Remember The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross? Even if you didn’t watch an entire episode, his light brush strokes and calming voice as he talked about “happy accidents” would help many unwind from a busy day. Little did we (or maybe even Bob Ross himself) know that what he was doing would later be known as ASMR.

ASM What Now?

Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (aka ASMR) is a physical sensation, characterized by “tingles” starting at the scalp and traveling down the spine, when given soft methodical auditory, visual, or tactile (touch) stimuli. Think of caresses on the cheek, whispering or soft singing, or watching gentle hand motions. The feeling is said to provide a calming effect on an individual, helping to reduce anxiety, boost mood, and ease into sleep. Although this trend is crazy popular with adults via YouTube and relaxation apps, ASMR may be beneficial for kids, too; similar to a sound or white-noise machine.

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