Customer Reviews

A Boy and a Bear: The Children's Relaxation Book

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book provides a much-needed way for parents and educators to introduce deep breathing to children as a simple and enjoyable way to relax the body/mind. It tells the story of a boy and a bear who climb opposite sides of a mountain, meet at the top and smile a greeting. The boy notices how nice the sun feels, how good it is to lie on the flat rock and how he likes to take deep breaths (counting 1-2-3-4). The bear playfully imitates the boy, with comforting repetitive text saying, "...so did the bear" after each of the boy's actions. They end up drifting off to sleep with the boy resting on the bear's belly, noticing how his belly goes up and down while he breathes. Simple, beautiful, brilliant.

Lori Lite's first CD, INDIGO DREAMS consists of her reading this story, complete with gentle [boy and bear] snoring at the end of the reading. My son often drifts off to sleep with them while listening to the CD at night. Also on the CD are three of her other relaxation stories. These books are available on amazon as well. Her CDs and curriculum, in addition to books and articles, may be found on litebooks.net.

I'm a parent looking for stress management for my tightly-wound little boy, a grownup still learning to manage my own stress, and an early childhood teacher hoping to help my students learn to relax themselves. These are excellent tools. I'm most grateful to Lori Lite. Highly recommended!

I was at my wits end with putting my 5 year old to sleep. My neighbor recommended "A Boy and A Bear" to me and I couldn't believe the results. My son was finally able to calm himself down and get rid of his anxiety and fears. The way the boy shows the bear to do belly breathing is brilliant! I didn't know how to breathe for relaxation myself but it didn't matter. This book did all the work for me and I even learned how to breathe myself. I highly recommend this book for all children.

I am now also using "Indigo Ocean Dreams" and "Sea Otter Cove". Sea Otter Cove: A Relaxation Story introducing deep breathing to decrease stress and anger while promoting peaceful sleep (Indigo Ocean Dreams)Now my son is also breathing with the sea otters! Great Fun!

I bought this book for my over-active 6 1/2 year old. The first time I read it to him he was curled up ready for sleep, this from a child who would still be awake long after Daddy had fallen asleep reading to him! Even when upset, this book will settle both my children, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Now my child can calm himself down with this essential breathing technique. He followed along without me telling him what to do. Not only is he using this to fall asleep but also during the day to calm down. My whole family is breathing like A Boy and a Bear and my entire family is de-stressing and calm.We are now using Lori Lite's other 3 relaxation books. They all help!

My young child had lots of trouble settling down for a nap or even a quiet moment during the day. By using Lori Lite's book I was able to get my child to concentrate on breath, and breathing technque through her characters. Now we bring out the book when ever we need to relax.

My 4 year old son suffers from severe panic attacks, and because he is so young we have had a very difficult time helping him manage his attacks in a way that he understands. We have all of Lori Lites books & her CD, and they have helped us teach him proper breathing and relaxation techniques so well that when an attack begins we remind him to "breath like the bear" and he immediately begins his deep breathing. We have actually been able to lower his medication because of our success with your books. I would highly recommend any of Lori's products for any child, especially if they have an anxiety condition.

After a tiring day with a very cranky grandson, I decided to try reading A BOY AND A BEAR with him at bedtime (supposedly). I was pleasantly surprized that as we got into reading and doing the book, we both became more relaxed and calmer, and best of all, more loving to each other.
Thank you Lori

I was introduced to this wonderful book while watching my son's teacher give a lesson on stress management. It was part of a lesson plan from the "Children's Awareness Curriculum". The children were breathing along with the characters, watching the adorable illustrations in the book and following along with the "Indigo Dreams" CD.
I couldn't believe that I was watching this active group of children calm down right before my eyes. The children loved it and so did the teacher. These books should be every teachers and parents secret recipe file for creating, calm, relaxed children with self control.

We have several of Lori Lites' book and the Indigo dreams CD, and like them all but this by far my challenging son's favorite. My husband read the story the first few times, and my son did like the story, but did not get much from it. I realized that DH did not really understand the importance of using a very calm, soothing voice (it can be hard to find it with an oppositional child). So, I asked DH to simply flip pages with the CD going. They both got so relaxed they fell asleep. I will say I have some practice at mediation but I am no expert. I took a turn with as I had read the story and thought it would help if we could get him to participate. I started reading it and got so into it that almost forgot I was reading it to someone. Wow! I was floored when he began to spontaneously breath rhythmically with me. He was so centered and peaceful for the next couple of days. It was one of the most rewarding moments I have had with him. Since then, Mommy reads the story to him. Is a cure all? No way, but if, you enjoy meditation and rhythmic breathing, and do the work for yourself in the book, you may just find that your child comes along for the ride.

Having practiced yoga for several years I understand the power of breathing for relaxation, but I was stumped on how to teach my energetic, bouncing off the wall, 5 year old how relax himself to sleep. The Boy and the Bear has given me that tool. It's simple, meditative and calming for us all. Tonight he said "Mom, let's read the Boy and the Bear, it slows me down".