Stress Free Kids

Sports for Young Girls

Rick@Admin — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 08:00:15 +0000

In today’s world, the importance of sports for young girls cannot be overstated. From building confidence to fostering teamwork, participation in sports provides countless benefits that extend far beyond the playing field. As an athlete myself, I’ve seen firsthand how sports can shape a young girl’s life, offering lessons that last a lifetime.

Building Confidence and Self-Esteem

For many girls, sports are a powerful tool to build confidence and self-esteem. Whether scoring a goal, mastering a new skill, or simply being part of a team, these experiences provide a sense of accomplishment. This confidence often translates into other areas of life, helping girls to believe in themselves and their abilities, whether in the classroom or social situations.

Promoting Physical and Mental Health

Physical activity is essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and sports offer a fun and engaging way for girls to stay active. Regular exercise through sports helps to build strong muscles and bones, improves cardiovascular health, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. Additionally, the mental health benefits are significant. Sports can help alleviate stress, improve mood, and provide a positive emotional outlet.

Developing Leadership and Teamwork Skills

Sports teach girls valuable life skills, such as leadership and teamwork. Being part of a team requires cooperation, communication, and the ability to work towards a common goal. These skills are not only important on the field but are also crucial in school, work, and personal relationships. Leadership roles within sports teams, such as captain or organizing team activities, further enhance a girl’s ability to take charge and make decisions.

Breaking Down Gender Stereotypes

Historically, sports have been dominated by men, but girls and women have made tremendous strides in breaking down gender stereotypes in sports. By participating in sports, girls challenge outdated notions of femininity and how to be strong, competitive, and athletic. This shift is not only empowering for the girls themselves but also helps to change societal perceptions of what girls and women can achieve. The recent Olympics has put a highlight on how far woman’s sports has come.

My Experience as an Athlete

Reflecting on my own experience as an athlete, I can attest to the profound impact that sports have had on my life. Playing field hockey in high school and later at the University of Rhode Island Division I level, I learned the importance of discipline, perseverance, and resilience. These experiences not only shaped my athletic career but also influenced my approach to challenges in life. They instilled a deep sense of sportsmanship, which I later channeled into writing a children’s book.

Girls’ participation in sports is not just about competition; it’s about building a foundation for success in life. The benefits are immense, whether it’s gaining confidence, staying healthy, developing leadership skills, or challenging societal norms. As someone who has lived the journey, I am passionate about encouraging more girls to get involved in sports. The lessons learned on the field are invaluable, and every girl deserves to experience a sense of empowerment.

Linda Herron is a children’s author, proud Rhode Islander, and identical twin who loves to craft heartwarming tales about the magic bond between siblings. With first-hand experience of the joys and struggles that being an identical twin entails, Linda was inspired to write a series of fun children’s stories to help kids embrace their differences and cherish their special relationship with their sister or brother. As a seasoned financial expert by day, when Linda isn’t dreaming up new children’s stories to delight and entertain her readers, she’s writing business articles and blogs. Her financial expertise has been featured on major media outlets including American Express, LendingTree, and Daily Business News. Currently, Linda enjoys the sunny weather in California, but she often returns to Rhode Island to spend time with her beloved family. For more information about Linda and her books, visit her website at www.lherron.com.

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STRESS BUSTER: Dirt, Seeds, Gardening with Kids!

Rick@Admin — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 08:06:19 +0000

This week I watched my daughter plan, select, and plant a small flower garden with her friend. A few days later she and her dad planted tomato and cucumber seeds at my kitchen table. My husband and daughter side by side; two mad scientists bonding, scheming, and planting not just cucumber seeds…but seeds of joy and memories. I was so grateful for the relationship my children have with their dad. Gardening or just planting has always been his thing. It’s a great Mom thing too…but sometimes its just perfect for me to step aside and let Dad do his thing!

The National Gardening Association says that the act of gardening benefits kids’ health, well-being, and attitude towards learning. This stress reducing activity also builds self-esteem and creativity while fostering bonds with nature and family.

