FAMILY HEALTH C oral Spr ing s & Par k la nd S por ts & Act iv it ie s D i r e ct o r y | I ssu e 31 | Fe br u a r y - A p r i l 20 22
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To Do in 2022 (For your kids & possibly you too!) Dr. Olivia Carelli & Dr. David Yudell
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et me start by promising no more rhyming. 1) Monitor electronic and screen usage. All devices these days have a usage clock. But how can we put a limit on socialization? Or online schooling? Our children rely on their devices for everything. If you find that your child seems to always be on electronics, start by sharing your concerns with them. From there, you can place some reasonable limits. One suggestion that can be implemented is a 1 for 1 (or 2 for 2) usage timer. For every hour of use, enforce the same amount of time off of electronics before they can return. If they spend two hours on their computer, they need to then spend two hours outside, playing with legos, or completing a puzzle before returning. 2) Spend more time with your children. It is easy to get caught up in day-to-day responsibilities of adulthood. However, there’s nothing more important to provide our child with than consistent attention. Spending time with your children can build their self-esteem and even improve their academic performance. Studies also show that “special time” will decrease behavioral and substance use issues for our children. As many parents know, children grow quickly and may even seem different day-to-day. Cherish the moments! 3) Help your children be present-focused. For those of you with older children, help them to focus on the here and now. Our high school aged children face immense pressure. College is always on their mind in addition to fitting into social hierarchies and living up to peer expectations. For our college-aged children, the focus on career and future is realistic. However, we need to help them remember that there is not rush in building their happiness and success. Anxiety is typically a future-oriented emotion. We can help our kids manage anxiety by teaching them to focus on what they have power over in the present moment.
4) Help your children connect with nature. Nature provides countless opportunities for discovery, creativity, and problem solving. There are many studies regarding the benefits of nature which include stress relief, improved short-term memory, improved concentration, creativity, and improved overall mental health. Interestingly, one study showed that when compared to kids who were relatively indifferent, adolescents who rated their connection with nature as “important” had a 25% reduction in stress-related symptoms. Exposure to nature at an early age also helps children build appreciation and respect for the environment. 5) Normalize talking about emotions. We can help children develop emotional awareness by giving them the vocabulary they need. We all know the typical, expected mundane response to “How was school today?” is “good.” Try more pointed questions such as “How did you feel during your math test?,” or “What parts of today were the hardest?” You can also lead by example by disclosing your own emotions. For example “I’m feeling pretty sad after that movie. How do you feel?” 6) Model healthy emotions for your children. Kids learn to self-soothe and display healthy emotions by watching us and modeling. It’s okay for your kid to see you cry, open up to others, and get upset at your partner. In fact, healthy arguments can be better than the absence of any discord. Children pick up on what conversations look like when adults don’t agree on something and mimic that behavior in their own arguments. Hopefully, we can model staying calm and respectful during difficult conversations. For further information and support please contact us at 954-288-9393 or email DrYudell@DrYudell.com.
