Master-Quest: teaching kids skills needed to manage stress

About Master-Quest

Description of Master-Quest

Order Master-Quest Here!

Master-Quest, Pathways to Inward Journeys is a beautifully designed multimedia package that teaches kids the skills they need to generate the relaxation response in their bodies. Using the computer CD-ROM adventure, your child or student can use Master Quest to learn and practice daily, the important life skill of relaxation. There is enough variation in the program to create a unique experience each time. The Inward Journal workbook will help the child identify their personal response to stress and most effective way they can self-regulate their stress levels. The Color Master Biofeedback Card is a card with a thermal pad on it measuring temperature changes. The child places their finger on the pad and the pad changes colors as finger temperature changes. This shows the child when their body is functioning under stress and when it is experiencing relaxation. This is a great tool for validating and fine tuning self-regulation skills. The cool, free 'I Am A Master' Holographic sticker is our special way of recognizing each child for their great accomplishment!

We have also included a Manual to help you support your child as they develop and learn these techniques. We want to give you the tools you need as your child begins to change their physiological responses to both external as well as internal stress.

The Program

At level one children learn to recognize stress, nervousness, restlessness, escalating anxiety, and impulsive behavior. This is accomplished by

Understanding body chemistry

Understanding how stress affects the body

Learning to recognize physical cues in the body

At level two, they learn and practice stress management, imagery, relaxation, and goal setting. This is accomplished through several proven methods such as,

Diaphragmatic breathing

Self-talk (Autogenics Training)

Isolation and relaxation of muscles (Progressive Muscle Relaxation)

Imagery

Children master the skills learned in level one and level two and are taught to integrate these skills into their daily lives by practicing on a more advanced level.

The Goal of Master-Quest

The goal of Master-Quest ,Pathways to Inward Journeys is to help children learn to recognize, acknowledge and honor their bodies in order to change and manage their physiological behaviors. Children learn skills, which include the recognition of escalating anxiety, nervousness, restlessness and impulsive behavior. Additionally, they learn skills for calming and focusing.

As children become aware of their bodies they become more comfortable in their interaction with the world. This is reflected in their confidence levels and self-esteem. As they gain their skills they come to respect their individuality and the individuality of others. Each child's ability to utilize these skills is the sure road to success in whatever they choose to do with their life.

Master-Quest attempts to help children bring honor back to their being by teaching them to understand and work with their physiological behaviors. Some children never learn how to manage themselves and make healthy choices. This program does this by teaching children how to use and interact with their bodies/emotions through empowerment, self-cueing, and setting personal boundaries to generate success.

If we can partner in teaching kids how to understand and effect change during intense emotional experiences, it will open up a wide range of choices for them in responding more effectively and in healthy ways.

These choices would include how to slow down and respond the way they would like, instead of ways which would result in feeling victimized. The goal of Master-Quest is to teach kids that personal power is having the ability to choose, to choose how one will respond in certain situations to choose how one will act.

Master Quest Package Contents

Master-Quest Pathways to Inward Journeys package Includes:

Software CD-ROM - Mac/PC

Inward Journal - Workbook

Master-Quest Guide Booklet

A Color Master Card - Biofeedback Card

'I am A Master' - Holographic Sticker

System Requirements

Processor: Pentium 166 or better

Operating System:Windows 95, 98, or newer

CD-ROM: 8X speed or better

RAM: 32 MB

Sound: Sound card with 16 bit, 22 kHz compatibility

Display: Thousands of colors

Head Phones, if needed to eliminate distraction

Printer, if you would like print out the certificates

Macintosh

Processor: Power PC

Operating System: System 7 or higher

CD-ROM: 8X speed or better

RAM:32 MB

Sound: 16 bit, 22 kHz compatibility

Display: Thousands of colors

Head Phones, if needed to eliminate distraction

Printer, if you would like print out the certificates

Research supports the techniques taught in Master-Quest

Diaphragmatic Breathing

We breathe all of the time without being consciously aware of the pace. The pace and depth of our breath has a direct effect on our state of being. Consciously maintaining your breathing at a slow & deep rate has a great deal of research supporting positive health outcomes. When you become tense or upset (kick into fight or flight), breathing becomes shallow and irregular, the heart rate increases and muscles in the abdomen tighten, making it very difficult to deep breathe. By becoming aware of this pattern and making a choice to deep breathe, you can help reverse this reaction to life and trigger relaxation instead. This is the choice Master-Quest wants kids to make. Taking control of your breath is the first step to changing physiology. (Herzfeld Powell & Fried, R)

Autogenics

Autogenics is a technique involving the use of specific phrases of self-talk. These phrases give the body directions to relax, feel warmth and calmness. We developed a variation of this technique so that it would be fun and more appealing to kids.

Autogenic phrases are a powerful type of relaxation technique. Scott B. Reynolds (1984) conducted a controlled study in which he compared the efficacy of five different types of relaxation training. He compared biofeedback, autogenics, music, autogenics and music. He found that both music alone and autogenics & music achieved the most significant increases in relaxation as compared to the other techniques in the control group. These two groups were shown to produce the lowest arousal levels following treatment as measured by electromyography, an instrument that measures muscle tension.

There are several control based studies using autogenics with children who have stress related health problems such as headaches. A study by Andrasik (1995) using autogenics and relaxation found that symptoms improved in treating migraines. Another study by Elise Labbe (1995) used autogenics to treat childhood migraines. Labbe found children's headaches improved by decreasing both frequency and duration, but not intensity.

Imagery and Visualization

Imagery is an approach that kids respond well to, because they already have active imaginations. Research shows that after a child has gone through an imagery exercise, they come back refreshed, relaxed, and much more present, helping the child absorb more new material, making it easier to learn.

Visualization is a technique used by professional athletes, actors /actresses , and musicians. Gaining the physical edge is not enough anymore. These professionals are now turning to the mental edge. Whether your child is training for the Olympics or just trying to pass a test, using constructed visualization is an important tool. (Larry Berryhill, Track Coach, BYU, Utah)

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Progressive Muscle relaxation is a technique that is commonly used to learn relaxation of the muscles. The method involves moving through the body tensing and then relaxing each muscle. This teaches a difference between what it feels like to have your muscle relaxed compared to feeling tense.

Research supports teaching Progressive Muscle relaxation to reduce both anxiety and other stress related symptoms. Rasid & Parish (1998) worked with high school students to decrease state anxiety scores using Progressive Muscle Relaxation. They found this to be a significant tool in achieving relaxation. Richter et al (1986) found Progressive Muscle Relaxation training to be successful in helping children with severe headaches decrease their severity of pain.

Relaxation Research

Texas State University System
Relaxation Effect Models, Comparison of Methods, Differences Between Autogenic Training and Thermal Biofeedback, Programs Combining Somatic and Cognitive Training, Relaxation: Effectiveness Studies, Problems Associated with Relaxation, Administration, Muscle Relaxation Technique, Brief Relaxation Techniques, Suggested Readings, References

P.O. Box 35
Sula, MT 59871
Toll Free: 1-800-545-4384

Master-Quest Home