Below are some suggestions about how to promote holistic health for your kiddos. Consider building one activity from each activity into your daily schedule.
Emotional
- Check in with your kids using happy, mad, sad face drawings.
- Let kids each build a “safe place” fort in a separate area of your living space.
- Make gratitude a daily family practice.
- Practice using Zones of Regulation (http://www.zonesofregulation.com/free-downloadable-handouts.html) or the Engine Plate (https://thewholekidandkaboodle.com/engineplates/).
- Practice basic coping skills (e.g. take a deep breath, count to ten, take a break).
- Practice calm with coloring sheets.
Mental
- Practice math facts orally.
- If you still get grocery ads delivered to your home, have kids practice making lists and totaling their purchases on their own “receipts.”
- Read books together.
- Have kids write their own books.
- Watch history shows.
- Tour museums online: https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
Physical
Inside:
- Access GoNoodle (https://www.gonoodle.com/for-families/)
- Or try Cosmic Kids (https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga).
- Fitness Blender has workouts online for free: https://www.fitnessblender.com/videos
- Make stationary bikes (https://www.livestrong.com/article/34529-make-bike-stationary-bike/)
- Try to maintain regular eating and sleeping schedules.
Outside:
- Draw with sidewalk chalk.
- Garden (or pretend)
- Make patterns on the ground with spray bottles filled with water.
- Take a walk around the neighborhood.
- Walk around a local park (maintaining social distance).
Social
- Designate a specific communication hour each day.
- Make cards to give or send.
- Teach and practice the art of letter writing.
- Send e-mails.
- Take and share photos.
Spiritual
- Keep the Sunday morning routine by finding a church that live streams, or by having your own family church.
- Commit to a daily time of prayer for the pandemic, or just people who are sick in general.
- Memorize Bible verses. (Using hand motions or drawing pictures are great ways for kids who don’t read to memorize.)
– Sarah Earles, MS, LPC, Child & Family Therapist