Posts Tagged ‘stress’
Brain Breaks for Kids and Why they are so Important
“It’s time to do homework.” 😱
This simple phrase is often dreaded by kids and parents. And it’s understandable.
With so many changes this year, including much more learning from home, parents want to stay involved in their children’s education more than ever. But spending too much time on homework only seems to lead to distraction, frustration or exhaustion (or all of the above).
It might feel like a constant battle, and homework stress can lead to burnout and anxiety for kids if you’re not careful.
That’s why brain breaks for kids are so important for reducing stress and keeping kids motivated to learn!
Read the entire article at ProdigyGame.com
Check out TLC Family Care Pinterest board for more ideas to get the whole family moving.
TLC For Kids, Inc. has been St. Louis’ premier nanny and babysitting agency for over 30 years. TLC For Kids’ dedicated staff is ready to assist you in finding nannies, tutors, newborn care specialists, sitters and more in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Sarasota, St. Louis, Tampa and more!. Reach us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or 314-725-5660.
Mindfulness for Kids
“When we teach mindfulness to kids, we equip them with tools to build self-esteem, manage stress, and skillfully approach challenges. Explore our guide on how to introduce mindfulness and meditation to your children—at any age.”
By teaching children meditation and mindfulness skills we help them increase their well-being and enable them to meet the stresses of the world with presence, self-compassion, and openness.
In order to help kids of all ages find their way into practicing mindfulness, it can be helpful to give them an easy definition they can relate to.
A Definition of Mindfulness Meditation for Children
Mindfulness meditation, at its simplest, is paying attention to what is happening in the present moment. It may be what you’re feeling, hearing, or anything else you notice. There’s no special place of calm you have to reach and it’s not about clearing your mind, it’s just an honest and kind look at what you’re experiencing in this moment.
Read the entire article on Mindful.org. Check out our Pinterest board for more Mindfulness for Kids suggestions.
Putting Things into Perspective
Even if you’re not a parent, it’s sometimes very difficult to put things into perspective. Life is filled with unexpected twists and turns, many of which are quite frightening.
When you’re a parent, these unexpected roadblocks typically seem all the more daunting. After all, it’s your job to protect your children and assist them in making the best decisions, now and in the future. The following tips are suggestions to help you put things in perspective, as quickly and seamlessly as possible. Honestly, it can be done! All it takes is a little bit of practice.
Image by rawpixel.com
Technically, putting something into perspective is comparing it to a similar situation. The end result is a clear, more accurate understanding of the problem. It can also mean coming to the realization that you now understand the importance of something.
Stay Calm
One of the most crucial things when trying to put things into perspective, is to remain calm… or at least as calm as possible. Take three or four deep breaths. Briefly, close your eyes and try to envision yourself relaxing on the beach or one of your favorite destinations. Listen to music, pull up an app such as Calm or Insight Timer or Headspace. Find an outlet that works for you in the moment.
Doing your best to stay calm allows you to take control of the situation and come to a resolution as soon as possible.
Consider the Feelings of Others
In a perfect world, everyone would be considerate of the feelings of others. When perspective is an issue, try to put yourself in the shoes of all of the other people involved. What are their motives? What do they fear? Why are they behaving this way? These are just a few questions to think about.
Everyone is different. No two people look at a situation exactly the same. Before you say anything that may end up hurting someone’s feelings, step into their shoes. It really makes a difference.
Take a Break
If all else fails, take a break. Put younger kids down for a short nap or if you have older kids who don’t need constant supervision, take a walk around the block. This gives everyone the chance to cool off and think about things in a rational manner.
At this point, you can even talk to yourself a bit (if only in your mind). Doing so might prevent you from overreacting. Overreacting only upsets everyone and elevates the problem.
Remember that you’re the adult. If the situation is causing your children to be upset, seeing you upset will only make things worse. Let’s face it, life is stressful for everyone at times. No one is immune to stress-free parenting.
