Your Child Holds Stress in Their Shoulders: 3 Fun 'Shake It Out' Games

You know that thing your kid does when they're hunched over their homework? Or how their shoulders creep up near their ears during exam time?

Kids don’t always say, “I’m feeling anxious.” Instead, stress often shows up as restlessness, stiffness, irritability, or tension in the body.

That’s where movement and play come in. Research consistently shows that physical activity and playful movement help children manage everyday stress, improve mood, and release pent-up nervous energy. And it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Here are three simple, playful games that encourage kids to move their shoulders, loosen their bodies, and relax, without it ever feeling like “exercise” or “therapy.”

Remember those old Govinda moves where he'd shake his shoulders like nobody's business? Time to bring that back!

How to play: Put on any peppy Bollywood song, and challenge your kid to a shoulder-shaking dance-off. The rule? ONLY the shoulders can move. Everything else stays frozen.

It's harder than it sounds! Kids will laugh, you'll laugh, and within 2 minutes, those tight shoulders start loosening up. Make it competitive, "My shoulders are faster than yours!" and watch them go wild trying to prove you wrong.

Why it helps:

Pro Tip: Let them win sometimes. Their victory dance will involve even more shoulder movement.

This classic drama game that teachers use is absolute gold for releasing shoulder tension, and kids find it hilarious.

How to play: There are two positions, Robot and Rag Doll. When you call out "Robot!" everyone stiffens up completely, especially shoulders (pulled up and tight). When you call out "Rag Doll!" everyone goes completely loose and floppy, shoulders dropping, arms dangling.

Switch between the two randomly. "Robot! Robot! Rag Doll! Robot! Rag Doll! Rag Doll!" Kids will giggle uncontrollably, especially during the rag doll phase when they're supposed to be all wobbly and loose.

The beautiful thing? It teaches kids what tension actually feels like versus relaxation. Once they can tell the difference, they're more likely to notice when stress is building up during the day.

Pro Tip: Do this slower before bedtime. Hold each position for 5 seconds. End on "Rag Doll" so they finish relaxed and loose.

This one's perfect for younger kids or the dramatic ones.

How to play: The parent becomes the puppet master, the child becomes the puppet. Use an imaginary string attached to their shoulders. When you "pull" the string up, their shoulders go up. When you "release" it, your shoulders drop down.

Then get silly with it. "Oh no! The strings are tangled!" (Shoulders go up, down, circle around). "Now they're loose!" (Big shoulder drops and shakes). "Wait, a bird is sitting on the string!" (Gentle shoulder movements to not scare the imaginary bird).

Kids get so into the story that they forget they're actually doing a stress-relief exercise. Plus, parents get to control the pace, which means sneaking in extra shoulder drops when noticing tension creeping back.

Pro Tip: Do this before bedtime. The gentle up-and-down motion of the puppet strings can be calming, especially if you slow down toward the end. It's like a reset button for their nervous system.

Kids don't need lectures about stress or explanations about relaxation. They just need fun ways to move their bodies and shake things off, literally.

These games work because:

Start with just one game. Maybe try the Bollywood challenge during evening TV time. Or do the Monkey Shake-Off after homework. See which one your kid gravitates toward.

And remember, if your child is showing signs of serious stress (headaches, stomach aches, sleep issues), these games are helpful but not a replacement for talking to them or seeking professional help when needed.

But for everyday stress? The kind that builds up from school, friends, tuition, and just being a kid in today's world? Sometimes all they need is a good shake.

Now go put on that song. Your shoulders probably need it too!