Just like us adults, kids too have their down times or times when they feel really stressed, angered and aggressive. We as parents get really worked up when we see our kids in such a state but the most important thing to do here is to acknowledge what your child is feeling and also understand that even though they are kids, they too have emotions and at times they need to vent it out.
Stress in kids can be due to many reasons and can also crop from anxiety and fear of maybe going to a new place, new school, being between unknown people, going away from parents or their nanny or simply worrying about their changing body or something as trivial as a something of theirs is lost or broken.
Your child may start hitting someone or oneself in anger, break something or yell back at you. These are some of the ways they think of when they want to vent but parents have to deal with this in a better way. Show faith in your child, be supportive, show love care and warmth towards them as this is the time when they need your attention the most.
I’ve had such episodes with my two kids when either of my two kids has been annoyed over anything or anyone and to deal with such situations, I have some techniques and methods that I follow and I would love to share it here with you.
- Music: Music can have a great effect on your mood so if your child is stressed, play a soothing music and as he/she calms down, play a fun number and get dancing.

2. Let them sit alone: Allow your child to sit alone and think and ponder upon their emotion and come back when they feel better. Make sure they are sitting in a comfort place.
3. Paint: Painting can not only help you focus but also help you destress. Painting and drawing are also a great way to express ones emotions.
4. Blow bubbles: With bubble blowing, your child will not only have fun but it also helps in regulating their breathing.

5. Dip in the water: Nothing can calm down the body like a nice shower. Put your child in the tub, drop in some toys and see them unwind and relax.
6. Count backwards: Counting backwards helps in focusing and also offer additional concentration challenge to them which will help them forget something that has been bothering them.
7. Shake a glitter jar: You get ample of ideas for DIY glitter jars making on pinterest. Make a jar at home with your child and when the child is annoyed or angry, give it to them. It’s a stress buster and will allow the body to relax and reset.

8. Talk it out: Kids who can talk and share their feelings, ask them to talk it out as this not only relieves them but also allows them to process the matter once again as they speak.
9. Hug: Nothing can work better than a warm hug. Hug your child and let him/her rest on you while they calm down.
10. Play with slime or clay: Slime or clay can help relax. The tactile feeling of playing with slime and clay can give a temporary distraction from stress and emotions and it can also be very calming to the mind. Some doctors even use Slime Therapy to deal with depression and stress.
11. Write it out: If your kid is older, ask them to maintain a journal where they can jot down their feelings and emotions. Get them a nice diary or a book and tell them you will never read it. So they can be free with their thoughts without the fear of being read.
12. Push against a wall: When the child is really stressed and wants to vent it out, ask them to push the wall. In a futile attempt to push the wall, the muscles will contract and then relax as it releases the feel good hormones.
13. Give a tennis ball massage: Roll a tennis ball on your childs back mainly neck, shoulder and lower back area as these are the main spots of stress and tension. Massage for 5 to 10 minutes and ask you child to keep their eyes closed.
14. Roll a ping-pong ball on the feet: Rolling a ping-pong ball will hit the pressure points on your childs feet that help relax the muscles of the feet and legs.
15. Yell: Sometimes the feelings of your child can be very overwhelming and strong and the best way to get rid of them is to aks your child to stand on their toes, hands wide apart and yell, passing all the tension from their feet to their upper torso and out of their mouth.
I personally have been following these techniques for my kids and the best one that works for my daughter is to talk it out while my son likes to be left alone either to paint or play. Since both my kids love water, even a nice shower has worked in their case. By this I mean to say that every child is different and different ways can work on them to calm their nerves.
As a parent, be a good example for your child while dealing with your own stress and anger. Because kids learn from what they see. Lead a healthy lifestyle, keep communication flowing and open in the family, be active physically as these are some ways by which you can avoid stress and anger within yourself and your child.

I hope you find this helpful in some way and if you have any view and opinions to share, do let me know in the comments below. Also, you may like to read my article on https://mummatalks.blog/2019/10/03/to-hit-or-not-to-hit-parenting-style/ which again talks about how as parents we can deal with our kids with a positive approach and attitude.
This blog is a part of #LBWP – Leys Blog With Pri Season 2. You would also enjoy reading what my other blogger friends Seema and Amritha have shared on their blog.

