Rest
Recovery
Relaxation
Kids are like wind-up toys.
Without that coil being tightened, they don’t spring to action.
The coil can be likened to good nutrition and rest. Without these key daily ingredients, you have an irritable child (or pick a label… ADD, etc).
How to maximize your chances for the 2 key ingredients…
1. Plenty of activity
2. Get involved
Approx 18 months ago our lives were ‘turned upside down’ when we decided not to replace our stolen 50 inch LCD TV.
We gave the kids a choice… Trampoline or TV. They chose wisely. And they’ve been bouncing and jumping everyday since.
From kids who continually asked for ABC Kids to be switched on first thing in the morning, we now have kids that ask to go outside and play as they get out of bed.
I grew up with TV, but I didn’t grow up with Internet, iPhones, iPads, Game Boys, Play Stations, etc.
I strongly believe kids have lost their way in as little as one generation. To get them back to outside, unstructured, imaginative play seems more of a rarity these days than what should be common place.
There’s no need to throw out your perfectly good TV set/s. However, drastically reducing viewing time is a great start. I often hear (way too often) from clients or patients… “but I just don’t have time for exercise.” I’ve found in the past 18 months that I just don’t have time for TV. Life is full of choices. Use your time to create more energy… i.e. Exercise creates energy. The more energy you have, the more you’re able to do with your time.
Get involved with the activity and exercise that your kids are doing. You, the parent, are the number one role model for your child (at least for the first few years of their lives). Maintain that relationship for as long as possible by displaying your energy and enthusiasm for activity and exercise.
Swim like a fish
Ride like the wind
Run like you stole something.
