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Kids Health Hint of the Month PDF Print E-mail
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Written by Lesson   
Monday, 09 June 2008 00:00
Understanding that there are healthy alternatives to smoking.

Some people who smoke cigarettes use it as a stress reliever. Teaching young children alternatives to smoking and how to deal with stress are very important. Deep breathing is an example of a healthy alternative that helps to reduce stress and can function to improve the immune system.

The following breathing activity encourages students to focus on their breathing and to use it as a useful technique to reduce feelings of stress:

- Have the students lie on their backs on the floor several feet apart from each other

- Ask students to do the following:
o Close your eyes
o Take a deep breath in and slowly release it
o Take another deep breath and hold it for 3 seconds, the next at 5 seconds… and relax
o Continue breathing deeply until the mind is cleared
o Release the breath slowly and controlled
o Continue breathing and imagine that you are sitting underneath a tree on a sunny summer day. Can you feel the warmth of the sun and a slight breeze or birds singing?
o Curl your toes up and hold them for 5 seconds… and relax
o Tense the muscles in your legs making them very stiff and hold for 5 seconds… and relax
o Remember to keep breathing deeply and slowly
o Place your hands next to your sides with your palms on the floor. Tense your arms and push your palms down onto the floor and hold for 5 seconds… and relax
o Tense the entire body and hold for 5 seconds… and relax
o Take a deep breath in and hold it for 5 seconds, the next at 3 seconds… and relax
o Breathe in and slowly release
o Now open your eyes, and slowly sit up

This health hint was taken from Lesson 28: Healthy Alternatives to Smoking

Visit www.roadoflife.org to download your free copy of the Classroom Curriculum today!
 

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