Tapping Therapy For Kids: How EFT Can Help

EFT tapping therapy has become increasingly popular throughout the years and can be used to address several physical and mental health concerns. An alternative therapy with clinically proven benefits, individuals may use tapping to fall asleep, relieve stress and anxiety, or for another purpose. Parents may be drawn to EFT tapping for kids due to the fact that it is low-risk and easy to use no matter where you are. So, what should you know about EFT tapping therapy for kids?

In this article, we'll talk about what tapping therapy is, whether it works, benefits, and teaching tapping therapy techniques to kids. Then, we'll discuss how to tap so that you can feel confident using it yourself or teaching tapping sequences to a child.

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What Is Tapping Therapy?

Tapping therapy is a method used for concerns such as stress, trauma, sleep, depression, and anxiety that is contingent on the mind-body connection. It involves tapping acupressure points while you focus on a concern you want to resolve. Acupressure points used in EFT tapping come from acupuncture, but individuals use their fingers to tap rather than having needles placed by an acupuncturist. People can learn EFT tapping techniques from videos or practitioners and use them at home, which is often part of the appeal. Parents may be drawn to using EFT tapping therapy for kids with ADHD because of the tendency children with ADHD have towards trouble with emotion regulation. Teaching kids how to cope with feelings, whether you have younger or older children, matters regardless of neurotype.

Origins of the emotional freedom technique

EFT stands for "emotional freedom technique." Although the acupuncture points used in EFT tapping stem from practices used in ancient Chinese medicine, emotional freedom techniques came about in the United States in the 1990s. The emotional freedom technique was developed by Gary Craig, a Stanford engineer who worked alongside Roger Callahan, the founder of Thought Field Therapy.

Does It Work?

There's research to support the use of EFT tapping therapy for kids, teens, and adults facing various different challenges. Tapping via the emotional freedom technique is clinically proven to lower stress hormones. People frequently use EFT tapping to access the effects of mindfulness, and in turn, they can lower emotional distress and feel more calm. Tapping is not known to cure any mental, behavioral, or developmental conditions, but it can be a worthwhile self-help tool alongside other treatments.

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Benefits

What are the potential benefits of using EFT tapping for physical and emotional issues if it is not the first line of treatment? Alongside personal accounts of EFT benefiting people's lives and research behind the technique, individuals may be drawn to EFT for the following reasons.

Affordability

While some people learn EFT tapping from a practitioner, others can learn how to use emotional freedom techniques and conduct tapping sequences at home through resources like instructional videos. Even if you do learn from a practitioner, you can take the skills you gain home and use them long after you stop working together. This means that continuing to tap, and teaching your child or children, will be free once you've learned all you need to.

Accessibility

EFT tapping is a relatively simple technique. It is easy to learn and does not require any special tools, meaning that it is more accessible than some other techniques. This also means that you can use it regardless of your location.

Fast results

One major benefit of EFT tapping is that the effects are nearly instant. Tapping has same-day benefits, and most people notice a difference in how they feel relatively quickly. For those who find it advantageous, tapping is a solid way to lower anxiety, stress, and other forms of distress in a pinch.

Teaching Tapping To Your Kid

If you think that EFT tapping therapy for kids might be a good fit for your child, your next question is most likely - how do I teach them how to use it? Learning how to tap is the first step. When you're confident that you know how to use EFT tapping, you'll be able to relay it to your child.

How To Tap

Some people learn to use EFT tapping through worksheets or videos. Often, you can find these online for free. Use the information below as a starting point, and try tapping on yourself first. Some parents even act as a role model by using tapping on themselves in front of their children. Remember to take deep, complete breaths throughout the process.

