EFT Tapping For Kids: Empower Your Child’s Emotional Wellness
EFT Tapping For Children
In this article, you will learn about reasons why you need to perform EFT Tapping on your children and how EFT can help them find the way to happy and healthy living.
With EFT Tapping, you will, in fact, be able to set up lovable and encouraging environment in your home, that acts as a catalyst in child's overall development.
Parents are unsung superheroes with powers to fix any niggling issue that upsets their beloved and innocent children.
However, the frequent string of complaints like “Mummy, I don’t feel good”, or “Dada, I’m scared….” “I can’t sleep…. don’t want to eat…. can’t go to school, 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 or more importantly, unaware of what is actually going on with your child. This can lead to feelings of despair, anxiety or stress within you.
That’s when the Emotional Freedom Technique or EFT can come to your rescue and to your child’s!
EFT has the ability to zero in on the exact issue at hand and remove it from its roots - whether its a minor problem or a deeper one with serious, long-term impacts, if not attended to immediately.
What does EFT stand for?
EFT, also known as Emotional Freedom Technique, exactly explains how one should feel free from their emotional setbacks, especially children. This is a clinically proven method being used worldwide for all types of healing purposes.
You may have heard of EFT being referred to as ‘tapping’. It's the same thing.
EFT tapping involves light patting on various points of the body while repeating specific statements or affirmations. It can be used to clear sadness, fears, phobias, anger, pain and discomfort towards creating happy and healthy tots, teenagers and adults.
Yes! EFT can 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 EFT to fix those everyday quibbles - tummy aches, colds, headaches, fever or body pains that can dampen and suppress a child’s natural, effervescent personality.
Energetic or Emotional fields
EFT works at the emotional level, the positive and magical effects of which infiltrate into the physical body.
How does this happen? Well, our emotions create an energetic field in and around us.
This field is a part of our aura and has a system of meridians or pathways that store and carry the energy (or emotions). Much like the veins and arteries in our blood system.
Now, when we feel a negative emotion, the nearest meridian gets blocked with the dark, heaviness of what we are feeling. This blockage can manifest as a physical issue (with-in) or a life hurdle (with-out). The more we feel that emotion and believe in it, the bigger the block grows.
Needless to say, blockages in our meridian system hamper our emotional well being, physical health and of course, life occurrences. EFT can lift such obstructions and allow you to be free of negative emotions, sickness and hurdles.
How a block in the energetic field causes problems?
It was time for a 5 year old Lana to start going to a new school and she was so excited! A huge classroom, so many new friends and a fun teacher. (She received a lollipop the last time they met!)
Lana wakes up promptly on her first day, has her bath with no fuss, gets dressed, gobbles up her breakfast and proudly stands at the front door. Ready and waiting for her mum to take her to her brand new school.
Then, her parents get into a fight. They argue loudly about something she can't understand. She thinks it’s because of her…
Maybe the new school is too much work for her mum, maybe her dad’s angry about something she did. Lana’s joyful mood deflates like a balloon losing air. After a few minutes, her mum realizes this, smiles at her and says “Come on Lana, let’s go to school!”.
But why are you and daddy fighting? What did I do wrong? Do you still love me? All her real questions are left unanswered as her mum bundles her up in the car and off they go.
On the drive, Lana is still upset. Mum notices this, asks her if she’s nervous about her new school and tells her not to worry and that it’ll be fun. But it wasn't the school that Lana was worried about at all, was it?
They arrive at the shiny gates of Rosewood Primary School but Lana is still quiet, so unlike her usual chatty self.
“What’s wrong, Lana? Why aren't you happy? You haven't said a word since we left home” asks mum.
Finally, Lana speaks, with tears in her eyes and in a quivering voice “Mummy, my tummy hurts. I don’t think I can go to school” And true enough, her sadness and anxiety, caused by her parents’ fight, had upset her stomach and ruined her first day at her beautiful new school.
Which brings us to the next part of healing children with EFT tapping - If your child is going through major issues and these are happening more often than expected, you should first address the problems in your home environment. Pronto!
Why is the home environment so important?
If you do not take care of your home environment, you will see beneficial effects of EFT being short-lived. Children tend to fall sick, 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. Children 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. This can cause a child to act out, shut down, fall sick, fail and lose confidence.
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 you both love her and it wasn't her fault.
And we’re not saying that there should be no fights! Completely shielding a child from fights can result in a dysfunctional individual who does not know how to deal with confrontations in the future.
Plus, when there are siblings in the picture, fights are inevitable! So, do fight, behave normal but control what you say and how you say it.
Teach your children the right way to fight and settle arguments. And never for even a moment, forget that there are little eyes watching and tiny ears listening and mimicking you all the time!
Energy points of the body
Before we explain how to perform EFT Tapping on children of various age groups, it’s important to know where you have energy points on your bodies.
Though each energy point is tapped for healing any emotional issue, every point has a special connection to a body part or organ and can be used when healing that particular part.
Let’s discuss the 9 main energy points and their connections to vital bodily organs :
Top of the head - is 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 top of the head
Chin - central nervous system
Part of the collarbone that is furthest to the side - 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.
This clears all the meridian paths and leaves no residue of negativity behind.
If you would like to experience the power of EFT Tapping first hand, just download the EFT Tapping Booklet below.
New to EFT? Learn how Emotional Freedom Technique Tapping heals.