Benefits of Gardening with Kids:

Children & teens gain a sense of pride and accomplishment
Creates bonding opportunities with parents, sibling, friends
Reduces stress
Gives kids outdoor physical activity
Encourages healthy eating
Increases responsibility
Creates environmental awareness
Teaches nurturing and patience
Stimulates a desire to learn
Increases self-belief, self-esteem and creativity

Tips:

Make it fun! Plants are resilient and gardening does not need to be perfect. Let the kids make mistakes…It will grow any way!
Keep kids motivated. Plant some quick growing plants like corn, cucumbers, sunflowers, and radish.
Encourage independence and creativity. Let kids make selections and plan garden or pots.
Grow herbs. Choose a few the kids can pick to add to sauces, dips, and stews like basil and oregano. Grow lavender for its relaxation properties. Kids can pick and place fresh lavender near their pillow….ahhh….
Encourage responsibility. Help kids create a schedule for watering and weed control.
Indoor plants work too. No outdoor space? Don’t let that stop you.Venus Flytraps, terrariums, or a Chia pet provide similar benefits. Even a Lima Bean in a jar is magical!
Keep it Simple…and Stress Free! Nice tips on Seeds That Are Easy to Grow!

Interesting Facts:

Lavender is a known stress reliever.
Rose fragrance has been used to help cope with anger and grief.
Children with ADHD benefit from access to green spaces. The greener the space the better the children’s functioning.
Gardening reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and helps fight depression.
A study done by Kaiser Permanente showed the brainwave activity of a gardener mirrored that of someone praying or meditating
Children with access to green outdoor spaces play more creatively and score higher on tests of self-discipline
Garden therapy has been adapted to almost every kind of medical situation and social service, including Alzheimer’s and Autism.
Neighborhoods that have gardens may see a decrease in crime. Buildings with little or no vegetation compared to buildings with high levels of greenery had 48 percent fewer property crimes and 56 percent fewer violent crimes.
Growing vegetables may even help fight childhood obesity! The American Dietetic Association found that children who garden eat more fruits and vegetables.

Our Garden of Wellness CD introduces to children to stories designed to motivate healthy eating, positive body image, and acceptance of others. Garden based visualizations and breathing empower children to use stress management techniques!

Listen to a sample of Indigo Dreams: Garden of Wellness.

Indigo Dreams: Rainforest Relaxation is full of green sounds On YouTube!

Stress Free Kids founder Lori Lite is a freelance blogger, social media strategist, parenting expert, and successful entrepreneur. Her line of books and CDs are designed to help children, teens, and adults decrease stress, anxiety, and anger. Ms. Lite’s books, CDs, and lesson plans are considered a resource for parents, psychologists, therapists, child life specialists, teachers, doctors, and yoga instructors. Lori’s award winning books received national attention on Shark Tank and her sort after accessible tips have been featured in hundreds of publications to include: CNN Living, Real Simple Magazine, USA Today, Family Circle, Working Mother Magazine, and Web MD. For more information visit Stress Free Kids and for daily advice follow Lori on Twitter and Facebook.

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Kids Make Mistakes. How Parents Respond Makes a Difference

Rick@Admin — Sun, 12 May 2024 08:10:49 +0000

Obviously, kids make mistakes, but it is how we, as parents, respond to these mistakes that can make a significant difference. Our upbringing often shapes our responses, but it is possible to break the cycle. In this personal account, Kelsey shares how she is actively choosing a different parenting response to a mistake to make a positive impact.

by Kelsey Hufford

This morning my 9 year old spilled coffee (90% creamer) all over the kitchen right in the middle of the morning rush to get everyone to school on time. I’m talking all over. It spread over the entire countertop, dripped down into two drawers, down inside two lower cabinet doors, and splattered all over the floor including all down herself.

30 minutes later she had showered and changed, and I had rewashed all of the silverware as it had dripped into the organizer tray plus about 16 clean dishes and bowls, cleaned inside the drawers and cabinets, and mopped the floor twice to get up all the sticky milk and sugar.

This left about 15 minutes together before it was time to leave for school. And those minutes would be the determining factor for the rest of her day.

The whole time I cleaned I felt her eyes on me, feeling bad she had made a mess, and trying to discern if I was upset. Once it was all cleaned up I told her two things I never heard growing up but desperately needed. I sat her down, held her hands, and told her, “I love you more than any mess you could ever make, and I can’t be upset with you when I’m an adult and still make accidental messes too.”

She looked up at me, smiled and said, “Thanks for not being mad mama.”

I said, “Ya know what we have now?”

She looked at me puzzled and shrugged. “A really clean spot on the floor, and a super clean kitchen,” I winked.

