As an advocate for children with learning disabilities and sensory issues, it's crucial to understand the impact of meltdown mode on sensory processing. Overstimulated children with sensory issues may respond to stress, causing a "flight or fight" response.
Belly breathing, a natural dyaphragmatic breathing sequence, is crucial for reducing stress and anxiety. Adults often don't breathe deep enough like babies, leading to increased stress and anxiety. To improve, focus on deeper breaths and pull air down into the belly.
These types of deep breaths can benefit your child in the following ways:
– Calms the body
– Relieves pain
– Detoxifies the body
– Improves posture (important for gross motor skills and core muscle)
– Increases blood flow
Here are the steps to follow for better ANB:
1. Ask your child to close their right nostril with their right thumb, breathing out completely through the left side of the nose.
2. Inhale very slowly through the left nostril.
3. Now, close the left nostril with left thumb (while the right nostril is still closed with the right thumb) and hold the air they inhaled for a few seconds.
4. Remove the thumb from right nostril and exhale slowly.
5. Inhale through the right side of the nose.
6. Repeat cycle for up to 20 cycles and keep practicing.