13 Fun Ways To Help Your Child Relax And Stay Active
Life with kids can be chaotic, but it doesn't have to be. Sometimes all they need is a little help relaxing and staying active so that you can get some peace of mind. This blog post will tell you how in 13 fun ways!
1. Practice Meditation.
Taking just 10 minutes out of your hectic day to sit down and meditate is enough to reduce stress, quiet an active mind, or reconnect with your inner self. It's the perfect way to relax!
It will give your kids the right skills to calm themselves down when things get too crazy. With the added bonus that it can be done pretty much anywhere and in any way that feels comfortable.
Here's a List From Healthline Of 8 Science-Based Benefits Of Meditation that we see as relevant for kids.
- Reduces Stress
- Controls Anxiety
- Promotes Emotional Health
- Enhances Self-Awareness
- Lengthens Attention Span
- Can Generate Kindness
- Improves Sleep
- Accessible Anywhere
2 Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a therapeutic technique that helps people experience the present moment as it happens, without judgment. It is really effective for helping to relieve anxiety.
One way to teach mindfulness is by practicing yoga with them to calm their minds and bodies.
Here are three things you can do with your kids to help them practice mindfulness:
- Take five deep breaths together for five minutes at the end of the day before bedtime
- Notice how smells make you feel (by taking a walk outside for example)
- Play games like Connect Four or other board games where they have to pay attention and be really observant of how things move
3 Work On Breathing Exercises
One way to increase how relaxed your child is during these exercises is by breathing. A good breathing exercise is the 4-4-8 method. First, they need to take a deep breath in through their nose for 4 seconds, then hold it for 4 seconds before releasing the breath out of their mouth for 8 seconds. You can then repeat this cycle 3 times or more depending on how long they want to do it.
- Try this breathing exercise at different times of the day, like after a meal or before bed to help them relax.
- Try it while they are sitting at home after school before doing anything else
- When your kids get anxious or stressed, ask them how many breaths they can take in a row without cupping their hands over their mouth.
Deep breathing skills require an intentional focus on your body and help to block out stressors. If your child struggles to develop mindfulness then deep breathing exercises are the perfect way to focus their mind.
4 Sign Them Up For Sports Or Martial Arts
One of the easiest ways to do that is by signing your kids up for one of the many sports and martial arts classes available. Martial arts and other sports classes can improve how your kids feel about themselves and how they think about their bodies, which will help them relax when stressful situations come up in everyday life.
Martial arts can also help them with social skills, teamwork, peer pressure, bullying, how to be part of an active lifestyle, how to stay focused in class, how to maintain healthy habits, inactivity, and nutrition, how to make friends more easily . . . the list goes on!
5 Go For A Hike Or Walk In The Park
If your child isn't into sports, or you just want something a little more casual and laid back while still getting them out of the house for some fresh air, how about going on a hike?
Instead of just sitting around the house, you can have fun exercising with your child. Then, whether you decide on going out and playing basketball together or having a dance-off in the living room, everyone will benefit.
6 Go On A Nature Hunt
Another fun thing to do is go on a nature hunt. If you live near any type of forest or wildlife, give your kids the task of finding as many different leaves and flowers as possible in the area. This way they get some exercise and fresh air while learning something new at the same time!
If you don't want to leave your house for this activity, how about trying it online instead? There's an app called LeafSnap that can help. It uses visual recognition software (similar to what self-driving cars use) to tell exactly which kind of tree each leaf comes from with 97% accuracy.
7 Try A Relaxing Activity With Them
If you don't have the energy to go on a walk or play with your kids, you can try something more calming. Yoga is an activity that can be done by both children and adults together, so it's an excellent way for parents and kids to bond while also getting some exercise.
8 Make Some Tea
For younger children who aren't into yoga yet but still need help relaxing in their daily lives, try making them some tea once in a while instead. Certain teas contain one of the best natural stress relievers: L-theanine! This amino acid works even better than chocolate when it comes to regulating focus because your brain needs l-theanine just as much as your body needs oxygen during times of extreme pressure!
9 Play Games Like Chess Or Sudoku
If you have a child who loves to learn new things, try teaching them how to play chess or sudoku. You don't necessarily need to be an expert at these games for your kids to enjoy learning how they work. However, if you really want the whole family involved in this activity, how about making it a weekly tradition where everyone gets together and plays each other once over dinner? That way, there's no pressure of competition when playing against friends and siblings.
10 Invite Them To Join You In A Hobby
Sometimes children have a rough time relaxing because they don't know how to unwind after being cooped up in the house all day. This is where hobbies come into play! Hobbies can help with stress relief by giving them something constructive and positive to focus their energy on. So how about inviting your kids over for some family crafting time?
They'll love it. You'll enjoy spending quality time with them while getting to work on a project together (and if that doesn't sound like fun, then I don't know what does). If you're unsure where to start when it comes to picking out a hobby for your child, try having an open discussion about any interests they might already have.
11 Let Them Pick Their Own Relaxing Activities
Sometimes the best way to help your child relax is by letting them pick whatever activities they want. This way, they won't feel like you're forcing them to do something that seems boring or pointless. You can even make it a game by seeing how many relaxing activities the two of you can come up with within an hour!
12 Clear Their Mind With A Good Book
A child's imagination can be a powerful thing. And you can make that imagination even more potent by encouraging them to read! Reading has been shown to have therapeutic effects on the mind, so try picking out a book for your kid and seeing how they react when it comes time to unwind at night. Of course, for younger children who don't know how to read yet or those with learning disabilities, you could always pick out an audiobook instead!
13 Set A Bedtime
Lastly, how about setting a bedtime routine for your child? I know that they probably don't want to hear this (and neither do you), but research has shown how important it is to get sleep to stay healthy and happy. The benefits of getting your child to bed on time are numerous, so incorporate this activity into their daily life as soon as possible. This way, they'll know how much sleep is expected of them and how well they can stay active throughout the day by following these expectations.
Conclusion
Everyone knows how hard it can be to live with stress and how important exercise is for staying healthy. So, how about you pick one of the activities mentioned here and get started today? Whether your child needs some help focusing on their homework or just wants a fun way to stay active during the summer months, any of these options will work!