THE FROG'S METHOD TO HELP RELAX AND IMPROVE ATTENTION IN CHILDREN

Children today have a frantic pace of life, and just like adults we need activities to lower the revolutions and disconnect, the little ones too.

We tell you what it is frog method, a meditation method created especially for young children by the Dutch therapist Eline Snel, author of the best seller 'Quiet and attentive as a frog', edited by Kairós. You can put it into practice at home with your children to help them relax and improve attention, ideal for when children are restless or easily distracted.

Training attention

His book 'Calm and attentive as a frog' is a best seller that has been published in more than 40 countries and in 20 different languages, and is a reference in the world of mindfulness for children. In some schools they already put it into practice to ensure that the little ones are more attentive and calm.

The idea of writing it came about due to the sleep problems of her little daughter, who told her that she could not fall asleep because although she was tired, her mind did not disconnect.

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Their minds are full of stimuli, they have too many obligations, school, extra-school activities, homework, which often makes it difficult for them to relax and spend a little time doing nothing. They may have trouble concentrating and even falling asleep at night, even if their bodies are tired.

Eline proposes breathing and relaxation exercises for children focusing on attention. In this way, children train attention in a playful way, becoming aware of whether their mind is calm or not. Throughout his experience he has been able to verify the benefits of his program:

It helps improve attention
It helps reduce anxiety and stress in children
Promotes relaxation and rest
Reduce impulsive behavior
Promotes self-knowledge and self-confidence
Promotes communication between children
It favors learning

Frog symbol It has its raison d'être, since it is easy to follow the frogs' breath and they are able to remain still for a long time, but always attentive to their surroundings. It only moves when necessary taking a great leap, implying that we can be very still but our thoughts can make great leaps.

Calm and attentive like a frog. Meditation for children ... With their parents (Psychology) + 1 CD-DAIn Amazon for € 18.52

Putting it into practice

In young children, attention exercises are performed in sessions of 3 to 10 minutes. If they are very small it is preferable not to exceed five minutes.

The method consists of a program of 8 to 10 weeks, it is thought children from 5 to 19 years, with a manual of activities and meditations according to each age group.

But we can also put it into practice at home. In the book we can find a program with exercises, breaths and activities to do at home with children from 5 to 12 years old, accompanied by a CD with eleven guided meditations.

They are simple exercises designed for the little ones. Among those that he proposes we find, for example, "The pause button", which you can press at any time you want or "A safe place", that children can visualize a place where they feel safe and calm, and stand there when need.

The frog exercise

To start the world of mindfulness to children, you can start with this simple exercise. Sitting comfortably in a chair or on the floor with a cushion, with your back straight and relaxed and your feet flat on the floor. They can close their eyes or squint them.

"A frog feels very still while watching what happens. If you feel like a frog you only move for what you really need. The frog is sitting still, motionless, and when it breathes its belly swells a little and then sinks from again. She realizes everything that happens around her, but does not react. She is still sitting calmly and attentively. "
"Imagine you are a frog and you are sitting just like her. Your body is still, your head is still, your mouth is still, your eyes are still, your arms are still, your hands are still. If something moves from your body nothing happens, we only realize that it moves. You also have to realize that if you breathe, that your body moves, your gut moves. Put your hands on your gut and breathe and inspire. Now you can also notice in the breath in your nose. Put your little hands on your nose. And we breathe and inspire. It is important to imitate a frog so that you are attentive and calm like her. "

If you want to know more about Eline Snel's work, here is an interview for the 'Learn Together' initiative:

If you have teenage children, we recommend 'Breathe' the second book by Eline Snel, a book about mindfulness for parents with teenage children, which includes audio meditations for parents and exercises for children.