by alice greene
Meet the Deep Breathing
Dragon, an art project to do
with your children which will
significantly decrease tears in a
stressful situation. All children
have the ability to learn how
to relax quickly when faced
with stressful situations. It is
important to introduce this
concept while the child is in a
tranquil and receptive state,
as it is imperative to present
this project during peaceful
moments, allowing the child
to retain the material
more efficiently.
There are dozens of benefits in teaching
your child deep breathing to help
regulate their stress levels. This specific
method promotes deep inhalations and
cultivates a strong sense of mouth and
lung awareness, as well as, language
improvement, muscle development, and
general patience and attention span. In
general, The Dragon Breath can be used
as a remedy for crying, hyperventilation,
and anxiety in children.
Additionally, the “Relaxation Response”
is utilized by the Dragon Breath and
creates a physical & mental state of
deep relaxation that changes the bodily
and emotional responses to stress.
Children want to feel in control and
autonomous about regulating their
own emotions (and everything else for
that matter) and the Breathing Dragon
The following responses occur when
practicing the relaxation reaction in children
through The Dragon Breath:
• Their metabolism declines
• Their heart beats slower and their muscles relax
• Their breathing becomes relaxed
• Their blood pressure drops
• Their levels of nitric oxide are amplified
is a great tool to satisfy this. For
many children, deep breathing seems
unusual and it will take time and
patience for the child to automatically
refer to their Dragon Breath in
situations of need. Although, the more
you practice this technique with your
child, the more confident they will
become in using this when stressful
situations arise. Have fun and make
this an enjoyable activity to do with
the entire family!
Sarah Greene can be contacted
at www.thealicegreene.com or
954-361-3609.
SPOTLIGHTFAMILIES.COM | WINTER 2016 11