How to help kids manage stress? With a daily hot tub soak or swim

July is nearly over! Can you believe it? Soon enough, it will be time for kids to head back to school. And, along with going back to school, start dealing with all the extra activity—and stress—that accompany it.

I think back to the time in my life when I was a kid in middle school and high school. There was plenty to create stress, but certainly nothing like what kids today have to endure. You have the hustle and bustle of school, extracurricular activities, and social obligations. Children are increasingly exposed to stressors, from academic pressure, sports, and social dynamics. According to the American Psychological Association, school is the top source of stress for teens, followed closely by social challenges and family issues.

Stress can manifest itself in various ways: headaches, stomach aches, difficulty sleeping, or behavioral issues are all signals your child may be stressed.

What can easily get lost in all his? Just like adults, kids need effective methods to unwind and manage stress. As a parent, finding natural effective ways to help your children handle stress is vital to their well-being. The answer could be as close as your own backyard: regular soaks in a hot tub, or a daily swim in a swim spa.

Let’s take a look at how hot tubs and swim spas can help alleviate stress for your kids!

Hot Tub Soaks—There  is so much documentation about how good hot tubbing is for us! Immersion in hot water creates a calming effect. While it increases circulation, the jets and hot water team up to help reduce soreness and muscle tension brought on by stress.

If you have a saltwater Hot Spring Spa, you’ll enjoy water that’s got antiseptic qualities that can help soothe skin conditions. (That pesky acne is a manifestation of stress, too!) The added buoyancy of salt water helps eliminate pressure on joints and muscles as well.

When you get into a hot tub and start to relax, it will help create the ideal atmosphere for children to open up about their feelings. They will feel more readily able to express their worries and anxieties. Open communication alone is one of the most effective ways to combat stress, and soaking in a hot tub will absolutely encourage that.

Daily Swims—Swimming in a swim spa is an excellent way for children to burn off excess energy and stress. The rhythmic motion of swimming can be incredibly calming, similar to the effects one would enjoy from meditation.

When your child masters swimming skills, it will help boost their confidence and self-esteem. That confidence can in turn help them tackle schoolwork and social activities and challenges with more resilience.

Swimming is a terrific activity you can share with your kids. It will give you all a fun, low-impact interest to enjoy, and provide opportunities to just hang out, float, and talk. It will provide a unique place to unwind and discuss the day’s events—a consistent space for emotional check-ins. (Think of how good it will be for you, too!)

Incorporating Mindfulness—A hot tub or swim spa is an outstanding place to teach mindfulness, which can be a powerful tool for stress management. Having them focus on their breathing, or the sensation of the water, will help them stay present and reduce anxiety. Deep breathing and visualization are other relaxation techniques that can be easily practiced in the calming environment of a hot tub or swim spa and used in other situations as well.

All of this will help your kids promote healthy habits. Taking care of their bodies and minds is critical to stress reduction and overall health and well-being. The earlier they adopt these habits, the healthier—and happier!—they’ll be.

I remember years ago, when I was still on the sales floor, I had a customer who came in to shop for a hot tub. She was recently divorced and had an 11-year-old daughter. She was worried about the effect the divorce was having on her child and was hopeful that having a hot tub at home would help. She ended up buying a Hot Spring Prodigy from me. Six months later, she came in for some water care, and profusely thanked me for helping her. She told me she and her daughter had a weekly date set to hang out in the hot tub, and that they had some of the most meaningful bonding chats while they soaked. She was convinced that it helped her daughter out immensely with the stress created by the divorce and other activities in her life. I’ve never forgotten that interaction to this day!

We’d love to help you explore the endless possibilities of hot tubbing and swim spas. If you’re here in greater Puget Sound, we’d love to help you create that backyard haven where your family can thrive together! Visit one of our showrooms today or reach out for us to schedule a backyard consultation today. You won’t regret it!