How are you feeling today? Totally calm, full of enthusiasm and energy, or tense, anxious and hurried, even stressed, perhaps? How much is your body telling you about how you feel? I would guess that your back and shoulder muscles, tummy and breathing are quite telling – whichever feeling you are experiencing.

Now take a moment to consider how your children are feeling. Are they complaining of tummy ache, or maybe you’ve noticed them being clumsier lately? Are they more irritable before dinner and finding it hard to settle at night? All these tell-tale signs are the body’s way of communicating what is really going on inside.

How can we teach children to deal with stress?
We hear a lot about stress management in the business world, but not so much about managing stress within the family – and after all, your family is your business.

How can we manage our own stress and help our children learn to deal with the inevitable stresses of our modern world?

Mindfulness is a great place to start; practicing and then teaching ways to be in the moment and really learning to listen to the body. Those back twinges are a clear sign that you are overdoing it – so how about sitting for five minutes and focusing on your breathing?

For little ones you can find a range of fun games, which encourage breathing and focusing to introduce mindfulness into their daily lives. If you start early, you will find that by the time they hit puberty they will have successfully learned to listen to their body, know clearly how they are feeling and have the tools to manage stress as it arises. What a gift for your teens!

Introduce a breathing practice to everyday activities
Why not bring a breathing practice into everyday activities like brushing teeth, getting dressed and preparing for bed? Learning to ‘check in’ and be present for even a few breaths can make a huge difference to the body. My favourite ‘centring’ breath is this: Breathe in for 4, hold for 8 and exhale for 7. Count in regular, rhythmic beats, taking a good deep belly breath to start and holding in a relaxed manner without creating tension in the chest.

Regular stretching is a great way to check in too – I read about a child who would say ‘I feel crabby – I need to stretch,’ as she had learned by the age of three that she immediately felt so much better after some good long stretches and deep breathing (because the two always go together).

Aim to maintain a healthy, happy body
Factor in eating well and getting enough sleep and you can help maintain a healthy, happy body, whilst creating a secure routine. Planning ahead can stave off stress before it arrives.

For little ones, learning to name their emotions without labelling anything as ‘good or bad’ can bring a lot of comfort, and a sense of autonomy. We all know how frustrating it can be to be told how you feel – this is really empowering and such a gift to your child.

Give your children the power of stress management and see them thrive and grow in confidence, then sit back and enjoy your happy family life.