Her smile got even bigger, she hugged me tight and went to spend her day at school knowing she was loved unconditionally.

I read that “clean spot on the floor” somewhere a long time ago, and it stuck with me because accidental messes were always met with yelling, belittling, and punishments growing up. It was just one of the many things that fostered an impossible drive for perfectionism and believing that I had to earn love and acceptance.

The funny thing is after she got taken to school, the dog vomited on the carpet. And while it was frustrating, I said to myself “Welp, another clean spot on the floor” while I scrubbed on my hands and knees. A few other things happened this morning that certainly weren’t how I envisioned the day going but because I had already been redirecting my brain to either find a positive or just accept that life often doesn’t go as planned, the subsequent events didn’t send me into a spiral where I just let the rest of the day and my mood go down the drain.

I’ve always tried to be gentle and strive for connection-based parenting due to my upbringing and wanting to break those cycles. But it hasn’t always looked this way. I’ve failed plenty of times and had to ask their forgiveness. And I want you to know there is nothing to sit in shame over if your parenting hasn’t or doesn’t look like this.

It’s taken many years, lots of hard looks in the mirror, and tackling traumas head on to reach this point. And I’m still far from perfect. Be willing to fail your way forward and forgive yourself along the way.

It’s not always easy to focus on the “clean spots” or shake off stuff that happens in life. But it is possible with intentionality, and it’s a cycle I am committed to breaking.

For myself.

For my children.

For their children.

For the people I come in contact with.

Life is not easy. Mistakes and accidents happen. None of us are anywhere near close to perfect. So as much as the “messes” in life are frustrating and sometimes exhausting, prioritize the relationship with yourself and your family, give grace as often as you can, and celebrate the “clean spots” you’ll have when it’s over.

Kelsey Hufford is a Certified Life & Mindset Coach, mom of 6, and advocate for personal healing and growth that leads to fulfillment, peace, and joy in the journey of life.

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50+ Summer Activities for Tweens

Rick@Admin — Sat, 11 May 2024 08:14:25 +0000

Note to Readers: Raising tweens was best described by Julie Ross on The Oprah show as, “Tweens may look sweet and innocent, but raising them can be like hugging a porcupine!” To avoid the quills, tweens need time to rejuvenate, relax, and reconnect with themselves and their parents. They still want to “play” but feel the need to be “cool” and often resort to just sitting around texting or watching movies and complaining of boredom. Thanks to Tween Parent founders Judith and Suzanna for sharing these activities for tweens.

by Judith King-Murray

School will soon be out for summer! Picnics, baseball games, swimming…when school is out, the fun begins for our tweens! If summer camp isn’t in the mix
(or only part of the summer agenda), it might be helpful to identify some summer plans to offset the much-needed respite of unstructured time and the dreaded preteen boredom. Further complicating matters, starting at around 10 or 11, preteens crave freedom and begin to campaign for unsupervised time. So, when we combine the desire for unstructured time, unsupervised time and boredom-busting activities, we are launched into the juggling act we call summer!

If you’re a planner by nature, you may want to create a comprehensive calendar that plots all activities (including unstructured/free time). If not, you might just create a list of interesting activities and post it in a convenient location for reference. This could help prevent the anxiety that your preteen might have about being bored and stay ahead of the much-anticipated phrase, “There’s nothing to do!”

One more thing…allowing tweens to be a bit bored isn’t a bad thing. As we all know, life isn’t always fun and games!

50+ Activities for Inspiration:

Create a summer scrapbook or album to document highlights
Set up a lemonade stand (and sell hand-crafted items too)
Identify toys and clothes that are no longer used and sell at a stand
Rearrange/redecorate tweens’s room (identify a few new features)
Set up an outdoor movie theatre for a night of viewing and treats
Outfit your tween with rollerblades or rollerskates
Go fishing in a nearby stream or lake
Read the same book together and talk about it
Throw a tea party or sports party (with no presents and no goody bags!)
Organize a neighborhood treasure hunt
Build a fort in your yard
Volunteer for a good cause
Organize a neighborhood dog wash or car wash
Play night tag (with flashlights)
Learn to jump rope and share jumping rhymes (perhaps double-dutch?)
Play charades
Create a summer-end talent show, with practices throughout the summer
Organize a bike parade and include prizes for decoration style
Host a game of Bingo
Research star patterns and star gaze at night; look for shooting stars
Camp out on your porch, deck or lawn
Learn how to use a compass
Keep a weather journal and talk about weather patterns
Schedule family movie nights; look back in the archives for classics
Sleepover at a relative’s house
Plan amusement park trips
Host a board game tournament
Schedule a hike or picnic
Have hopscotch supplies available for a quick game, whenever
Plan community pool/picnic to meet up with other neighborhood friends
Attend a local ballgame
Make a tween-prepared family dinner
Attend a fireworks display
Create artwork (buy “canvases” and acrylic paints/brushes at a craft store)
Find a pen pal online and begin an email correspondence
Start a band
Have a water balloon “fight” outside the house
Visit a zoo
Introduce your tween to a foreign language
Recycle bottles and donate the money to a local charity
Attend an outdoor concert
Make a movie or create a play
Go to a museum
Research your family tree
Fly a kite
Build and bury a time capsule
Volunteer at an animal shelter
Organize a scavenger hunt
Go swimming
Sign up for a sewing lesson
Visit a National Park
Roast marshmallows (and add some chocolate and graham crackers!)
Build an evening bonfire
Create a garden area and grow vegetables

Judith King-Murray is a co-founder of http://www.tweenparent.com/ a website for parents of middle school-aged kids, and the mother of a tween.

Raising tweens is easier when parents introduce them to stress-management techniques. Download Indigo Teen Dreams and help teens & tweens increase self-esteem and reduce stress.

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Easter Tips For Family Fun

Rick@Admin — Sat, 30 Mar 2024 10:07:37 +0000

Easter tips for family fun allow you to put your own creative spin on Easter and incorporate stress management.

I can still see my daughter with her hands on her hips declaring her truth. “I understand the Tooth Fairy and Santa, but really now, a giant Easter Bunny hopping from house to house hiding eggs?” Holidays are a wonderful excuse to reconnect with family, share stories, look for signs of hope, explore relaxation, and spark your creativity. It doesn’t matter if you celebrate a particular holiday, or you just want to believe that a giant bunny hops from house to house hiding eggs. Use this hopeful holiday to create your own family day.

Tips:

Keep the magic alive by putting some carrots in the mailbox for the Easter Bunny. Be sure to leave some good bite marks on them.

Extend the fun by hiding plastic eggs with words in them. When the kids collect all of the words can work together to assemble them into a sentence. The sentence is a clue to where their present is hidden. For more than one child, use a different color of paper for each child’s sentence.

Be creative and think out of the candy box. A gift can be tickets to a movie, clothes, jump ropes, seeds, or toys. One year my children were surprised to receive bags of wild flower seeds with instructions to disperse them on a nearby hill. We had hours of fun. Think of crocus or daffodils to plant in a pot or ground. A Chia pet can add a splash of springtime to any window.

Create new traditions. Set up a spring colored picnic blanket outside (or inside if it is cold out). Set out colorful feathers, plastic eggs, and flowers from the dollar store. Glue them onto straw hats or even umbrellas. Be sure to include dad. See who can make the funniest hat. Wear your hats when you go on an Easter egg hunt that the kids set up for you. Make it a tradition to wear them as you go on an annual Easter hike. Even silly traditions take hold and encourage family bonds.

Encourage emotional intelligence and stress management. Print out positive statements or affirmations and glue them onto eggs. “I am starting fresh.” “I am growing.” “I am full of life.” Experience and talk about rabbit energy. Hop around like a rabbit and float on a breeze like a bird. Discuss when it is good to use rabbit energy and when it is helpful to have bird energy. Talk about the colors of the eggs and flowers. Do the different colors evoke different feelings? Does light blue make you feel relaxed? Does orange make you feel happy? How does holding the egg make you feel? Is it relaxing to roll it around in your hands? Can you look at egg and only think of the egg for any amount of time? How does it feel to stop the chatter in your head? Stress management lesson plans and relaxing stories make this possible all year long.

Be colorful and roll it forward. Arts and crafts are endless for this holiday. Find new ways to color eggs. Cover eggs in scotch tape before dipping. Let dry and remove tape for fun effect. Let older siblings help younger so they create their own special bonds and memories. Don’t micromanage. Roll it forward by asking each child to color a special egg to give to a neighbor, a senior citizen, anyone that could use their spirits lifted.