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40 replies on “Stress busters – 15 tips to help kids destress”
Great post Hansa. We personally follow many of these ways but a few are yet untried like the glitter jar. Wil try it out.
Very good
Great post and I really loved the post.This post is helpful to all of us.
Indeed the way you have described is amazing
Excellent post…
Hey,that covers all age groups.Good share Hansie
These are great tips dear and you had covered it all. personally for me, talking to my girls always works great, when they had any kinds of negative emotions. while talking we get a chance to know the exact state of mind and can help them in dealing with intense negative emotions.
Keeping kids engaged positively and ensuring that they are relaxed can be challenging in these times. You have made some excellent and practical suggestions which are all really sensible and doable.
I guess you almost covered each and every thing which help kids destress. These are some helpful tips. I never tried Shaking the glitter jar will definitely going to try this for sure.
These are some really good ideas I must say. While we use only a few but I think it would be great to try a couple of different ones and give the children these tools that they can use for themselves
These are good tips. Child stress is real and parents should not bully or abash kids. It has huge negative psychological effect on the child.
Great share. My kids love listening to music, paint and playing with slime. But I most of the times try speaking to them in order to resolve their issues they are stressed about. 🙂
I think these are some awesome tips for getting over stress, not only for children but for everyone. I love listening to music to destress myself.
Very helpful blog. My kids love bubble blow. They still ask me for the same. ☺
I keep my kids engaged by letting them do some creative things and some learning activity like spotting the differences, join the dots, maze, etc… They love doing these kinda activities and stay busy for long.
Insightful pointers Hansa, and I am so happy to see that most of them I use with my kids too like writing journal, talking to them, painting, Water game work for me.
No kid should ever feel stressed. Period. As parents, it is our duty to make sure children have fun. They must enjoy this period of their life. Talking to your children and understanding their needs is so important.
Never knew smile or Clay helps them in relaxation as well.. thanks for sharing these tips !
That’s such a lovely writeup,I will share it with my friends
In the current pandemic times, it’s so difficult for kids to maintain their calm. All their extra energy gets contained within the confines of the home. You try them with my kids.
Sorry – typo error. I meant, I will surely try these with my kids. Keep writing!
Counting backwards does help as it distracts us from the current situation. It works for adults as well as kids. Some good tips.
This is really an important topic to discussed with parents as kids are very sensitive, we should handle them carefully. And such great points you have shared.
Ideally, childhood is not for taking pressure and getting stressed out. But looking at current situation, kids are feeling slightly stressed out due to various reasons. And depending upon the child’s personality, our handling style has to change.
Stress is a big issue in kid’s because of this pandemic. Your pointers are very useful in this case . Int son loves listening music anytime.
That’s so true about kids and how they learn things
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Stress-busting for kids is equally important as it’s for elders and even my kids love to listen to music and they usually share their thoughts with us over the dining table conversation
Oh yes we do most of the things mentioned above. The later pointers work for older kids probably. I haven’t had a chance to reach that but will surely keep that in mind.
These are some really good ways to destress the kids as well an adult. I often hug kids and let them cry out when they feel low, then we play fav music and dance it out.
Very useful post. My kids used to play with clay a lot. Music also works for them. I agreed with the pointers too which you mentioned to use as a stress buster.
It is very important for a child to de-stress, for my son, engaging into creative crafts, and sports work wonders.
Talking it out and doing activities together is a great way to let kids destress. I liked the tennis ball massage idea. Counting backwards is my daughter’s new hobby nowadays.
Absolutely agree with you, these days kids become very stressed out with anything. They need to grow their patients level more. Thanks for sharing this helpful post
Loved your post! These days with the lockdown scenes and home schooling, kids are undergoing a lifestyle shift. Its causing stress in them and in the family. I am so glad you not only wrote about this but gave out useful tips. Thanks!
The sad realty of life is that even kids can get stressed. Great tips you have shared.
Very well written, loved the way you have offered solutions… A great read for all mother’s handling kids on their own
Reblogged this on Food2go4 and commented:
As Parents we are always looking to make our kids happy and see them grow with all good things. There is a lot goes in making a kid do things while they are completely dependent on us and are staying indoors due to the Pandemic and this is a beautiful blog for all the mothers to engage their kids in something positive. Give it a read.
These are such wonderful stress busters for kids. We generally talk things out with Ayaansh when he is not in a mood. A relaxing music helps too. And when he is at a yelling and cranky mood, we just put some dance numbers and that takes the pressure off him.
Keep functioning ,splendid job!
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