School, hobbies, things to do with friends, a quick visit to grandma, screen time…a day is full of stimulation, and many children are sensitive to it. After a busy day, it is nice to relax at home. This way, the child can process the day. An overstimulated child is cranky and cannot tolerate a little too much. This also often leads to emotional outbursts: crying, fussing, screaming, etc.
This is why it is important to give them a break when you get home. But how can we help? Read on for some tips!
1) Yoga
Yoga is an ideal combination of exercise and relaxation. You get “inside your body” and “out of your head” by paying attention to your breathing and carefully executing the movements. For children, yoga can a bit more playful, even wild.
2) Wear Ear Muffs
Hearing protectors muffle sound stimuli. If the house is not quiet, wearing them for a while can be very comfortable for the child. Have you noticed that loud noise can cause problems with your child’s concentration? Discuss with the teacher the possibility of installing hearing protectors in the classroom. They are already used in many schools.
3) Into The Bath
Baths are the ultimate relaxation for adults, but many children also know the benefits of water. In fact, “just add water” is one of the simplest and most amazing parenting techniques you will ever read. Is your child having a hard time? Do something with water. Swim, drink, take a shower, take a bath, it always works. Or let them play with bath toys in the tub.
4) Relax With a Bean Bag
Relax your child with a warm cuddle or a pit pillow. The warmth, weight, and of course, the feel will undoubtedly comfort and help the child relax.
5) Drawing or coloring
Creative activities can be relaxing. The process of creating is more important than the result. This can be difficult for perfectionist children. Try to make the child enjoy the feel of the crayon on the paper and the repetition of drawing colors and patterns. Solid objects, such as crayons, glide well on paper and produce good colors so that you can get instant gratification.
6) Sensory Play
The focus of sensory play is to learn the senses. This usually involves the sense of touch. Make them play with interesting materials. Do you like the feel of sand slipping through your fingers? Or sticking your hand in a bag of cereal? Roger that. Fill a bin with rice, sand, water, etc. or find a simple recipe for your kids.
Make fake snow by mixing 3-4 cups of baking soda with 1/2 cup of liquid or cream conditioner. Adjust the amount until the mixture is not as sticky as snow if necessary. Snowballs or small snowmen can be made. Snow can be stored in jars or sealable silicone bags. Modeling is also a good sensory activity. Choose a ready-made modeling clay or prepare a salt dough: 3 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 1/2 cups warm water, and 1 tablespoon oil. Again, the sensation of kneading is more important than the result.
7) Sort & String
Repeating an action or pattern also has a calming effect. Stringing beads is a fun activity (again, focus on the act, not the result). Small toys, such as Grapat’s Mandala series, are great for arranging and sorting mandalas (a toy or sorting basket is helpful, but sorting can be done in any box or bowl, just look in your kitchen cupboard).
8) Hugs
Petting or hugging with someone you trust, such as mom or dad, stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin, which is said to reduce stress. This has the effect of reducing stress.
Let us know if these few tips have helped in the comments below!
