Teaching kids relaxation skills through stories is a playful way to help children learn how to relax. My Listen, Relax, Create approach blends storytelling, mindfulness and relaxation techniques, and creative activities. These skills can help children develop lifelong tools for managing stress and their emotions.
Listen is the first step in the Listen, Relax and Create approach. However, these stories can be listened to by themselves or done alongside the other activities. Whatever works for you and your child. You’ll find a list of my relaxation stories and activities below.
Read More: RELAX: Mindfulness and Relaxation for Kids
Listen – Engaging the Active Imagination
How it Works:
- Start with reading or listening to a relaxation story
- Use soft, soothing narration and encourage kids to close their eyes and picture the story.
- Incorporate sensory-rich details
🔹 Why? Listening to stories builds focus, attention, and emotional connection to relaxation skills.
🔹 Why? Promotes Relaxation & Sleep – Using a relaxation story at bedtime can be a great way to wind down and improve sleep quality.
🔹 Why? Develops Emotional Regulation – Teaches kids through stories to manage stress and feelings in a fun, imaginative way.
You’ll find list of my relaxation stories and activities below:
- Gloopus the Snail and the Mud Bath – Printable Kit, Audio on Insight Timer and Video on YouTube
- Molly the Unicorn – Printable Kit, Audio on Insight Timer
- The Relaxed Gingerbread Man – Audio on Insight Timer and Video on Youtube
- The Feelings Hotel
Create – Expressing Relaxation Through Art & Play
How it Works:
- Let kids draw, paint, or craft something inspired by the story.
- Encourage kids to practice Mindful Movement moving like the characters to improve body awareness..
- Make a Relaxation Storybook or Scrapbook. Kids could create their own characters and calming adventures.
🔹 Why? Creativity helps children process and regulate emotions and express themselves in a healthy way. Combining creativity with the practicing relaxation consolidates the learning in a memorable way.
Engaging in creative activities supports overall well being and can help to reduce stress and boost self esteem
You may like: My list of Calming Crafts for Kids
I hope you and your children enjoy my relaxation stories and that using the Listen, Relax, Create approach is helpful. I am really passionate about kids learning relaxation skills and ways to manage feelings in a playful and memorable way. Take care Emma 🙂
