It is something that's gained a lot more traction in the last few years. Since the pandemic, everybody has felt some form of impact on their mental health. But what about the discussion around children? It is even more important to ensure that our children are able to look after their mental health. Parents and children both experience a number of stresses relating to everyday life and this is why it's critical to learn how to relax together. It's not just a way to reduce stress but it can bolster that bonding process and create wonderful, long-lasting memories. But how can parents and children learn to relax together? There are so many different approaches.

Outdoor Activities

There's plenty of benefits of being out in nature. Being in natural surroundings is instantly calming and this is because of a number of different components. For example, being out in nature is partly to do with substances called phytoncides, which are excreted by trees and plants to protect themselves, and these substances can lower the stress hormones in our blood while also activating white blood cells which stimulate our immune system. 

Additionally, there is a bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, in the soil which activates neurons that cause serotonin to be released into the brain. This results in that happy feeling. Being out in nature by going for picnics, walks or hikes is fantastic but if you've got young children who don't like too much exertion because of their tiny legs one of the best approaches is to go fishing. There are so many benefits of sitting and relaxing and it's not even about catching a fish. You can make it a complete experience for you and your child. You can prepare by hunting for the best fishing rods and equipment, but also the best fishing sunglasses to ensure that you are all prepared for your time together. Fishing is one of those things that should be done a lot more and any outdoor activity is going to benefit our health as well as our relaxation.

Cooking Together

There's a lot of anecdotal evidence about the benefits of baking or cooking. Lots of people find it is a way to get their frustrations out by needing the dough. Others feel the sense of accomplishment in creating something that makes so many people happy. Cooking or baking is a very educational experience and when you involve your children in the kitchen you are also giving them some tools that will promote a greater sense of independence as they get older. 

This is such an important thing to remember as parents. It's easy enough for us to do everything for our kids because we don't want them to make a mess or we worry that they're going to hurt themselves but if we operate with this type of approach it can easily set our kids up for stress later in life. Encouraging independence or autonomy with these types of practices will do a lot to ensure that you're not just bonding together but you are able to slowly over the years give them greater control which means that they will come a time a few years later that you can stand back and help them, rather than the other way around.

Creativity and Art

Creativity is the secret weapon when it comes to improving well-being. Children should be encouraged to express themselves and when we engage in creative activities together, we are both distracting ourselves from our everyday stresses. It allows us the opportunity to ourselves in something that is incredibly cathartic and provides other forms of emotional release. There's so many reasons why creativity is critical when you're experiencing any form of anxiety and depression. Because of the art of expression in any way we see fit means there are no limitations we can all experience benefits in our mental health. 

Creativity helps to fight anxiety because it activates parts of your brain that process your emotions. For example, if you want to create music or art, this can calm your brain activity. This would be pivotal if you are experiencing a lot of overwhelming emotions. When we all figure out the right creative outlet for us it instantly makes us feel calmer so we can then get away from those everyday emotions that can be too much to bear. This is particularly important for children. 

Arguably children have had to grow up a lot quicker in the modern day because of our access to devices and a wide variety of external influences that were not a part of most people's childhoods pre-technology. This means that as a parent who didn't grow up with a smartphone, you may benefit from engaging your child in less digitally oriented practices. Learning an instrument, drawing, painting, or any form of creativity where you are physically engaging with something also stimulates you in completely different ways. And when we see something that we've created come to fruition that sense of achievement is an amazing thing to behold.

By the way, always take some time to consider taking age-appropriate safety measures before you start an activity, especially if the children have not done it before. Check out the safety guide below.

The Right Family Exercise

We have to be careful with exercise. There's plenty of benefits of getting that heart pumping especially when it comes to endorphins and feeling good about yourself but you've got to ensure that for the purposes of relaxation, you may want to go towards things like yoga or meditation. Meditation is particularly beneficial for children and there are lots of schools that teach it. Ensuring that we engage in meditation as a family doesn't just mean that we can learn to relax but it's also an essential practice that gives us all a foundation in which to feel more relaxed in every part of our lives. 

There are some common misconceptions around meditation, for example, the fact that you have to sit there in silence and think of nothing. Meditation is more about accessing a certain state of mind by learning to let the thoughts that enter your brain pass without paying too much attention to it. This means it can take some time to learn how to do it properly but this is where plenty of meditation videos for kids and parents alike can give you the tools to do it properly. We have to remember that meditation is something we have to practice and is not something we should do only when we're feeling stressed. Do it when you're not feeling the pressures of everyday life.

Sharing Stories 

Reading is an excellent bonding activity. What we have to remember is that we should have the right reading materials that are age-appropriate, but also give us the opportunity to bond. You don't even have to read books, you can actually share stories. Learning how to tell stories at bedtime might be a difficult task for parents but it's a wonderfully soothing activity that has the added benefit of helping your children develop their language skills. 

It's something that we don't necessarily do these days as a family because we get sidetracked by the things we need to do but also the devices that loom large in our lives. It's a great way to bond and relax. When we stop and tell stories to our children it means that we're not just avoiding the temptations to check our phone constantly but it also ensures that after a difficult day taking those opportunities to sit together before going to sleep and solidifying your bond ensures you get the balance just right so you don't rely on tech to put your children to sleep, or you don't feel those temptations to check your phone while your child is drifting off into slumberland.

Learning to relax together is an amazing way to ensure the parent and child don't just get the benefits of relaxation, but also the benefits of each other.