EFT Tapping For Kids: Empower Your Child’s Emotional Wellness
In this article, you will learn why you need EFT Tapping for kids, how it sets up a lovable and encouraging environment at home, and how EFT can help them find the way to happy and healthy living.
Parents are unsung superheroes with powers to fix any niggling issue that upsets their beloved and innocent kids.
However, the frequent string of complaints like “Mummy, I don't feel good”, or “Dad, I'm scared...” “I can't sleep. I don't want to eat. I can't go to school today. I can't understand.” can be overwhelming, even for the most gifted and patient nurturer.
As a loving parent, you are willing to do all that you can to help your little one. But occasionally, you may be busy, tired, frustrated, or, more importantly, unaware of what is actually going on with them.
That's when the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) comes to your rescue.
EFT has the ability to zero in on the exact issue at hand and remove it from its roots, whether it's a minor problem or a deeper one with serious, long-term impacts if not attended to immediately.
WHAT IS EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE?
EFT is a clinically proven method being used worldwide for all types of healing purposes, including stress and anxiety. It exactly explains how one should feel free from emotional setbacks, especially kids.
This simple technique involves light patting on various points of the body while repeating specific statements or affirmations. It can be used to cure all kinds of kiddie problems from fussy eating or feeling left out to dealing with bigger issues such as bullying and learning disorders.
You can even depend on it to fix those everyday quibbles - tummy aches, colds, headaches, fever, or body pains that can dampen and suppress a child's natural, effervescent personality.
CASE STUDIES
One of my clients - Dr Kavita Rudagi attended EFT sessions for her son who was reluctant to write. She shared how her son felt underconfident to write until someone held his hand. She performed EFT on him for 5 minutes a day for a stretch of 6 days. From the seventh day onwards, he started writing on his own (1).
Similarly, working mom Daisy Anand helped her son overcome his learning difficulties with EFT Tapping (2).
ENERGY TAPPING FOR CHILDREN
The 9 energy tapping points, also known as acupressure points are (3):
- Top of the head - A governing vessel that regulates all types of physical and emotional issues.
- Above either eyebrow - Controls the bladder.
- Side of either eye - Works on the gallbladder.
- Under eye - Effective for stomach issues.
- Under the nose - Another governing vessel similar to the top of the head.
- Chin - Work on the Central Nervous System.
- Part of the collarbone that is furthest to the side - For the Kidney.
- Under either arm - For the Spleen.
- Side of either hand or the karate chop part - Leads to the small intestine meridian.
As you can see, every point governs a body part. But when we do EFT tapping for an emotional issue or a general physical problem, all points are tapped for the best effects.
Gently tap to clear all the meridian paths and leave no residue of negativity behind.
If you would like to experience the power of the Emotional Freedom Technique first-hand, just download the EFT booklet below.
EFT TAPPING SOLUTION ON KARATE CHOP POINT FOR NEGATIVE EMOTIONS
The first step to performing EFT on a child is to identify the problem. Though the problem may be a deep one, it's perfectly alright to begin working on it via visible symptoms such as a headache, angry mood, or a teary outburst.
Next, take a deep breath and begin tapping lightly on the points starting with the top of the head. Progress from the eye, eyebrow, under the nose, chin, collarbone, under the arm, and conclude at the side of the hand.
WHAT TAPPING STATEMENTS TO USE FOR CHILDREN?
While tapping, make the child (or yourself) say statements, “Even though I'm feeling (scared/ angry/ sad/ sick) I am loved and accepted unconditionally”.
This statement can build to include many more thoughts such as, “Even though I'm scared because mommy and daddy fought, I am loved and accepted unconditionally.”
WHAT TAPPING STATEMENTS TO USE ON THE BEHALF OF YOUR CHILD?
When you are performing it on yourself, on behalf of your child, say it keeping yourself in their place, “Even though I'm sad because my doggie is missing, mum and dad love me unconditionally.”
The statements that are used for younger children always end with “I am loved.” This is because the only thing that children need is love and acceptance from their parents or primary caretakers. After which, everything else just falls into place for them.
GOOD TOUCH, BAD TOUCH
Children do not understand the difference between a good and bad touch. A negative, intrusive touch can give them mixed feelings and sensations. The body naturally responds to touch, applied to private or sexual organs, even on a child.
The feeling can be of pleasure while the emotions that follow are of shame and guilt. But when it is happening, children do not realise that they are victims of an adult's perverse desires.
That's the last thing on their minds as most cases of child abuse are committed by close, trusted family members.
