Mental Health
Emotional Health
Let them stay up just a little past bedtime if they really need your attention .
Leave It On the Mat
into physical activities , the better off they will be in the future .
We started our oldest in swimming lessons as an infant , gymnastics and yoga at the age of two , soccer , ( which he hated and promptly quit ) and skateboarding at three , taekwondo , paddleboarding , and snowboarding at four , and this spring , he started t-ball just before turning five . You may think that ’ s a lot in a short period of time , but it ’ s so great to let them try anything they want at such a young an age because you never know if they ’ re a little prodigy in the making !
While this insane amount of physical activity is great for the kids , it is also amazing for us as parents . It has forced us to get back into some of the activities we enjoyed as children , and to pick up new things as our sons decide to learn them . Having active kids has improved our physical health and it has also brought us together as a family .
Mental Health
While physical health plays a major role in how your children develop and who they become , something that is often overlooked at doctor ’ s appointments and in the home is their mental health . I am glad that we live in a society where mental health issues are starting to become less taboo , however we still have a long way to go .
I remember experiencing an anxiety attack for the first time at the age of seven . Due to a lack of public education on the subject ( mental health was never talked about in health class ), I didn ’ t understand or acknowledge that I had anxiety until I was almost 19 , after suffering for 12 years . Furthermore , because of the public stigma and shame I felt surrounding my issues , I didn ’ t even break my silence about it until I was 27 . I never want my children to live with shame and fear in their heads and in their hearts .
Because they will be predisposed to mental health disorders , we work hard as a family to talk about these things . From the time they could speak coherently , we have always talked about feelings . We try to use phrases like , “ It makes me so happy when you help me clean up the toys ,” and “ It makes me frustrated when you don ’ t listen to me .” We definitely aren ’ t a perfect family by any means , and more often than not , frustration comes out in shouts and growls instead of perfectly poised , therapist-approved sentences , but we try our best , and we always apologize when it ’ s due . As the boys get older , we plan to have more in-depth chats about how they truly feel deep down , how their self-esteem is , and what we can do to improve what needs improving . And of course , we ’ ll consult a professional if we ever feel it ’ s necessary .
Emotional Health
Having a child with excellent physical and mental health is incredible , and something parents should be extremely grateful for . Once these pillars are taken care of , the next habits to consider are those that promote personal growth and emotional health . Children start school so young now . They have long , busy days , they get no naps at an age when they should still be having naps , they have to spend hours not only on academics , but also learning social skills , and they have to do it all out there on their own in the real world . Well , as “ real world ” as kindergarten gets .
While school is often an incredible atmosphere for kids and starting them early provides them with a head start to a bright future , this means that we need to really focus on their emotional well-
Let them stay up just a little past bedtime if they really need your attention .
being and personal growth at home . Nurture their little souls . Cuddle them if they need cuddling . Help them relax with a nice warm bath before bed . Let them stay up just a little past bedtime if they really need your attention . It ’ s hard for them to go from being one on one with you at home , or sharing an adult with just a handful of kids at daycare , to being one in a sea of twenty or thirty kids in a classroom . They often crave that individual attention when they get home at the end of the day , and they need it to grow into the well-rounded kids we want them to be .
Leave It On the Mat
Something we also use a lot in our house to aid in physical , mental , and emotional health is yoga and meditation . My husband and I try to maintain a regular practice , and while it ’ s sometimes really hard to roll out that mat at the end of the day , we always feel better after our practice . The boys have children ’ s yoga videos on YouTube that they love to follow along with . We think yoga is an extremely beneficial habit to get into at a very young age as it gives a physical outlet to mental and
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Missy Ink | Issue 20 60