Calm Your Body
Here's What To Do
1
Find a space where you can move. Invite your child to notice how their body feels.
2
With your child, wiggle your arms and legs one by one. Shake them out in soft circles and wiggles.
3
Stop wiggling and stand very still. Invite your child to notice what it feels like to be still.
4
Repeat every night before bed.
Put PEER Into Action
P
Pause:
- Stand facing each other. Feel your feet on the floor and your chest moving in and out. Notice how your body feels.
E
Engage:
- "Let's shake out our arm first. Can you give it some gentle shakes and wiggles? Can you move it in a slow circle?"
- "Now we're going to stand totally still. Can you try not to move any part of your body?"
E
Encourage:
- "Now that we're still, I notice that my hands feel a little tingly. What do you feel in your hands?"
- If your child has trouble slowing down, play a slow game instead. Have them pretend they're an ant crawling across the floor with a crumb on their back. They have to move super slowly so the crumb doesn't fall off.
R
Reflect:
- "Does your body feel different than before? How?"
Not quite ready?
Try doing a silly whole-body wiggle dance, then pausing and being still for a moment. Repeat so your child can feel the difference between being wiggly and being still.
Ready for more?
Try a variation: move each arm/leg in big, slow circles to start. Make the circles smaller and smaller until your arm or leg is still.
As your child masters this skill...
They can participate in a mindfulness activity to help their body and brain slow down before bed.