Learn about the tapping points (e.g., karate chop point)

In EFT tapping, there are different tapping points. You will need to know what they are to follow an EFT tapping sequence effectively. Here are the nine main tapping points you'll most likely come across when watching guided tapping sequences:

1. Under the arm (UA): The UA point is located three to four inches below the armpit on the side of the rib cage. This point is linked to the spleen meridian.
2. Under the eye (UE): The UE point is found on the bone under either eye. This point connects to the stomach meridian.
3. Side of the eye (SE): The SE point is located on the outer corner of either eye. This point connects to the gallbladder meridian.
4. Side of the hand (SOH): The SOH point is located on the outer edge of either hand below the little finger. This point is also called "karate chop" or "KC." The SOH or karate chop area is linked to the small intestine meridian. 
5. Eyebrow point (EB): The EB point is found on the inner edge of either eyebrow. This point is linked to the bladder meridian. 
6. Top of the head (TOH): The TOH point is located on the crown of the head. This point is linked to the "governing vessel."
7. Under the nose (UN): The UN point is found between the upper lip and nose. This point is also linked to the governing vessel. 
8. Chin point (CH): The CH point is found between the chin and lower lip. This point is linked to the "central vessel."
9. Collar bone (CB): The CB point is located just underneath the collar bone. This point is linked to the kidney meridian.

You might also come across the gamut point and finger points. You can find the gamut point on the back of your hand, directly behind and between the knuckles of your ring finger and little finger. Finger points are located on the side of your thumbs, middle fingers, little fingers, and index fingers at the base of your nail.

Identify the problem

To officially start building your personalized tapping sequence, identify the problem you (or in this case, your child) want to address. EFT tapping therapy for kids might focus on problems such as:

• Worry, anxiety, or feeling scared
• Stomach issues
• Depression or sadness
• Friendship troubles
• Other distressing experiences

Rate the intensity of negative emotions

Once you identify the problem, rate its intensity on a scale of one to ten. For example, you or your child may rate their level of fear as a "six." The goal is to bring that level of distress down when conducting the tapping sequence. For young kids, use a face scale instead of numbers. 

Create a plan

Once you rate the intensity of the emotions or situation at hand, create a plan for your tapping sequence. If you are following a technique you found online or were given by a practitioner, you will probably know what part of the body to tap. However, you will still need to tailor your own tapping script. Adults can help their kids craft one.

Make a tapping script

Use this formula to make a tapping script:

1. Acknowledge the issue you want to address. Let's say that a child is experiencing fear or anxiety about an exam at school. You'd start the script by acknowledging that anxiety, saying, "Even though I feel worried about the exam..."
2. Add a positive affirmation. To finish the script, add a positive affirmation. For example, "All I can do is study and try my best." Now, you should have a full script: "Even though I feel worried about the exam, all I can do is study and try my best."

You can tailor the unique words to virtually any problem your child is experiencing. Another example might be, "Even though I feel sad right now, I know that it is possible to feel good again."

Start tapping

Once your formula is complete and you have a script to follow, it's time to start tapping. Gently tap on the accupressure point you are instructed (or have decided) to, and breathe deeply. Then, recite your tapping script out loud while you continue to tap predetermined acupressure points. Repeat the statement three times while tapping.

When teaching a child to use tapping therapy, emphasize that tapping should be done with very light pressure. Tapping should never hurt.

Re-evaluate your distress level

After you've gone through the tapping sequence three times or have instructed your child to do so, take a deep breath and re-evaluate the intensity of the feelings you meant to address with the sequence. If it was a six before, is it a five, four, or three now? If using a face scale, which face represents how they feel now best? Did it move closer from a frown to a smile? Repeat the tapping sequence until things feel more manageable. The idea isn't to push feelings away by any means. Instead, it is to acknowledge them without judgment, reduce distress, and feel more at peace.

Takeaway

EFT tapping is an alternative treatment used to address a number of different physical and mental health concerns. It is a way to help your child learn mindfulness, create peace, and process emotions. While EFT is not the first line of treatment for any disorder, some research shows that it is useful for stress, anxiety, trauma, depression, and other concerns. One of the benefits of EFT tapping is that you have the ability to use it no matter where you are, and many people also turn toward the method because it is accessible and affordable. Parents can use the information in this article to teach kids how to use EFT tapping.