Sophrology is not just for adults. It can be beneficial to children for the management of many problems. In which cases can sophrology be considered for a child? What are its benefits ? What sophrology exercises to practice with a child? Answers with Sonia Aritzu, sophrologist.

Sophrology brings together a set of techniques that help the individual to become aware of everything that is happening in him and around him, to connect to himself and to others. “Through relaxation, breathing or even mental visualization, sophrology can act on stress, emotions but also self-confidence,” explains Sonia Aritzu.

Children can practice sophrology from 4 or 5 years old. “It will depend on its maturity because relaxation therapy requires a minimum of concentration. Some children can be receptive from 3 years old, others later ”, explains the sophrologist.

In children, sophrology can be useful in case of:

• stress or anxiety;
• sleeping troubles ;
• concentration and memorization problems at school. “Excessive use of screens is often the cause”, observes the specialist;
• eating disorders ;
• OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder);
• psychosomatic illnesses;
• hyperactivity;
• aggressiveness.

The session begins with discussions with the parents and the child to find out what is wrong. The parents explain the reason for the consultation and the child can in turn say in his own words why he is there. Once this time for discussion has elapsed, the parents leave the office and the sophrologist finds himself face to face with the child. From that moment on, the session is organized in three stages: “during the first minutes, I invite the child to let off steam, to get rid of his tensions and then to refocus on his body and his breathing. Then, I offer him little exercises to help him better manage his daily problem. Then, the child ends the session by expressing his experience either through words or through a drawing. I debrief the parents at the end of the session”, Explains Sonia Aritzu.

Sophrology exercises with a child are based on breathing, the five senses, mental visualization, relaxation, movements or even games. “Sophrology sessions with children are very fun, the child should not feel constrained”, Points out the sophrologist.

The practice of sophrology promotes the development of the child in several areas:

• it stimulates his creativity;
• it encourages autonomy;
• it strengthens the awareness of his body, his emotions and sensations;
• it gives him practical tools to relax, calm down, manage his emotions and let go;
• it strengthens self-confidence;
• it helps him to communicate better with others;
• it decreases somatization.

“My role is to show the child that he has within him the tools to get better and that he can use them as soon as he feels the need, that is to say when he is in. anger, when he is anxious or when he cannot sleep, for example, ”summarizes the specialist.

The goal of sophrology sessions is to show the child and his parents exercises that they can put into practice on a daily basis at home or at school as soon as they wish. “Sophrology can be included in everyday life”.

The candle exercise

This exercise should always be performed in the presence of an adult. The child lights a candle and then gently blows on the flame without extinguishing it. When the child slowly blows on the exhalation, he releases his emotions and sends them back to the flame to burn them. At the end, the child can put out the candle and make a wish. “This exercise helps to work on breathing, especially the long and gentle exhalation which contributes to relaxation”.

The paper ball exercise

The child writes or draws on a sheet of paper representing his anger. He then crumples it into a ball and then throws it out while exhaling, and this, as many times as necessary, as if to free himself from this anger. When the child feels relieved, he throws the ball of paper in the trash. “The ideal is to make a bin specially designed to receive these paper balls, a bin that ‘eats negative emotions“, suggests Sonia Aritzu.

The exercise of the contraction of the body

Sophrology is also more discreet exercises, which the child can reproduce anywhere without being “spotted”.

For example, when he feels anger, anxiety or stress overwhelming him, he contracts the whole body while inhaling then blocks his breath for a few seconds (counting 1,2,3,4) then releases the whole body on the expiration. By repeating the operation several times, the child relieves himself of his negative emotions.