Now that we’ve talked a bit more about the best ways to put things into perspective, hopefully it’s helped you stay on the right track. Of course, at times, you’ll still feel a challenge. There’s no way around it. But, the more you make use of these tips, the better off you’ll eventually be. Just take it one day at a time and as the saying goes… “don’t sweat the small stuff!” You’re certainly not alone. And, in reality, the world would be a boring place if everybody had the same perspective, wouldn’t it?
Check out our Pinterest board for suggestions on Mindfulness for Adults.
TLC For Kids, Inc. has been St. Louis’ premier nanny and babysitting agency for over 30 years. TLC For Kids’ dedicated staff is ready to assist you in finding nannies, tutors, newborn care specialists, sitters and more in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Sarasota, St. Louis, Tampa and more!. Reach us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or 314-725-5660.
Surround Yourself with Positives
Most of us have a lot of stress in our lives today. Some of it is due to the fast-paced society that we live in and some of it is self-inflicted due to who we choose to spend our 
time with. Much of it may be attributed to COVID-19, work or lack of, online learning and so much uncertainty. The fact is, misery loves company. If you want to live a positive and happy life, surround yourself with positive things and positive people. The more positive energy you manifest into the world, the more positive you’ll get back.
Set Specific Goals for Yourself
Whether it has to do with diet, exercise, or being positive, set realistic and specific goals that have a timetable so that you know when you’re supposed to be done with the goal. Write down the goal and the steps that you’ll take to reach the goal. Then add it to your calendar. Feeling accomplished will automatically make you feel more positive.
Nip Negative Self-Talk in the Bud
If you want to be more positive, start with yourself. When you feel your mind go toward negative self-talk, change it around to positive. Instead of, “I am fat,” change your words to, “I am healthy and I am eating right to make myself even healthier.” Even if it’s not immediately true, the more you tell yourself it’s true, the more you’ll seek to make the behavior match the feeling.
Listen to Happy Music
Find the most uplifting and positive music that you can find and put it on your play list. Try listening to the positive and happy music at least once a day. If you can figure out what time of day you are generally prone to negativity, try listening to that music before that time comes.
Read a Lot of Happy and Positive Books
There is no shortage of positive books to read in the library or on Kindle. There are even a lot of free inspirational books available on Kindle. Keep your eyes open for the free offers; join a group on Facebook that helps you find positive free books to read on Kindle. Try to read one positive book each month.
Find Positive People to Make Your Friends
Remember that positive people generally want to hang around with other positive people. Therefore, if you want to meet more people who fit that description, you’ll need to focus your thoughts and actions more on the positive than the negative. Otherwise you’ll turn them off and they won’t want to be around you, which could backfire on your new positive world. Set up weekly Zoom chats with friends and family. Consider a Facebook video call with a different friend each day – just to check up on each other and let others know you are available for support and conversation.
Practice Daily Affirmations
The character Stuart Smalley made fun of affirmations in his famous skits on Saturday Night Live but the truth is, it works. You can use the mirror self-talk or you can use a journal to write down five good and positive thoughts every single day to help you focus your thoughts in a positive direction.
Reorganize and Decorate Your Home
Take this time to tackle projects. If you currently live in disorganization and clutter it can be very difficult to think positively. Try to work on one room at a time to redesign your life so that your surroundings are uncluttered and attractive. For organizational tips try visiting FlyLady.net which has many tips on how to get your home organized easily.
Surrounding yourself with positives is something that is very realistic and something that you can accomplish. Choose one thing at a time to work on, giving yourself a time limit on when you will accomplish adding every one of these positives to your life. You will be glad you did it.
To assist with the current crisis, TLC is temporarily offering FREE MEMBERSHIP and DISCOUNTED AGENCY FEES to all Medical Professionals and First Responders. We know you cannot work at home and want to help you ensure you have solid care arrangements for your loved ones. Call TLC at 314.725.5660 to learn more and get started.
TLC For Kids, Inc. has been St. Louis’ premier nanny and babysitting agency for over 30 years. TLC For Kids’ dedicated staff is ready to assist you in finding nannies, tutors, newborn care specialists, sitters and more in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Sarasota, St. Louis, Tampa and more!. Reach us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or 314-725-5660.