Are you out of breath, [name], from all of the breathing exercises? Practice the physiological sigh (Day 3) with your child when at a red light, before eating, or any other common activity. It’s a great tool to use alone or with other vagus nerve techniques I’ll share with you. But today, enough about breathing! Today, [name], we're exploring touch activities that focus on the navel area, offering relaxation and vagus nerve activation through touch.
Belly Button Taps:Gently tap the navel with a finger in a rhythmic manner. You can sync this with a metronome app set to 60 beats per minute for increased focus on the activity. Alternatively, calming music or YouTube stories at a slower pace can be soothing. I find African storytellers often have a rhythm that is relaxing. I tried one at .75 speed. The story still worked and the slower pace was perfect for encouraging sleep. For an older child, a talking book from the library can work if it isn’t too exciting.
Above and Across the Belly Button:Gently, slowly rub back and forth just above the navel. Adjust the pressure to find what's most relaxing for your child.
Around the Clock:Use your entire hand to trace a clockwise path starting from the right side of your child's belly, moving above the navel, to the left side, down, and back to the starting point. This mimics the direction of stool movement in the colon so it may cause increased bowel activity as well as engaging with the vagus nerve.
These activities are not only relaxing but can also be done with your hands over the covers, allowing your child to zone out. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?
As we leave the base of the T in my T-Zone System, we’ll start moving faster. Because the diaphragm and the belly are so important to engage the vagus nerve, it was important to spend time building a great foundation.
Tomorrow: Day 6: Cooling Neck Techniques: An Unexpected Path to Slumber.