Does your child ever get to be lazy? Does your child ever have down time? Does your child get to do nothing, have no plans, or just plain waste time?
If not, maybe he/she needs this kind of time.
In today’s society, true down time is harder and harder to come by. Families are often over committed. Days in child care programs are often filled with scheduled activities and little opportunity for free play. Yet children, as well as adults, need time each day to relax and recover from daily activities.
It will take a conscious effort to incorporate time in each day for quiet, but the children will benefit, and it will make your life easier. You will have a happier and healthier child if his stress level is lowered.
Try some of these ideas below for a calming summer.
Have a day with no plans! Set no alarm clock, no goals for the day, no errands—just be.
Play board games
Turn off TV, don’t answer phones
Take a blanket outside—watch the clouds, listen to nature
Take a nap
Use no electronic devices—computer, IPOD, head phones, video games
Bring out the crayons, drawing paper, arts and crafts items
Read a book
Climb trees, wade in a creek, work in the garden
Cook a new food
Write a letter
Visit an elderly person
Stay in pajamas all day
Camp out in the back yard
Try origami
For other quiet activities, check out this website: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/quiet_games_and_activities.htm
Written by Sarah Williams, Inclusion Specialist
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