We are more than half way through the school year, and, at least in this household, the homework is revving up and along with it the stress. It is hard to juggle the pressures of school, the recommended allotment of daily physical activity, after school commitments and homework. Getting a good night’s sleep falls by the way side most nights while kids try to keep up with the constant demands of life in 2010.
I was trying to think of a way to simplify our lives recently. What could we remove to help everyone slow down? There were no vestigial schedule appendixes. I couldn’t find anything in the schedule that stood out as being “extra” and no longer of use. So how do we help our kids adjust to a lifestyle where the demands are plenty and the hours few? How can we take the edge off the daily stress?
Tips to help your child navigate through the pressures of life:
1. Make dinner at home and find time to eat together around the table. There is no greater way to remove pent up stress than by connecting with those who support and love you. The New York Times article, “The Guilt-Trip Casserole-Dinner and the Busy Family” points out the positive benefits of joining together around the table.
2. Before tackling homework, spend a little time outdoors. Soak in the fresh air. Feel the sun or wind or rain on your face. Have contact with nature. Studies show that nature reduces stress in kids as well as helps kids with ADD.
3. Inversions are a great way to gain energy and increase mental alertness so go upside down in a handstand or headstand. Or, for a more restorative inversion, lie on the ground with your feet up against the wall.
4. One of my favorite books for relaxation scripts is, Ready… Set… R.E.L.A.X. written by Jeffrey Allen Med. This great archive of self-empowering meditations has scripts with messages such as “I remember what I learn”, “When I am relaxed, my body and mind work well”, “I am a good listener” and specific test preparation scripts for achievement tests. To teach your child that they can relax their mind and find calm in tense situations will help them throughout their school days and beyond.
5. I also recommend Stin Hansen’s meditation, “Think Like a Great Student”, to help kids with school anxiety.
6. Having a calm and organized work space is also very helpful for your child. A great tip that I recently read to help your child through their homework is to write down each topic of homework on a sticky note. Have your child determine how much time each subject will take and write that on the sticky notes too. Then have your child prioritize the work according to time and difficulty. After each task, the sticky note can be removed, giving your child a visual sense of control and accomplishment.
7. Have your child stand up and stretch. Do some gentle yoga poses like cat/cows, forward bends, seated spinal twists or more inversions between each assignment to break up the time and to recharge and change focus.
Life doesn’t slow down and stress doesn’t disappear. By teaching your child how to manage stress, you teach them how to positively navigate through life.
7 comments
Comments feed for this article
March 6, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Lisa Flynn / ChildLight Yoga / The Kids Yoga Resource
This absolutely wonderful advice and so timely for my own family and many others. I’m forwarding this to our families and posting on our facebook and twitter pages. Thank you for a thoughtful article including resources!
March 6, 2010 at 11:32 pm
Lisa Flynn / ChildLight Yoga / The Kids Yoga Resource
I might also note that our ChildLight Yoga’s newest program, Yoga 4 Classrooms (3 years in the making including pilot program at local school), was developed with this purpose in mind – providing children (and teachers), tools for stress management and the development of a peaceful mind and attitude. We look forward to sharing the Yoga 4 Classrooms program with the world, starting this spring. http://www.yoga4classrooms.com.
Ultimately, getting up to move a bit, loosening up through play, quieting the mind, relaxation/visualization, and discussions on connecting to nature, healthy eating, being a good school and world citizen, positive thinking, etc, provide children with a foundation that prepares them to navigate a sometimes overly hectic world. Our children’s yoga community is giving children the tools to develop a peaceful mind and attitude – a priceless gift. It’s truly powerful work. Thank you!
March 8, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Aruna
I agree – great post. I love that having the meal together was first. Good food, good conversation, attentive family life are number one for me too!
Half the time just realizing I’m stressed helps me. It’s when I’m saying “I’m not stressed!” that I’m often heading for trouble.
When I recognize the stress monster has reared its ugly head – then I start doing all the things you listed.
March 12, 2010 at 11:25 pm
Donna Freeman
Love the “Think Like a Great Student” Meditation. Such powerful affirmations.
These are all great hints and helps. Most of it is common sense but we all need to be reminded from time to time to keep a balance during our busy 2010 lives.
The teachers always comment that after a yoga session from the book Once Upon a Pose, the kids are more calm, focused and ready to learn. For more information on this resource visit http://www.yogainmyschool.com/book
March 16, 2010 at 5:01 am
Abby Wills/ Shanti Generation
I love the grounded, practical, completely “do-able” strategies offered in this post. This is true, living yoga!
I’d like to humbly offer a resource I co-created that enhances number 7.
http://www.shantigeneration.com
Our DVD is full of short sequences (18 asana sets, 5 breathing exercises, 2 meditations). We created this especially for practical integration of yoga into the day!
March 16, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Dez Gruber
I love this post, and I would also add reducing the amount of TV and video game time. I have cut out the TV, computer (games), and DS after school and almost completely on the weekends. The glazed look is gone from my daughter’s eyes, there seems to be so much more time in our schedule, so much less stress of trying to get her to turn these things off and get outside for a walk or play in the yard or communicate with us. Definitely better bonding with our family which has resulted in lots of smiles and snuggles. ;0)
September 5, 2011 at 11:59 pm
Calm First Day of School Jitters « Karmaspot's Blog
[…] Help Kids Navigate Through the Stress of Life […]