Joseph Fuerst

I have *tried* to teach my children breathing techniques for relaxation. My
oldest resists/fights this like crazy. We've tried doing, discussing it at
emotionally neutral times....she gets argumentative.
In the face of something painful or upsetting, if you remind her to breathe
deeply, she gets more angry and hyperventilates!!!

It's quite frustrating.
Susan, who has sympathy for most oldest children, who are most subjected
to 'experiments in parenting'



> Because we've taught them to calm themselves by breathing since they were
> babies, she does it herself matter of factly. We neither freak out nor
say
> "You're fine" when they say they're hurt or scared or whatever. And the
calm
> and communication have always been a part of it.
>

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<< I have *tried* to teach my children breathing techniques for relaxation.
>>

We didn't teach techniques, just said "Breathe."
For the babies we would say "Breathe air down to your toe!" or wherever the
wound was. Oxygen cuts the panic and helps dissipate the adrenaline.

I was impatient with "breathing techniques" in childbirth classes and from
coaches. The necessity was "breathe," and it irritated me for someone else
to say when in and when out. Even holding breath can help, with kids,
because it means the next breath in will be a big one.



Sandra

"Everything counts."
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http://expage.com/SandraDodd

Bridget

<< I have *tried* to teach my children breathing techniques for
relaxation. >>


Okay, this is going to sound really weird but . . .
. . . instead of telling them to breath in a crisis, encourage them
to exhale slowly. I discovered that I could 'cure' an asthma attack
by singing a while back and it does work in a pinch to at least get
me through until I can get an inhaler. I've used it with the kids
too. Jenni and Wyndham have both gone through me making them blow
bubble soap when they were little and in distress(see previous post
about their asthma.) I sort of understand why it works but I can't
explain it at all.

Bridget