Child Learn To Listen To Your Body

Hello,

This is Carrie.

Now you can listen to this while you're in bed or you can listen to it in the car or even if you just want to sit and relax and listen.

But I want to let you know that your body is your friend.

It tells you lots of things.

For example,

It tells you when you're tired and you'll yawn this big yawn.

Your stomach growls to let you know when you're hungry.

And sometimes you'll get these goose bumps all over your arms or legs when your body lets you know that I'm cold.

And all these things,

They happen all on its own without you needing to do anything at all.

And you may not even notice that it's happening.

But you can start to pay attention to your body.

When you pay attention and listen to your body,

You begin to notice many different sensations.

Sensations are the physical feelings we all have inside and outside of our bodies.

Let me give you some examples.

You could have a sensation of feeling really cold.

You could have a sensation of being really sweaty and hot.

And you can have a sensation where you feel so strong,

Almost like a superhero.

And then at other times,

You could almost feel like you're out of breath.

So those are just some examples of sensations.

Have you ever felt these sensations before?

I'm sure you have.

And you know what?

The sensations in your body are always changing.

There are times when your body just wants to wiggle.

You just want to like squirm around,

Almost like you've got ants in your pants.

Heard that saying before?

Now at other times,

Your body can feel so calm and still.

Like when you wake up first thing in the morning,

You're lying there in bed,

So calm and still.

You're aware that you're awake,

But your body is so calm and still.

You're not aware of the right hand and fingers,

Or even that left foot.

You know,

You can also listen to your body for clues about how you feel about the things that are happening around you.

I like to think of it as your spidey senses.

They tell you when things are not good or bad.

They're something we all experience.

So those feelings tell you when you're curious,

When you're grumpy,

When you're proud,

Or when you're scared.

And that's normal.

Everyone has these feelings every once in a while.

And you know what I have learned?

I've learned from listening to my body that the sensations and feelings,

They go together.

Like I noticed when I went on a roller coaster ride for the first time,

I was super excited that I was tall enough to go on that ride.

And at the same time,

I felt a little nervous as I climbed on board and pulled back that safety bar that squished against my belly.

And you know what?

My belly was full of butterflies.

That's right.

It literally felt like my stomach was full of butterflies.

And that was such an amazing sensation.

What sensations maybe you have noticed when you're excited or nervous?

Interesting.

And you know what?

When I got off that roller coaster ride,

My body was buzzing and tingling all over.

My eyes were big,

Like flying saucers.

And my face had a huge smile on it from ear to ear.

It felt awesome.

Have you ever felt that way before?

Now,

Sometimes when I'm sad,

I can feel like there's a lump in my throat.

It makes it hard to talk.

Sometimes even breathe.

And warm tears can roll down my face.

And I may start to cry harder.

But you know what,

Sweetie?

Crying makes me feel better.

And you know what makes me feel even better?

A nice warm hug.

That's right.

A hug from someone that I know really cares about me and wants me to be safe.

Wants me to be happy and to feel loved.

And you know what?

We all feel sad at times.

What do you need to do when you're sad?

You know,

Our sensations and feelings can almost feel like ocean waves.

Some can come crashing in.

While other feelings and sensations,

It has a gentle,

Easy roll.

So you know what?

These feelings and sensations,

They always come and go.

We can't stop the waves in the ocean.

Just the same way we can't stop the sensations and feelings within our body.

But we can pay attention to them so they don't knock us over.

You know,

When I was little,

I had brothers.

And one time,

One of my brothers destroyed the puzzle that I was working on all afternoon.

You know what happened?

My skin got burning hot.

My fists turned into rocks.

And I was so angry.

I wanted to stomp my feet.

I wanted to kick something.

I was so mad.

But then I remembered to take a deep breath and hold it for the count of three.

And then blow the air out through my lips.

I did it again.

And again.

And again.

And my hands started to relax.

My skin began to cool down.

And those angry feelings and sensations,

They just faded away.

I was blowing them out.

Then I decided to pick up my puzzle and put it in a place where my brother could not touch it.

And that made me feel good.

In fact,

It made me feel pride in myself.

And you know what?

I remember when I was little,

And it was my first day of school.

I woke up super early because I couldn't stop thinking about what my new class would be like or the new kids I would meet.

And I kind of felt overwhelmed.

Do you know what I mean?

It was kind of like my stomach was tied in knots.

So I didn't eat breakfast.

And I should have eaten my breakfast.

Because when I was in class,

I found it was hard for me to focus.

My teacher was talking,

And my body was shaky.

Then it came time for all us kids to line up,

Then it came time for all us kids to line up,

To go outside for recess.

And I bumped my desk.

And I knocked stuff all over the floor.

I felt embarrassed.

I thought everything was going wrong today.

But my teacher,

She was so sweet and kind.

She helped me pick up my things off the ground.

And she reminded me to do my deep breaths.

To hold it for three seconds and to slowly let the air out.

And then she told me that our brains have a hard time thinking when our bodies are tired and hungry.

So she said,

I think you need a snack.

And maybe a place to rest for a little bit.

While the kids play outside.

And you know what?

She was right.

I ate my snack.

I calmed down.

And then I was able to focus.

And then you know what?

The rest of my day went so much better.

I was really happy.

So it's okay to get help when you need it.

Who is an adult that helps you?

Ooh,

That person must be very special.

Yes.

Good.

You know,

We have all these feelings.

And all these sensations.

It is our body's way of telling us what's going on.

So we need to listen to our bodies.

We can pay attention to our breathing.

Is it fast or slow?

And what about our heartbeat?

What about the temperature of your skin?

Or any other sensations?

Like maybe your body tells you,

Am I hungry or thirsty?

Am I tired?

Do I need to take a nap?

Or am I full of energy?

And is your belly soft and relaxed?

Or is it tight and tense?

These are some of the questions you can ask yourself to discover how your body is feeling.

You can also try to name your feelings.

Do you feel frustrated or confused?

Or do you feel playful and peaceful?

Do you feel cranky and upset?

Or do you feel happy and joyful?

There are many different ways.

That you can be feeling throughout your day.

And all those feelings are okay.

Listening to your body and naming what you feel.

It does take practice.

But it helps you figure out what you need.

Do you need to have a snack?

Do you need to drink some water?

Do you need to get some rest?

Do you need to take a few deep breaths?

Or do you need to sing your favorite song?

What do you need?

Do you need to sit down in a quiet place and be alone?

Or do you need to go outside and play with your friends?

Maybe you want to color or draw or dance or snuggle or play with your pet.

Or maybe just hang out with someone you love.

You know,

The more you practice listening to your body,

The better it gets.

And the easier it is for you to understand yourself.

As well as asking for help and support when you need it.

And always remember to take good care of your body.

And always remember to take good care of your body.

To be kind to yourself.

Because listening to your body is something you can do.

Your body is your friend.

I hope you enjoyed this time with me today.

And I hope you enjoy listening to your body and discovering different ways that you feel.

So thank you.

And have a great day.