Exercise 5: Spaghetti Noodle Body (For Physical Tension and Play)

What It Is:
A tension-release game where kids go from stiff like uncooked spaghetti to soft like a cooked noodle.

Why It Works:
This exercise teaches muscle awareness. Tightening and then releasing muscles improves emotional regulation by helping kids feel the difference between tension and relaxation — essential for self-soothing.

How To Teach It (During Calm Times):

Stand tall like a spaghetti noodle — stiff, tight, frozen!
Count: “1… 2… 3…” then say: “Cooked noodle!”
Fall into a floppy pile, limbs soft, face loose.
Repeat 2–3 times.

When To Use It:

When your child is hyper or wound up
After screen time
Before bedtime or transitions

Practice Playfully:
Play “Noodle Freeze Dance.” Dance around like floppy pasta, then freeze into stiff poses when the music stops. Invite your child to invent their own cooked/uncooked game.

Reflection Prompt:
Draw yourself as a spaghetti noodle! What helps you go from stiff to soft?