WA, United States


It is important to teach children self control and self disicpline, in body and mind by our example. If the "t"eacher directed learning opportunity is temporary and the children are free to choose what they want to do or not do, the the teacher must exercise self control and step away and let them play.

Meladee Bay · March 21, 2007
USAF Child/Youth Programs
Whiteman AFB, MO, United States


I find this exceptionally intersting from my point of view. Working in military child care we have the task of helping children not only deal with everyday stress of just being a child BUT the added stress of their parent/s being deployed for many months at a time. Couple that with today's media exposure at every level concerning the world conflicts, it is more than some know how to deal with. I would be interested in knowing more about this subject and wondered what would be my best source to start a program and what ages are recommended. Thanks.

Kathleen Reticker · March 21, 2007
Acre Family Child Care
Lowell, MA, United States


When I saw this title I was very excited because I agree that too much of children's lives are directed by adults. I think the exercises sound great, but I am still struck by the requirement of adult direction to let children "simply be." I think that as adults we fill our lives with classes, work, all sorts of self-improvement goals and are afraid that if we simply be, we are missing something, some opportunity, some chance of a lifetime. I think that in order to appreciate the value of letting children simply be, maybe we have to start with ourselves.



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