Kids with
Kids with special needs benefit from Tai Chi. Because Tai Chi works on the inside of the body it helps to relieve the sense of inner turmoil and confusion that gets us off balance. It can alleviate stomachaches, nervousness, fear, anger and frustration. It helps improve focus, concentration and self-control
Tai Chi Moves for Kids slows us down so we can think and feel. It is not complicated. It doesn’t have to be done exactly right. There is no competition. No race to be first. No need to be best. The important thing is to relax, feel the energy and find a feeling of peace. As we slow our movements down the internal energy can flow to all parts of the body. The visualization is peaceful. There is a nice warm feeling inside.
A study at the University of Miami, Touch Research Institute showed that adolescents with ADHD showed improved behavior, less daydreaming and hyperactivity after just 10 sessions of Tai Chi.
Kids with sever physical disabilities can do the moves sitting, lying down, using just the legs or arms or even just the trunk of the body. The results have been outstanding. The children feel the internal flow of energy.
An elementary school teacher in Brooklyn who trained with me, used the Tai Chi for Kids program with her special needs students. The whole class learned Tai Chi. The children were encouraged to ask for a 5 minute Tai Chi break whenever the class was getting noisy or undisciplined. Even Louis, the most difficult child with very low self-esteem and aggressive behavior learned that Tai Chi could make him feel better. The study was done by the teacher for her master’s thesis, using the Connors Scale. It showed that Louis improved in behavior, concentration, self-esteem, cooperation and learning.
Blind children have said they love the visualization and the imitation of nature. One blind student said, after 20 minutes of Tai Chi, “I realize that I need to visualize more. It is very powerful.”
Autistic children love the warm feeling inside as well as the visualization which helps to understand the world and their own feelings. An autistic girl stood on one foot to tie her shoe. She looked at her mother. “I can do it because I do Tai Chi.” She felt proud. she had learned to focus on the root at the bottom of her foot to gain stability and balance. Her new self-esteem led to more success.
A 5 year old boy with autism loved Tai chi although he had trouble verbalizing what he felt. When he told me he liked it when we put the flashlight in his tummy I knew what he meant. He felt the warm energy moving inside of him like a bright light.
Kids with ADD and ADHD gain self-control as they learn techniques to get the attention they need in a healthy way. They learn skills to anticipate outburst, anger or frustration. They understand their own needs and how to control them and focus on the task at hand. Teachers report a marked improvement in the behavior of children who learn the Tai Chi. A 5 minute Tai Chi break helps students who are normally disruptive calm down. Tai Chi can be the perfect outlet for their hyper activity
Studies have shown that Tai Chi helps middle school students who exhibit violence or aggressive behavior become calmer. (2002 Adolescence. Vol 36, Issue 143) (Adolescence. Volume 33, Issue 1) (Human Relations, Volume 39, Issue 12)
Tai Chi helps all students get in touch with their own feelings. They begin to anticipate an emotion that is coming on so they are prepared to handle it. As they gain self-control they begin to believe in themselves.
When we begin to understand ourselves it is easier to cooperate and understand others.
For more information on studies on Tai Chi and Children
I hope you will read some of the success stories of children’s reactions to simplified Tai Chi practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Tai Chi can be adapted for everyone. It is as much an exercise for the mind as it is for the body. Even without physical movement, we can focus, breathe, visualize, and experience the flow of chi — the body’s natural energy.
I’ve had the privilege of teaching Tai Chi for Kids to children in wheelchairs, to quadriplegic students, and to those who are blind or deaf. The practice of visualization is so powerful that everyone can benefit. After working with a severely disabled adolescent at school, her teachers told me that Tai Chi for Kids was the first activity she had responded to positively — she wanted to do it again and again.
Yes. The relaxation and energy flow as we do Tai Chi can greatly reduce stress and anxiety. Many people find that the calm focus of Tai Chi helps quiet racing thoughts and release tension in the body. Research, including studies supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH),
shows that Tai Chi and Qigong can reduce symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression while improving overall mood and emotional balance.
My first experience teaching Tai Chi to children was with two young adolescents on the autism spectrum. I worked with each of them one-on-one for many months. The results were remarkable.
Both became more outgoing and responsive, proud of their improved balance and growing confidence. In time, both went on to college and found fulfilling paths in life.
The self-esteem, new ideas, interests and enthusiasm they developed through Tai Chi inspired me to create a program that could benefit everyone. That is where Tai Chi for Kids was born. And eventually, my book Tai Chi for Kids and the Adults Who Love Them, also.
Studies show that Tai Chi:
- improves motor skills
- increases attention and focus
- reduces impulsivity and hyperactivity
- enhances emotional regulation
- boosts executive function
- reduces stress.
For full details of an NIH study “Tai Chi Training for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Feasibility Trial in College Students”