Get kids moving and outdoors. Invite children’s friends over to decorate their bicycles with a spring theme. Go on a scavenger hunt looking for signs of new life. Take a camera for photos. Paint or make a birdhouse to hang up. Remember to look up too. The very act of looking up can lift our spirits.

Share and learn what eggs symbolize to various cultures. Discuss your religious symbolism or create your own personal meaning. Encourage children to share what an egg means to them. The celebration of new life, rebirth, new chances, new hope? The circle of life, abundance, joy, newness, feeling strong, feeling fragile, breaking out of our shell?

Look up and add Easter trivia and Easter egg facts to your conversation. Did you know that the first Easter baskets were designed to look like a bird’s nest?

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Stress Tips for Thanksgiving

Rick@Admin — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 01:05:03 +0000

Family holidays are meant for relaxing around a leisurely meal with friends and loved ones. A few tips for Thanksgiving can get your family to the table with more smiles and less stress.

Prepare Your Children For Gatherings: Eliminate unnecessary anxiety associated with family gatherings. Look through photos of relatives the day before your event. Play memory games matching names to faces. This will help your children feel more comfortable with people they may not have seen in a while. Aunt Mary won’t seem quite so scary when she bends down to greet your child.

Write Things Down: Getting the constant chatter and lists out of your head decreases stress and anxiety. Kids love making lists. Give them a clip board or dry erase board. Assign them each a list. This will help you relax and help your children feel involved. Make sure they write “take a deep breath” and “laugh” somewhere on your list.

Incorporate Affirmations/Positive Statements Into Your Thanksgiving Dinner: This is empowering and reflective. Each person at the table can state an attribute of their own that they are thankful for. For example, “I am thankful that I am creative.” Feeling stressed? Try, “I am thankful that I am calm.” Your special needs child can prepare ahead with a drawing or sign language if they want to participate without speaking.

Don’t Rush: It’s simple; none of us are very good at rushing in a relaxed way. The two just do not go together. It is impossible for children or teens to rush. Make sure you leave enough time to enjoy the journey. Children with special needs should be given notice of transitions.

Schedule Downtime: Don’t overbook your children. It’s important to use this time for relaxation. Try staying in pajamas till noon. Pop your favorite popcorn and watch a movie when you wake up. You’ll be surprised how an hour or two of relaxing can rejuvenate your children’s bodies, minds, and spirits. Set up a safe space your child can enjoy downtime when they feel overstimulated at your house or at your relatives. Bring earphones and their special relaxation music or stories. The Indigo Dreams Series gives you choices and actual relaxation techniques.

Shopping: Avoid taking your children shopping on the busiest shopping days of the year. The chaos, noise of large crowds, and long lines will definitely add stress to your life. If your child is absolutely known to meltdown during shopping you can select a few gifts and bring them home. Set up a shopping experience in your home for your child. The whole family can participate. Have a checkout counter and a gift wrapping table.

Be Flexible: Don’t argue with your relatives just to win small arguments. Be an example of calm and peace to your children. Tell them what you are doing. Ask them to be flexible with the other children at the gathering. Discuss possible issues you know will come up, like sharing. Role-play solutions. Remind teens to be patient when listening to stories from Uncle Joe.

Let The Children Participate: Let your teen create place cards or a centerpiece. Let you little ones put the forks and napkins out. Let them draw a special Thanksgiving picture to place on your guest’s chair. Be prepared to accept their participation as perfect and wonderful. Restrain from correcting or straightening out the napkins.

Share Memories: Take a stroll down memory lane. Laugh at Thanksgivings past. Think of some of your favorite things you did as a child during fall. Go outside after dinner and step on leaves and crunch acorns with your children. Help them make a pile of leaves and jump in with them. It is easy to get caught up in the holidays and some of our most memorable were the ones that we kept simple.

Happy Thanksgiving from Stress Free Kids!

Learn to handle stress better with Indigo Dreams: Adult Relaxation…made by a real mom…feeling real stress…

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Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress

Rick@Admin — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 08:47:06 +0000

Stress is contagious…but so is joy! The American Psychology Association noted that 91% of children are aware of parent stress. Most holidays, but especially at the end of the year holiday time bring an increase in emotions, spending, entertaining, traveling, changes in routine, and family stress.

Here are some tips reduce holiday stress, promote family, and make room for more joy.

