Most people would agree that kids need to move too. Stretching is a fun way to do that, but it is also healthy. Take it from a former Olympic athlete, building the habit of stretching early on in kids is a great thing. The stretching song is a good start, but you need some tips to keep things moving forward once the stretching song stops. Stretching has so many benefits for kids, but we miss out on educating them.
Benefits of Stretching for Kids
The Stretching Song
The stretching song is a fun way to introduce kids to the world of stretching. The song itself is fun and a benefit because there is no reason that adults can’t do it with the kids. The stretching song is like any other children’s song, but instead of kids just singing and stomping along they are learning how to move.
Early Meditation Practice
It has been proven that all humans can benefit from meditation. In Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss, it stated that 80% of successful people he interviewed in the book practice some form of mindfulness. It is never too early to teach someone to be still. A kid will only learn to be still and to relax by being shown.
Remeber that just because something is hard to do that does not mean there is no value in it. Some kids will want to do the opposite of being mindful, and that is ok. Over time they will get better, and one day they will look back and see the benefits.
Get In Tune With The Body
You only get one body throughout your life, and you have to take care of it. We teach kids to take care of their teeth, we teach them about math and reading but why don’t we do the same with muscles? Why don’t we teach them about what the human body can do and how to take care of it?
Kids need to understand their body and how it works. When they are stretching, it gives them the opportunity to stop and think about how things feel. When they stretch, does it feel good? If it hurts when does the pain start? Get them to think through how their bodies are working.
Controlled Breathing
The compelling thing about controlled breathing is that it teaches us all that we have more power than we realize. Breath is something that we just let happen in the background, but we can own it. When we own our breathing, it reminds us that we can also own our emotions and our attitude.
When people are having trouble with kids, they often get annoyed. Stretching teaches them to breathe. It shows them to take life at a slower pace, and they will be able to see and understand more. Kids can do much more than we give them credit for.
Tips to Improve Stretching Experience for Kids
Use Stretching Song for High Energy Moments
The stretching song is great for high energy parts of the day where you want to calm kids down a bit. It is not great for doing before bed. You run the risk of building up too much excitement before bed. That does not mean you cannot stretch before bed though.
Stretch in Groups and Alone
Kids need to learn how to stretch in groups because it requires more focus. It can also be more comfortable to focus once kids see other kids concentrate on what they are doing. It is essential that they also stretch alone. Whether you playing the stretching song or not does not matter. The key here is learning to focus alone and with other people
Stretch In Front of The TV Sometimes
Teach your kids that is ok to stretch while watching TV. It is not great for focus, but it is better to stretch in front of the TV rather than not do it at all. As an athlete, this is how I killed three birds with one stone in college. I would stretch and watch TV with my friends because we did not have a lot of spare time. I got to stretch, be entertained and work on my social life. It never became an everyday thing, but it still is useful sometimes.
Stretch After Bath Time
When you get your kids in a nice warm bath, and you are starting to get them ready for bed. That is the perfect time to start stretching. The reason is that the muscles are nice and warm and the stretching song will only help to relax them further. The key is to use the most relaxing music you can find at this time.
Need More Help For Your Kids?
9INE POINT Health is a great place to start looking for healthcare providers for musculoskeletal issues. Whether you need help finding a healthcare provider that can help with stretching or a chiropractor that can work with your kids, 9INE POINT Health can help you. 9INE POINT is one of the most comprehensive search databases on the internet for holistic medicine. Kids are too young for the pills and surgeries of traditional medicine in many cases. 9INE POINT Health helps you find more natural options.
KHO Health was acquired by was acquire by 9INE POINT in the summer of 2019 and is now referred to as 9INE POINT Health.
9INE POINT Health was created by 9INE POINT in '19 as a means to provide athlete-driven resources to "Protect Athletes' Minds, Body and Belly". As well as be a platform for healthcare providers and other specialists to display their knowledge.
