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In their Exchange article, "Relaxation: Every Child's Right to Simply Be," Patrice Thomas and Wendy Sheppard from New South Wales, Australia, make these observations:

"We live in a world that is undergoing rapid and dramatic change, and our children are being placed under more and more stress �" at home, in care settings, and at school. Children's time is now more and more directed by adults, and there is little time for children to contemplate, reflect, or simply be. Without this balance of child-centred and teacher-directed play, children's health, well-being, and development are affected by the negative and damaging effects of stress. Some of these include long hours in a range of care settings and spending time with a number of caregivers, overstimulation and noise, the general fast pace of life, extracurricular activities, and family situations such as the separation or divorce of parents or adjusting to blended families....

"Much research to date has focused on stress and stress management strategies for adults in work and home settings. However, little research has been directed at how we can incorporate holistic stress management ideas into our curricula for young children.... Relaxation techniques are simple and easy to incorporate into early childhood programmes and provide valuable life skills for the children in our care....

"Relaxation helps children to slow down and to calm and quiet their bodies and their minds. Relaxation experiences are soothing and restorative for young children. We can teach children to handle stress through gentle exercise and techniques that provide inner peace and security.... We believe that before the mind can relax, the body must learn to relax. Our approach is different to that of most other practitioners as it involves the use of gentle exercise (Tai Chi movements) to relax the body, followed by progressive relaxation and visualization exercises to relax the mind, emotions, and spirit. The techniques we use are gentle and have been practiced for many years in a range of health and education settings. Teachers do not need specialist knowledge to implement these exercises as they are simple and easy to learn.

"Tai Chi or gentle exercise is an ancient form of slow, repetitive movements which bring the body back into balance and harmony. Tai Chi simply defined is "moving meditation" and, as such, creates peace, harmony, calm, and quietness in children. Tai Chi also promotes good posture, muscle tone, flexibility, and suppleness. We have practiced Tai Chi exercises with children from two years of age and have found that most children love the repetition and flow of the movements....

"Progressive relaxation and visualization practices can be used successfully with young children as a follow up to their Tai Chi practice. Progressive relaxation involves focusing the attention on the different parts of the body and using rhythmical breathing to help the muscles relax. It is important that adults keep their terminology and instructions short and simple here. Visualization or guided imagery involves the children engaging in an experience led by a teacher which creates a relaxing story or scene in their imaginations. These stories are often related to scenes from nature, imaginary friends, animals, and pets. The scripts can be created by adults or children.

"It is important to create a quiet time for children each day, that doesn't have the stressful associations that sleep time can often give. In quiet time, children learn to value learning to just "be" and to experience stillness, reflection, and calmness. These opportunities give children time away from busy routines and overstimulation from noise and activity during the day."

"Relaxation: Every Child's Right to Simply Be" is the first of 22 articles in the latest Exchange publication, Child Development II.

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