Help Your Child Relax With These Guided Image Recordings
If your child is concerned about something — for example, about a test, a relative’s illness, or an upcoming vaccination — guided imagery can help. It is a technique that uses mental visualizations to give one more control and a greater sense of peace.
Child psychologists at Orange County Children’s Hospital use guided imagery to help children and adolescents cope with illness and stress. They have created a set of free audio recordings that you can play anytime you want. Thinking of “good things,” as the site explains, “is like changing the channel on your TV to what you really want to watch, or turning up or down the volume of your body to a level that is more comfortable for you.”
Before starting visualization, ask your child to close their eyes and take three to five deep belly breaths.
Some examples of recording guided images :
- For pain relief in young children , listen to Special Cake. Sample Line: “As you take another deep breath, notice the sweet smell of the delicious frosting.”
- To cope with pain for teens , listen to Climbing the Ladder. Example line: “Let’s take a look at the first step. Becoming on it, you begin to remember the time when you realize that you can control your body. “
- If you are concerned about it , listen to The Magic Serpent. Sample line: “All unpleasant feelings, sadness, anger, pain or anxiety are all on earth, and you fly away from it.”
As your child redirects his thoughts, have him notice how his body is feeling — his breathing may slow down and his muscles may relax. Remind them that they can use guided imagery any time they need an instant mental exit.