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Stress Relief Games for Kids

Academic pressures and extracurricular activities can create stress for kids. The American Institute of Stress says that some signs of stress are muscle aches, weakness and bed-wetting. By playing stress relief games, kids can relieve their stress, helping to improve performance in all areas of their lives.

Arcade Whacking Game
- Hitting something can relieve your child's pent up energy and stress. An arcade whacking game is perfect for this. In the game, small animals pop up and children must try to hit one before it goes back down into hiding.
Solitaire
- Sitting quietly and focusing on a game could relieve your child's stress. Teach him how to play solitaire and let him play a game or two whenever he needs to take a break. If he's bored of the traditional version, get a book that teaches the several different versions of the game.
Target Practice
- Aiming at a target provides focus and throwing an item at that target releases energy. Create a wooden target and throw water balloons at it, or have a family game, throwing water balloons at each other. If you need to stay indoors, purchase a soft dart board that uses hook and loop tape.
Balancing Games
- Focusing on being still can help your child to calm down and reduce stress, but it can be difficult to get active kids to be still. Create some balancing games to help with this. Place an item on your child's head and see how long she can hold it there. Alternatively, have her walk along a balance beam or see who can stand on one leg the longest.
Bubble-Blowing Contest
- Breathing slowly can help your child reduce her stress levels, so a bubble-blowing contest may be in order. Challenge children to blow the biggest bubble possible. This requires slow, careful breathing to create the bubble without popping it.

Kids Games