It isn’t so easy being a kid these days. There are more demands on our children now than ever before: There is less time to just play outside with friends, and the days are more programmed. We worry about their safety; we want them to do well; we strive to give them the best. But we don’t have much time, because we, too, are busy.

As a result, we see more and more kids having problems paying attention in school, staying focused on a task long enough to complete it, feeling good about themselves, and performing up to their potential.

Also, teachers in school feel more stress as they try to cope with new and complicated problems in the classroom, the multiple demands on their time, and their own busy lives.

Then we add FCATs and other standardized exams into the picture and things get even tougher.

I have been a teacher for over 30 years and have seen the problems in the classroom change. The number of activities, with which kids need to cope has increased. Some children seem tired and restless, disinterested and unable to focus. Others are extremely determined to do well but are tense and don’t feel good about their work. Some fight self-esteem issues and loneliness. Still, others are over-stimulated by so much going on around them.

So what can we do?

Working with children both in the classroom and one-on-one, I have been pleased with their positive responses to activities that allow them to slow down, feel their breaths, relax their minds and bodies, as well as release tightness and tension. Although I use Tai Chi moves to accomplish this, it could be done with Yoga, meditation, quiet reflection, creative arts and other methods. Children are very receptive to both the visualization and the movements that are integral to Tai Chi. Visualization is very effective in reducing stress, tension, fear, anxiety, and insecurity and in improving self-esteem. Tai Chi movements are so gentle that anyone can do them. The moves help improve circulation, flexibility, and physical and emotional balance.

If children are hyperactive, why can’t we just send them out to run around and let off steam? It helps a bit as they tire, but soon they recover and the inappropriate behavior returns. Our sympathetic nervous system, the part of our nervous system that prepares us to “fight or flee” is over stimulated by our very busy lives. We want that part of the nervous system to be strong, but it needs to be balanced by the parasympathetic nervous system, the one that allows us to “rest and digest” in times of non-emergency. It is not good to live as if we are in a permanent state of emergency!

We can strengthen the parasympathetic nervous system through activities such as Tai Chi. By focusing the mind, rooting our body to the earth, working the mind and body together with slow, continuous movement, deep breathing, and mental concentration, we encourage the body and mind to reach a deep sense of calmness. As we strengthen the parasympathetic nervous system, we begin to see a long-term effect that can improve behavior and overall mental/emotional and physical health.

In my work with children, I teach them some of the techniques that I use for myself. I teach them simple breathing techniques they can do as they prepare to start a test or a difficult assignment so they concentrate better; I teach them visualizations that help them relax so their bodies can function better; we practice abdominal breathing to increase the flow of oxygen and energy to all the cells, particularly the brain; I show them how to do the breathing seated at their desks, walking around, or lying in bed waiting to fall asleep. We learn movements to relax muscles, soften the shoulders, balance on one foot (strengthening both the physical and emotional balance), stretch out tightness, and improve muscle tone and flexibility. All of the movements involve visualization. It is based on thousands of years of observations of animals and nature. Children enjoy seeing themselves as the animal or the tree or the ball of light energy. They love to feel the warm positive energy moving through them, and tell me it helps them to sleep better, to remember the answers to math problems, to respond better when called upon, to react better to friends, and to feel good.

Although not scientifically proven, here are some cases that depict Tai Chi’s usefulness. A straight ‘A’ high school student who became so nervous on final exams that she dropped to a near failing grade was able to control her nervousness and maintain her grade. A 5th grader who just couldn’t pay attention in math (He said he did, but didn’t seem to understand much at all.) raised his grades from D’s to B’s in one month. (The teacher thought it was a miracle!) A 1st grader with ADD was able to complete his first writing assignment after the teacher started the class with 10 minutes of Tai Chi Moves. A college student told me his head cleared up during the Tai Chi.

If you practice Yoga, think of ways you could involve your child with the movements. If you enjoy the creative arts, share it with your child. Start with some deep abdominal breathing before you get into the activity. Create an atmosphere of peace in a special area of your home. It’s fun for our children and fun for us, too! You might be surprised how quickly you see an improvement in your child’s behavior: at home, in sports, socially, and in academic performance.

Cari Shurman
Director of WITHIN Wellness Center
Author of Tai Chi Moves for Kids, an activity set for children aged 4-12 www.taichiforkids.com
www.withinwellness.com