Helping Kids Find Their Way in a Frantic World
By Sandy Schroeder
Every family is different. Some spend a lot of time outdoors. Others gather inside reading, enjoying music or playing games, but one thing is always the same. Families all want their kids to be safe and calm. Whatever is going on outside, home is a safe haven.
Home base never changes – Family dinners, ongoing projects, and special times on the weekend can all work to help kids anchor their home base. If they need to talk, ask questions, or just vent, someone who cares listens. Whatever works at your house to involve your family and keep them together will help your kids keep their balance when they head out into the world.
Monitoring is ongoing – Keeping an eye on what kids watch on the news, and what they are talking about with their friends, is important. Giving them a chance to ask questions can straighten out misconceptions and relieve their fears. What they see and what adults see can be quite different, leaving them with bad dreams or ongoing worries. Find out what they are thinking and make the effort to correct misunderstandings.
Healthy things happen – Moving kids outdoors with friends can be a great distraction. Camping, hiking, or biking can fill a whole weekend with fun things, leaving a lot less room for TV or video games. Teaching them how to bake, cook or fix things in the garage works, too.
Reaching out with real solutions – Volunteering can be a wonderful way for kids to get a real picture of the world, beyond the news. Hands-on helping at donation centers provides a concrete way to respond. Moving on to local senior centers or animal shelters in their neighborhood works, too.
Looking for more options – Sometimes school and sports fill up schedules, but helping kids to find special interests like playing an instrument, learning more about photography, or trying a new sport can help to broaden their world.
Always being there – Establishing a comforting routine that starts with breakfast and runs on through to an evening story, or time to talk, can be a great way to anchor kids. As each day rolls out with new events, sometimes disturbing news, or other challenges, kids can usually handle it knowing they have some good support at home. That’s you, their biggest fans! Ready when they need you, and happy to see them.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Fayetteville, N.C.