Our society has a need for speed. In our ever-increasing agenda for more, it’s hard not to see how this affects us all, including our children. Articles map out the way our collective attention span has decreased, but in addition, we’re all moving so much faster. The speed of instruction has accelerated, leaving many kids behind, the rest stressed, as testing takes the place of meaningful learning. There doesn’t seem to be a sign of slowing down.
In addition to our acceleration, mental health issues have gone undiagnosed and untreated. According to the Association for Children’s Mental Health, “1 in 5 children and youth have a diagnosable emotional, behavioral or mental health disorder and 1 in 10 young people have a mental health challenge that is severe enough to impair how they function at home, school or in the community.”
A study indicated students have a hard time in school if they do not have tools to cope with stress. Research has shown a connection between “improved executive function and yoga” in school-aged children. In response to these studies, a number of schools have adopted mindful programs that include yoga in an effort to help students manage their stress and mental health issues. Unfortunately, save small communities and pilot programs, these cases are more the exception than the rule. In other school districts, we have seen yoga being banned from school altogether.
We know firsthand the benefits of yoga on our mental and physical bodies. If we know there is reason for concern about the mental health of the future generation, how can we instill mindfulness and yoga as a necessity instead of a hobby or optional exercise? What can we do as adults to help impart a healthy mental state to our students, children, nieces, nephews, and community kids?
Prevention
As a classroom teacher, a student had a panic attack during a state assessment. Since then, I have taught breathing techniques to my students and mentees. They can use these techniques in any stressful environment, not just in the classroom. Adopting a weekly yoga practice can also prevent anxiety attacks and stress in kids, adding a tool to their toolbox that they can use in school, competitions, and stressful social situations.
Kid-Friendly Terms
Depending on their age, students may not understand Sanskrit terms when speaking about breathing or yoga poses. Instead, using kid-friendly terms may be more inviting to their learning. A quick and easy breathing technique is the triangle method. Draw a triangle, pause at each corner for three seconds to inhale, going to the next corner to exhale, and so on. Additionally, there are a host of engaging yoga videos that use bright colors and fun music to appeal to young children.
By Example
If you have children, relationships with nieces, nephews, or other children in your life, show them your yoga techniques for minimizing stress and anxiety. Oftentimes, a home practice routine is easy to teach depending on the child’s age and interest level. A quick belly breath exercise or a simple meditation can also work wonders.
Regardless of age or experience, children have a lot to gain from learning yoga techniques. As we see mental health issues in our own lives, kids are struggling, as well. It’s up to us to help nurture and guide the children in our life, giving them the tools to cope with our ever-changing world.
Author: Sarah Ronau