Keep various Christmas hats, jingle bells, antlers, small instruments, and elf shoes in an open nearby container. Creative fun for kids, teens, and adults! Join in and lead a parade around your apartment or house. Laugh and you will enjoy less stress and more joy. Film it and share with relatives during the holidays. Children want your time more than presents. Do I hear spontaneous music and laughing?
Entertaining can cause chaos and stress for the host and their children. Children are often overloaded and over stimulated in a party environment. Try having smaller gatherings instead of one big blow out. Set up a safe space your child can enjoy downtime when they feel over-stimulated at your house or at your relatives. Bring earphones and their special relaxation music or stories. The Indigo Dreams Series gives you choices and actual relaxation techniques. You can download it to their iPod.
Give children age-appropriate assignments to help make the holiday joyful and memorable. Involving children creates memories, increases self-esteem, and strengthens family bonds. Resist the urge to redo their contribution…let the napkin be on the wrong side.
Introduce the relaxation techniques of breathing and affirmations to your family. Use positive statements like, “I am calm, I am happy, and I am grateful” each day. Take turns creating positive statements about yourself at breakfast or dinner. Encourage children to write their own affirmations and stick a few under their pillow or on their mirror.
Continue reading Tips Reduce Holiday Stress Part 2 and Tips Reduce Holiday Stress Part 3 Decreasing family stress will increase holiday joy! Our Indigo Dreams CD Series includes stories that introduce positive statements and breathing to you, your children, and your teens.

For daily advice follow Lori on Twitter and FaceBook. Look for STRESS FREE KIDS: A Parent’s Guide available now. Happy Holidays from Stress Free Kids.Lori Lite is a mom, founder of Stress Free Kids, and author. After helping her own children, Lori understood that her mission was to help other parents and children struggling with stress, anger, and self-esteem. Her award-winning titles are considered a resource for parents, psychologists, therapists, child life specialists, and teachers. Lori’s constant upbeat presence on social media has been awarded numerous accolades to include Top 100 Parenting Experts to follow on (@StressFreeKids) Twitter. Lori’s sought after practical tips have been featured in hundreds of media outlets, including CBS News, CNN Living, WebMD, and Family Circle magazine.

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Halloween Tips to Avoid Meltdowns!

Rick@Admin — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 16:55:00 +0000

Halloween Tips to Avoid Meltdowns with Kids

Enjoy these TRICKS to make sure your child’s Halloween experience is a TREAT! You and your children will benefit from these tips and most of them can be applied to children with special needs. Children with Aspergers, Autism, SPD, and general anxiety orders can enjoy Halloween with a few adjustments.

Be flexible. Do not make your definitions of a fun Halloween define your child’s expectation of fun. It is not necessary for children to have a full blown experience in order for them to have a good time. If your child wants to answer the door and hand out candy, then let them do that without guilt. If your child wants to sit on the porch and costume watch, then let them. If they just want to go to bed…… Trust me it will not matter when they go to college!
Decide and let children know ahead of time how many pieces of candy they are allowed to eat while trick-or-treating and after. Let them keep the wrapper to keep count. When they ask for more…ask them to count how many wrappers they have and let them answer their own question.
Head home before your child becomes tired. Do not wait for the meltdown. Think of a similar experience and calculate how long you think your child will last. Let your child know ahead of time how long you are going out for. Bring a timer if your child responds well to timers. Take breaks and check in with how your child is doing/feeling.
Consider your child’s needs. If they do not do well in a noisy group, schedule a friend to trick-or-treat with and stay away from the crowds. Avoid houses with screaming ghosts and flashing lights. You can even hand-pick a few supportive neighbors ahead of time to visit.
Costumes could be an entire essay. Most kids do not want to put a jacket over their costume. Direct your child to a weather-appropriate costume and consider long johns under the costume. The younger the child the bigger the comfort issue. If your child has sensory issues make the comfort of their costume a priority. Try it on ahead of time for comfort and have moleskin cloth available. Bring comfortable shoes or a sweater if your child refuses to leave the glass Cinderella slippers at home. Colored sweatpants and a sweatshirt with a hood make an easy costume. Bright yellow with a pair of sunglasses and you have the sun. Sew strips of fabric, yarn, or ears on a hood and you have a lion or a rainbow…Be creative!
Eat a healthy dinner before leaving the house.
Go early with young children…before it gets dark.
If your child has dietary restrictions, no problem. Let them collect the candy and sell it to you afterward. Items with peanuts get 5 cents each. A whole bar is 25 cents. Assign different values for different types. Kids love this exercise and will spend hours sorting the candy into their value groups. Take your child to their favorite store and let them spend their candy money on a treat! You can also carry 2 bags. One for the candy that seems OK upon first inspection and one bag that the parent carries for “no go” candy. This can eliminate meltdowns over candy later.
All that candy. Too much candy for one family? No problem. Let your child select a handful and leave the rest at the foot of the bed for the Halloween Fairy! If the fairy likes the candy, she will take it and leave a surprise gift in its place.

