- On January 26, 2016
- In Advice
Winter: an Important Season in your Child’s Development
Nowadays stress is something that affects us socially and health-wise; and our children are not immune. Actually, they deal with many stressful situations on a daily basis, and we might not notice the impact that our busy environment has on their minds, but it has been proven that the current fast paced and busy rhythms of daily activities affect children negatively in their abilities to cope and learn.
Countless research has shown that children learn best when they are in a relaxed and focused state, which is something that has become increasingly harder to achieve because our surroundings tend to be full of distractions: multiple digital screens, television, impossibly busy schedules with never ending activities, and so forth. Even when they don’t appear to be paying attention, scientists have determined that babies’ and toddlers brains take in everything they see and hear.
Luckily, during these winter months, things are slowing down, and they pose the perfect opportunity to instill in your children healthy relaxation habits, while also creating strong bonds that will help them succeed in all aspects of their lives. At IBA’s preschool we see the benefits a tranquil and serene atmosphere can give our little ones on a daily basis.
This is why we have come up with some tips and ideas of calming activities you can do with your children to make them feel secure, rested, and ready to take on their daily lives with a fresh outlook.
Quiet Times: Once your children are home from school, it’s a good idea to set time apart for quiet activities you can do together. Read to them, or have them read a chapter of a great book each day. This way they’ll look forward to this time as they follow along to the story daily. Some stimulating books for children that we think you’ll also enjoy are:
Soothing Music: When there’s not much to do, instead of turning on the TV, why not put on music and listen to something different? Give them a break from the usual songs on the radio and look for inspiring or even classical music. You can make this more fun by giving them a treat to enjoy as well, some of the winter classics are hot cocoa, s’mores, or a hearty soup.
Sensory Activities: These include arts and crafts like finger painting, play-doh, or playing with sand. Find different textures and let them explore their creativity as they entertain themselves making something and letting their brains take a little rest from the usual hustle and bustle.
Winter walks: Even though it’s cold outside, it’s very important for children to get fresh air and be outside. As we discussed in an earlier blog post, the benefits for young children of being out in nature are numerous. So, get bundled up with the proper hats, gloves, scarves, and layers to take a short walk around your neighborhood or a nearby park. You can use this time to talk about their day, what they learned, or simply enjoy the walk quietly.
Healthy Patterns: Having a reasonable routine that focuses on making sure your child ends and starts the day right is crucial when it comes to reducing stress and performing to their full potential. Make sure they go to bed at a time that lets them get at least 8 hours of sleep and wake up in the morning in time to have a full breakfast and maybe do a little relaxing activity before heading off to school (this can be something as small as coloring or listening to music for a few minutes.)
Yoga: This exercise is being made available for children more and more as the benefits have been found to be incredible. In an article in Parents.com the founder of Sweet Pea Yoga, a center for kids in Massachusetts said, “Because children encounter emotional, social, and physical challenges
or conflicts, a dedicated and intentional yoga practice that includes breathing techniques, behavioral guidelines, and physical postures can be incredibly valuable for them.” This exercise can give your child tools to cope and self soothe in everyday stressful situations. The best part is that is something you can do together: find a good instructional video online and set up a mini yoga studio in your living room for an afternoon session with your child.
Loving Habits: Other things that you are already doing also help. Studies have shown that children feel a lot more relaxed when shown constant support and reassurance when needed. Reminding your children that you love them and showing them physical affection goes a long way towards getting them in that relaxed and focused state.
We hope that this list gives you some ideas on how to use the winter to your child’s advantage and create habits that will help them throughout their lives. If you have any questions, comments, or more ideas we appreciate any feedback in the comments section below.
We wish all of you a calm and relaxing winter....