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Tense and Release

This activity can help children recognize the difference between feeling tense and feeling relaxed.

Tense and Release

Time

  • 10 to 15 minutes

Materials

  • None

Directions

  1. You can help children experience the physical changes that happen when their bodies are tense and relaxed. Lie down together on your backs and make a face holding it and then releasing quickly on command.
  2. Tighten the fingers and arms and relax in the same way, on command.
  3. Do the same thing with the legs and feet.
  4. Finally, breathe in deeply and tighten the whole body from head to toe and hold.
  5. Relax and force all of the air out of the lungs.
  6. Talk to the child about what it felt like.

Extensions

  • Let your child stand and feel your legs tensed and relaxed.
  • Repeat from a standing position.

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