Stress Free Kids founder Lori Lite is a freelance blogger, social media strategist, parenting expert, and successful entrepreneur. Her line of books and CDs are designed to help children, teens, and adults decrease stress, anxiety, and anger. Ms. Lite’s books, CDs, and lesson plans are considered a resource for parents, psychologists, therapists, child life specialists, teachers, doctors, and yoga instructors. Lori’s award-winning books received national attention on Shark Tank and her sort-after accessible tips have been featured in hundreds of publications including CNN Living, Real Simple Magazine, USA Today, Family Circle, Working Mother Magazine, and Web MD. For more information visit Stress Free Kids and for daily advice follow Lori on Twitter and Facebook.

(Holiday tips are my favorite! Lots more in STRESS FREE KIDS: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Build Self-Esteem, Manage Stress, and Reduce Anxiety in Children http://amzn.to/16VwUlw )

Children can be active participants in creating fun and relaxation! Introduce stress and anger management techniques to your child with the Indigo Dreams CD. Anger management is easy with Angry Octopus, also available in Spanish.

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Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade Back-to-School

Rick@Admin — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 07:04:00 +0000

Going back-to-school can be a stressful time for children of any age. Preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade back-to-school challenges can be especially stressful for early learners. It can stir up various emotions for parents and children. The emotions range from the anxiety of meeting new students and teachers to the excitement of using new supplies.

Here are a few tips to foster a stress-free preschool, kindergarten, first grade back to school experience Pre-school

Separation anxiety is a common developmental stage for most preschoolers and their parents.

Check your own feelings. If you are anxious, your child is likely to feel anxious. Hence the phrase, “Kids pick up on everything.” Talk it out with your friend, not your preschooler. Over-explaining back-to-school could send your child the wrong message. Use stress management techniques to manage your own anxiety. Diaphragmatic breathing is easy and effective.
Practice saying “goodbye” or “see you later” long before the first day of school. Use a room in your house or apartment to practice being out of your preschooler’s sight. Start with very short periods of time (peek-a-boo style) and add additional time as your child becomes comfortable with separation. Peek-a-boo is an age-old early childhood game that generates laughs and reassurance that Mom or Dad will come back to them.

This is a great time to have your child experience how you say goodbye. Be consistent so that your child begins to associate it with not seeing you and then knowing that you come back. Read more tips on back to school stress.

Kindergarten

Children are nervous that they won’t know where to eat lunch or how to make friends. Thankfully most schools offer a “meet your teacher day.” This is time well spent and will put many of the unknowns to rest. Some neighborhoods have gatherings so that the children can meet other children before the first day of school. If not, you can set up a play date with a couple of the kids you know will be in your child’s class. This will eliminate the fear of not knowing anyone and create a degree of comfort when your child sees familiar faces.

First Grade

Stressing about the classroom environment is a common stressor for first graders.

For children, one of the biggest concerns is their teacher. They are worried that they will get a mean teacher or a strict teacher. You mustn’t encourage these concerns. Never let your child hear you speaking negatively about their teacher. Give your child a chance to bond with their teacher without any preconceived notions. Even the reputed mean teacher may become your child’s favorite.
Children at the first grade age can identify the things that they are concerned about. Ask them and talk it through to a positive outcome. Create a safe space for communication where you listen, acknowledge, and discuss possible solutions. This fosters a strong parent-child bond you will want to have now and as your child develops.

Preschoolers, kindergarteners, and first graders can all be introduced to stress management techniques. Read more about school anxiety.

Breathing, positive statements, visualizations, and progressive muscle relaxation are all effective methods to reduce stress, anxiety, and fear.

How do you think children can be prepared for school? Share your thoughts with us about your preschool, kindergarten, first grade, back to school challenges in the comments below.

