Guest post by Julie Morris
Image via Pexels
Kids absorb more tension than we notice, and without a way to release it, that energy turns inward. Their behavior isn’t random—it’s often a signal of overload. Resetting doesn’t always mean resting. It can mean moving, scribbling, sorting, or staring into space without demand. They don’t need fixing. They need frictionless ways to come back to themselves.
Get Outside: Let the World Be Quiet for a Minute
Nature offers something your house can’t: silence that moves. Kids don’t always need a parkour-style sprint to reset—they need trees that don’t need them, grass that sways on its own timeline. Researchers describe the fascination in green spaces as “soft,” not because it’s weak, but because it gently pulls attention outward. The effect isn’t instant, but give it 15 minutes. Sit under a tree. Don’t schedule it. Just let their senses track birds, wind, and uneven ground. A child who’s been sprinting mentally all day doesn’t need more tasks—they need frictionless wonder. And green space delivers that with no passwords and no parental performance pressure.
Save the Masterpieces Without the Clutter
Those finger paintings? The handprint turkeys? The drawing of your dog with six legs? They mean something. But they pile up fast. Instead of letting them vanish in the bottom of a junk drawer, consider archiving them. Saving artwork as a PDF creates a digital keepsake that can be shared with family or preserved for years without the physical clutter. You can check this one out — a free tool that lets you drag and drop scanned files, turning them into clean, easy-to-store digital copies.
Give Them a Journal
When kids put thoughts to paper—whether they’re writing, doodling, or scribbling emoji-style faces—they’re externalizing emotion, organizing inner noise, and making space for new thoughts to come in. You don’t have to read it. In fact, you probably shouldn’t. This is about ownership. One page a day. No rules, no grades, no “draw a rainbow with six colors” worksheets. Just paper and pen. Over time, they may write more. They may not. Either way, the practice of recording daily scraps of thought or image creates a self-care groove they’ll carry into teenhood. It’s simple and surprisingly effective: a journal provides emotional space when conversation feels too heavy or fuzzy.
Encourage Freeform, Unstructured Play
(and Walk Away)
Not all rest looks restful. Sometimes the reset comes from more movement—but only if they’re the one in charge. Let them build with couch cushions, dress dolls in winter hats, or turn the hallway into a dinosaur habitat. It might look chaotic to you, but this kind of child-led play gives their nervous system a chance to work through big feelings without adult framing. The key is that it’s theirs. No objectives. No prize. Just raw creation. When a child can invent, destroy, and rebuild their own world, they’re also processing the one around them.
Let Art Slow the Pulse
Paint. Markers. Stickers. And a table that doesn’t ask questions. Art isn’t just cute output—it’s often the first time a kid externalizes a tangled emotion they couldn’t name. When you invite mindful drawing—not “make a tree,” but “draw whatever your hand wants”—you’re giving their body permission to lead the mind. This isn’t about creativity; it’s about calming through sensation. Studies show that creative focus through art can steady breathing and attention span, especially in kids who struggle to articulate stress. Keep a small bin of materials in reach, but not on display. This should feel like relief, not an assignment.
Movement That Isn’t a Sport
Not every kid wants a team jersey. Some just need to stretch, roll, tumble, or march around the backyard with their arms out like helicopter blades. Movement shouldn’t always mean drills or lessons—it can be wiggly, weird, or quiet. A good physical reset meets a child’s energy exactly where it is, then helps it shift. If they’re sluggish, try a skipping game. If they’re buzzing, lead them in slow, deliberate stretches. It’s not a workout. It’s an exhale. Daily movement improves kids’ mental clarity and emotional regulation more than most parents realize. The trick? You have to let them move like themselves—not like tiny gym members.
Kids don’t reset on command. But they do respond to rhythm, sensory space, and moments where they aren’t being asked to perform. These resets aren’t tricks. They’re tools—honest, repeatable, and quiet enough to let their systems breathe. When they know how to return to stillness, they don’t just feel better. They grow steadier. And steadiness is the soil where everything else grows.
Discover a world of inspiration and self-care at Be as One, where you can explore resources to elevate your wellness journey and embrace a more connected, creative life.
Read my other blog, Louisa May Alcott is My Passion
NEW MUSIC!
Susan’s new release, Amazing Grace” is now available!
Available on Amazon, Spotify, iTunes and YouTube
River of Grace Audio book with soundtrack music available now on Bandcamp.
Listen to the preface of the book, and all the songs.
Many people find coloring to be a wonderful way to relax and experience harmony in their lives. Is that you?
Be as One 