“Be a Tree” – A Grounding Exercise for Children

Contributing writer for Wake Up World

This simple grounding exercise helps children feel stable, calm, and focused.

Trees provide the perfect example of the importance of staying grounded to be strong. Grounding does for us what roots do for trees. When we are grounded, we feel strong and able to handle anything that comes our way, just like the roots of the trees hold them steady when the strong winds blow.

Often times, simply being out in Nature, hugging a tree, or barefoot on the grass is enough to stabilize and calm our energy. But, sometimes we need to do more.

“Be a Tree”

Try imagining yourself as a tree.

Imagine your back as a trunk and that you have long roots that grow from the bottom of your feet, deep into the Earth.

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If you’re able, stand with feet planted on the ground. If you can’t stand, sitting or lying down will work too.

Grounding works well when we bring awareness to our bodies. To do this, squeeze your muscles as tight as you can and hold them like that for a moment.

Holding your breath, clench your toes, your fists, your leg muscles, your butt cheeks, your tummy, and even your face.

Then let it all out with a big exhale, imagining all this energy you were hanging on to is flowing out of your body, down through your roots, and into the Earth.

Now shake any of this excess energy out of your hands.

Repeat this exercise several times until you feel calm.

If you can think of something in particular that has either upset you, or made you feel angry, you can imagine this anger, worry, or pain, all balled up in your hands.

Make fists, and with a deep inhale, lift your fists up high above your head, and with a big, long exhale, drop your hands down and “throw” this anger into the Earth.

Once again, shake this excess energy out of your hands.

Repeat this several times until you no longer feel so angry or upset, and on the last time, do it very slowly and deliberately.

We can also simply imagine ourselves with a trunk and tree roots reaching down into the Earth. Whenever we feel insecure, scared, nervous, or anxious, we can imagine everything that is worrying us to flow down our trunk, through our roots, and into the Earth where it is dissolved.

This can be done anytime, anywhere, and is always helpful.

Use your imagination and be as creative as you like with your “trunk” and your “roots”. Picture them anyway you like. There is no wrong way to do this, it just has to feel right for you.

Tips for staying grounded:

Limit time spent on electronic devices, as these quickly un-ground our children. Although there is nothing wrong with learning how to use these devices, a little time on them goes a long way.

When waiting somewhere, play “I spy” or ask one another questions.

When on car trip, look out the window and notice your surroundings. Focusing on what is around us and what we notice with our physical senses helps to keep us grounded.

Artificial stimulation such as television and media tend to cause our children to absorb energy that isn’t theirs, and often needs to be released through physical activity or an exercise such as this one.

Limiting the time that you spend on social media will set an example for your children to follow.

A regular routine of daily chores is also crucial in keeping children grounded.

Chores help develop problem-solving skills, self-confidence, a sense of accomplishment, and purpose. They will feel more connected to their life and the everyday tasks that life requires, as well as feel as though they are contributing to the family home. It is when doing chores that many lessons can be learned in an easy manner.

Encourage conversation, share what you know, no matter how small it may seem. This engages children.

When possible, involve your kids when you are doing chores or other everyday tasks. This is valuable time when you can connect. I heard many intriguing stories, learned valuable life lessons, and have had some of my most enjoyable memories from working alongside my parents.

I hope that you have found this helpful! I would love to hear from you. You can contact me via my website www.jessieklassen.com. While there, feel free to subscribe to my free weekly “ish” newsletter where I share advice, wisdom and lessons that I have learned from my life lived close to Nature.

Much love,
Jessie

This grounding exercise for children is excerpted from Jessie Klassen’s new children’s book, “The Sapling”, now available worldwide on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.

The Sapling: An Inspiring Story From the Trees

By Jessie Klassen…

Learn how to communicate with Nature while enjoying fun activities and energy exercises that will encourage spiritual growth, self-confidence, and awareness in you and your child while developing a close relationship with Nature.

In “The Sapling”, author Jessie Klassen offers an inspiring story from the Trees for the children of Earth, with vivid, full colour Nature illustrations that will appeal to younger children and provide valuable Life lessons that will grow with your child — just like a Tree! Full colour demonstrations easily display dozens of activities and exercises for you and your child to enjoy.

“The Sapling” is the first book in Jessie’s Nature Child Children’s Book Series, committed to helping children grow into who they truly are meant to be through a close relationship with Nature. You can get your copy here.

A portion of proceeds are donated to the TreeSisters and the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

Recommended articles by Jessie Klassen:

About the author:

Jessie Klassen is a writer, farmer, and the mother of 3 sensitive children. She is also a Reiki Master and empath herself, who is committed to raising her children in an accepting and spiritually-connected environment, grounded in Nature. Through her work, Jessie is inspired to help others connect with the magic of Nature to rediscover the magic of their own lives.

Jessie released her first children’s book, “The Sapling” in 2017. It is the story of a little sapling who with the help of a wise old tree, overcomes her fears of growing big and becomes the tree she is meant to be!

You can connect with Jessie at jessieklassen.com, follow her on Facebook, or contact Jessie via email here.

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