Lori Lite is a mom, founder of Stress Free Kids, and author. After helping her own children, Lori understood that her mission was to help other parents and children struggling with stress, anger, and self-esteem. Her award-winning titles are considered a resource for parents, psychologists, therapists, child life specialists, and teachers. Lori’s constant upbeat presence on social media has been awarded numerous accolades including Top 100 Parenting Experts to follow on (@StressFreeKids) Twitter. Her sought-after practical tips have been featured in hundreds of media outlets, including CBS News, CNN Living, WebMD, and Family Circle magazine.

The post Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade Back-to-School appeared first on Stress Free Kids.

Children and Meditation

Rick@Admin — Wed, 17 May 2023 07:40:00 +0000

Children and the benefits of meditation is a trendy topics, especially when it comes to meditation in the classroom. But meditation is a difficult concept to teach children. A child cannot and should not be forced to learn to meditate. The pursuit of learning to meditate is a very personal decision coupled with a strong commitment and desire to do so. As a parent or educator, there are many steps and techniques that can be explored and enjoyed as a precursor to meditation. So how do children and meditation go together? Heather Barnard put forth the following questions, and it was a pleasure to answer them.

Q. At what age do you think a child truly benefits from meditation or relaxation?

A. It is never too soon for a child to reap the benefits of relaxation and meditation. There are reports that state that stress levels during pregnancy can affect an unborn child. I used deep breathing throughout my last pregnancy and I believe that my newborn was easier to soothe when I focused on my breathing because of this. In general, the age of 4 is when a child can start to participate in relaxation exercises, but I have seen children as young as 18 months copy breathing and positive statements. Little exposures can begin at any age.

Q. Does there have to be a formal setting, or can a child/family do this anywhere? When/where is the best?

A. I am an advocate of a more playful, matter-of-fact approach. Parents should use relaxation tools throughout their day. Children see children do. Each day brings numerous opportunities for parents to apply stress management and healthy solutions. Blowing bubbles is a stress reducer and fun activity enjoyed by all ages. A mom or dad who practices meditation can invite their child to sit beside them or climb onto their lap with a toy or a book. Demonstrating is always the most powerful teaching tool. If something feels good and fun to a child they are more likely to want to experience it again. Introducing children to these tools will give them an advantage if and when they want to meditate.

Q. What are the major keys to successful meditation/relaxation, and what does that look like for a young child?

A. It can take a lifetime for meditators to be able to clear their mind of all thought with the purpose of transcending the mind. It is extremely impractical to impose these expectations on a child and I believe that this type of practice should be an individual personal choice. Just being able to stop the chatter or train your mind to focus on an image or thought for more than a few seconds is an accomplishment. The focus should be on introducing tools to children so that they can integrate practical tools like visualizing, breathing, and positive statements into their lives. Storytelling is an age-old method of passing along lessons. I created stories that incorporated research-based stress management techniques for my own children to learn to self-soothe. All of my stories can be found in my Indigo Dreams Series.

Q. How do you suggest helping a family introduce it into their lives?

A. Show your children how you use relaxation throughout your day. Take deep breaths when you are driving or rushing to get out the door. Try a candlelight dinner or breakfast. See who can hold their gaze on the flame for 30 seconds. Introduce your family to relaxation music or classical music. Explain to your children that you are calming yourself down or use positive statements when you are feeling frustrated. With a little practice, relaxation techniques will become second nature to you and your children.

Stress Free Kids founder Lori Lite is a freelance blogger, social media strategist, parenting expert, and successful entrepreneur. Her line of books and CDs is designed to help children, teens, and adults decrease stress, anxiety, and anger. Ms. Lite’s books, CDs, and lesson plans are considered a resource for parents, psychologists, therapists, child life specialists, teachers, doctors, and yoga instructors. Lori’s award-winning books received national attention on Shark Tank and her sort-after accessible tips have been featured in hundreds of publications including: CNN Living, Real Simple Magazine, USA Today, Family Circle, Working Mother Magazine, and Web MD. For more information visit Stress Free Kids and for daily advice follow Lori on Twitter.

Check out the fun step-by-step techniques you can introduce to children as a parent or educator:

Visualizing

Positive Statements or Affirmations

Anger Management

Breathing

Learn more about our Stress Free Kids Curriculum (designed for easy use for parents and educators)

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