So, how can parents proactively prevent abuse, without instilling fear in the child? The best way is to educate them about what is good and safe compared to what is wrong and inappropriate.
You may use storytelling, while pointing to a diagram of the body, to make it clear which parts of their bodies are considered okay or not okay to touch. Refer to body parts by their actual names instead of cute, baby versions.
If you have a suspicion of an abuse situation but your child is not opening up or admitting it to you, you may use EFT to work through the layers and get to the bottom of things. You may also wish to use a professional EFT practitioner for this.
SURROGATE EFT TAPPING FOR CHILDREN
Surrogate EFT, also known as Proxy EFT, is similar to the technique we suggested for the 0 to 5 years group. However, Surrogate EFT is for those who are completely unable to participate.
In the children's category, this can include newborns, handicapped or comatose babies, children with learning disorders or autism, and children who are far away or asleep.
THE PREREQUISITE FOR SURROGATE TAPPING
The surrogate needs to establish a deep connection with the one being healed, leaving aside their own feelings, and tune completely into the target child.
One can set an intention such as “This healing is for (name of the child)” before one begins tapping on oneself and channeling the thoughts of the child who is unable to do the EFT.
This is a powerful way to administer EFT. And if done right, its effects can be astounding!
ENERGY FLOW TECHNIQUE
A beautiful way to ease a stressed or ill child is via the highly proven finger-holding technique that originated in Japan known as Energy Flow Technique. This method is based on the theory that our hands signify and represent all 5 main negative emotions, with each finger based on its own emotion.
CONNECTION OF FINGERS AND EMOTIONS
The 5 emotions and their corresponding fingers:
Thumb - Anxiety, stress, and worry
Index finger - Fear
Middle finger - Anger, rage and irritation
Ring finger - Sadness, grief and depression
Pinky finger - Low self-esteem, lack of self-love, and all negativity
HOW TO USE THIS TECHNIQUE FOR OVERALL HEALING?
Following are the steps for overall healing:
Wrap your fingers around every finger on the child's hand, starting with the thumb and ending with the pinky.
Hold each finger for 2 to 3 minutes. Or you can hold it until you feel a rhythmic matching between your pulse and the child's.
After all fingers are held, apply a light pressure on the palm of the hand.
You may try this technique, at night before your kid goes to sleep, to be greeted by a happy, energetic child in the morning! But make sure you are relaxed when you do this or else you will not be able to calm the child down.
BE A ROLE MODEL
If a child is very upset, hug him or her and lightly tap down the spine. This can soothe any form of stress. The proximity between you and your teens, along with the light tapping releases emotions while pacifying and relaxing the little one into a peaceful state.
As mentioned earlier, all children need is to feel safe, loved, and comforted. Always believe in them without expecting anything. You will be surprised by what they achieve!
Instead of teaching through instruction, set examples. Teach them values by being role models and then let them make their own decisions. Motivate and encourage your kid every step of the way, through success and failures.
In fact, if you do not take care of your home environment, you will see the beneficial effects of EFT being short-lived. Kids tend to fall sick, and feel unhappy or demotivated more often in an unsafe, discouraging, or negative environment.
It's vital for parents to be aware of the impact of their actions and words at home. Kids are highly influenced and affected by primary caretakers such as parents, teachers, and even grandparents.
An open, comforting, and loving environment has proven to produce well-rounded and successful children.
When there's a conflict in the house, children always blame themselves for it. No matter whose fault it is. A fight between parents should be followed up with a discussion between both parents and the child.
Explain what happened, admit where either one went wrong, and what should've happened. But most importantly, tell the child that it isn't her fault, helping her body let go of the stress response.
Completely shielding a child from fights can result in a dysfunctional individual who does not know how to deal with confrontations in the future.
CONCLUSION
If you as a parent are dissatisfied with your kid, it's highly likely that you are dissatisfied with your life. Children are sponges that absorb energy, ideas, habits, and emotions from their environments.
No child is born unhappy, as a poor learner, or with no talents. It's the love and encouragement in the home that activates or suppresses a child's true potential.
Continue to learn and explore!
Love,
Dr Rangana Rupavi Choudhuri (PhD)
P.S. Want to discover if EFT is right for you? Book a Complimentary Discovery Call.
In summary, EFT is a very powerful tool to deal with scenarios that diminish your or your child's sense of peace and calmness. EFT Tapping could be the way for you and your child to lead happy and healthy lives, today and in the future. If you would like to know more about EFT for children, we would be pleased to assist you.
References:
Learn Emotional Freedom Techniques for self healing or to become professionally qualified - More
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