Tween the Weekend: Recharging your Child’s Battery…

Yay summer! School’s out. Vacation is in. Or is it? Summer can be just as crazy and crammed full of activities as the school year, and sometimes parents tend to over-schedule their kids throughout the course of the summer. Baseball, day camps, swimming lessons, and golf lessons are all part of the summer experience, but these activities can also suck precious energy levels from your kids and leave them feeling drained. Let’s face it the small child doesn’t know when he is excessively tired. But he surely shows it in his behavior and actions. And the adolescent may realize she is over-fatigued, but refuses to admit it—even to herself.

If your kids are normally well-balanced, their batteries may need recharging when they act and feel:

·         Unduly sleepy or tired

·         Tactless, unfriendly, suspicious

·         Querulous, insulting, hostile

·         Irritable, sarcastic, mean

·         Nervous, excitable, hysterical

·         Worrisome, fearful, jealous

·         Rash, ruthless, excessively selfish

·         Excessively emotional, depressed, or frustrated

When YOU are fatigued your usually positive, desirable feelings, emotions, thoughts, and actions have a tendency to turn negative. It’s the same with kids. And when you are rested and in good health, the direction is changed back to positive. Fatigue often brings out the worst in people. So how do you go about recharging your child’s battery (or your own for that matter) when his or her energy level is zero?

Relax: Going for a nice long walk is a wonderful way to relax emotionally and mentally. As you put your physical body into motion, your thoughts and feelings seem to relax all by themselves. Even something as simple as watching a TV show or a movie allows you to unwind and have some time to chill with the children.  

Play: Instead of an organized activity (baseball, tennis, soccer, etc.), do something fun, and that has no structure. Throw a Frisbee around the park or beach, go for a bike ride, fly a kite, or get the family together around the table for a board or card game. The possibilities are endless. 

Rest: Have some down time by reading a good book in a hammock or a favorite comfy chair. Pick an activity that’s not too taxing. Even a short nap can help rejuvenate the body and mind.

Sleep: Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night. I know this is a no-brainer when it comes to recharging your battery, but this is so important for a growing body and mind.

Can you add anything to the list above? Remember, EVERYONE needs a period of renewal to calm

your mind and rejuvenate your body, including our kids! Please click HERE or on the EMBLAZON icon on the right sidebar to go and meet other awesome TWEEN authors today…