Emotional Freedom Techniques (tapping) is clinically proven to lower stress, tension, anxiety, past-trauma to enable health, happiness and vitality.
Performing EFT with the right statements
The first step to perform 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 a visible symptom such as a headache, angry mood or a teary outburst.
Next, 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.
While tapping, make the child (or yourself) say statements as the child or you, feels them “Even though I’m feeling (scared/ angry/ sad/ sick) I am loved and accepted unconditionally”.
This statement can build to include many more emotions and thoughts such as “Even though I’m scared because mommy and daddy fought, I am loved and accepted unconditionally”.
When you are performing it on yourself, on behalf of your child, say it like you are the child, “Even though I’m sad because my doggie is missing, mum and dad love me unconditionally”.
The statements that are used for 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.
How to deal with the various age groups?
Though there is a specific way to perform EFT, there are certain points that you need to know, when dealing with infants, toddlers and pre-teens.
All 3 age groups don’t function in the same manner and trying to force a 3 year old to be more expressive or forcing a pre-teen to do EFT as a compulsion can backfire.
So, here is how to handle each segment for the maximum results:
EFT Tapping for 0 to 5 year old's
EFT Tapping for 5 to 8 year old's
EFT Tapping for 8 to 12 year old's
1.
EFT Tapping for 0 to 5 year old's
Infants in this age group are often unable to decipher or express what they are feeling. In such a situation, a parent can embody the child’s emotions or physical problems and perform EFT on themselves, like they are doing it for the child.
Now, before you start wondering how in the world you are supposed to do someone else’s entire being, it’s really not that complicated, especially for parents.
To embody your child’s energy field all you need to do is empathize and put yourself in his place. Simple. The transfer will happen almost immediately!
At other times, your child’s physical symptoms are quite obvious such as pain, vomiting or fever. You may then tap lightly on the child’s points, with you saying the words “Even though I’m feeling sick, I am loved unconditionally.”
You may also use the same non verbal signals or representations that tiny tots use to express their distress. An action (such as pressing the part that hurts), a sound (like an ‘ouch’) or even an expression (angry or sad face, grimace) can be used to focus on the problem.
In such a situation, either the child or parent can say “Even though I’m feeling (make the face, sound or action), I still feel loved unconditionally.”
All these techniques work equally well for the 0 to 5 years bracket.
2.
EFT Tapping for 5 to 8 year old's
Children above 5 and below 8 are more verbal and communicative. However, if the child is not able to admit that she is feeling a particular way, we can offer a toy and ask her “Is Teddy feeling upset today? What do you think? Is he feeling sick?”
Don’t be surprised when she says “Teddy is not sick, he is just angry!” Children identify toys easily and they often express their feelings and ideas through them. Pay attention to these signs.
Once the child tells you what the issue is, you may perform the tapping on the toy while the child repeats the statement “Even though Teddy is angry today, he is loved unconditionally” and the child will feel its effects.
This is because the minute she expressed her frame of mind through the toy, she transferred her energetic field to it.
Children in this age group who do not open up easily, can be coaxed into submission and an acceptance mode with quiet activities such as drawing, painting and craft.
You may also pick up cues from the drawings they make. Craft and art activities are known to relax children, make them communicate better, share ideas and stories, and follow instruction.
3.
EFT Tapping for 8 to 12 year old's
Pre-teens are quite capable of performing EFT on themselves. The challenge lies in convincing them to do it!
By 8 years of age, all children have developed their own set of values and beliefs. If they have never been exposed to methods such as EFT earlier, it may be tough to get them to do it straight away.
The way to get a child from this age bracket to try out the technique is by introducing it as a suggestion. Don’t force them, they will rebel.
Next, do EFT in front of them on an issue you are having and tell them how it feels. It may take a few tries but once convinced, you can do the EFT together with the child on something he chooses to work on.
During the stages of this process, don’t lose your patience. Always remember to be mindful, respectful and tender.
Good Touch, Bad Touch
The subject of good and bad touch had gained prominence and awareness. It is therefore important for us to cover this one.
To begin with, children do not understand the difference between a good or 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, 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 part 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
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 newborn, handicapped or comatose babies, children with learning disorders or autism, children who are far away or asleep.
The surrogate needs to establish a deep connection with the one being healed, leaving aside their own feelings and emotions, 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 EFT tapping on themselves 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!
The Japanese Finger Holding technique
A beautiful way to ease a stressed or ill child is via the highly proven finger holding technique that originated in Japan. 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.
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 - low self esteem, lack of self love and all negativity
How to use the technique for overall healing:
Wrap your fingers around every finger on the child’s either hand, starting with the thumb and ending with the pinky.
Each finger should be held for 2 to 3 minutes, or till 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 child 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 child, 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 with 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 child every step of the way, through success and failures.
Finally, if you as a parent are dissatisfied with your child, 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.
How To Self-Heal & Become An EFT Practitioner
Discover how EFT Tapping can help you to self-heal or to become professionally qualified as a Certified EFT Practitioner. Emotional Freedom Techniques (Tapping) is clinically proven to lower stress, tension, anxiety, past trauma to enable health, happiness and vitality.
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.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is purely for educational purposes and does not in any way replace the requirement for medical and psychological diagnosis and treatment. Please seek professional medical and psychological diagnosis and advice for all medical and mental health conditions. It is advised to always book any consultations with qualified professionals.
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