The easiest way I have found to play and teach kiddos over the years includes the following:

• Dance
• Song
• Movement
• Puppets
• Building (leggos - blocks - FORTS!)
• Card Games

You and your family might already do one or more of the above. Make things fun - clean up the dishes after dinner to your son's favorite song (let a different child choose each night - caregiver choice nights always important!). Spend a break from work learning a tik-tok dance. Instead of "come to me right now!" Ask your child to slither like a snake to the living room. Use your child's favorite stuffed animals to practice accepting no, doing chores, or some other undesireable task. 

Play a matching game with cards - buy the newest uno game - or come up with a card game of your own! OH - and they're never to old for Go Fish!

Top Tik-Tok Dances to Learn

Taylor Swift - Shake It Off

How To - Go Fish

Click the gator to purchae on Amazon!

Routines are important, especially to kids, because they provide an anchor throughout the day. Like a tree, we need to be anchored with roots, so that when the winds blow, we won't just go with them. Have fun creating your own that works for your family. The following are written with parents who are at-home. However, you could add "mid-day phone call" if you work outside the home and have the capability to talk with your child. You can also create one on-line that y'all can check together.  

Here is a link to my youtube video that discusses scheduling! 

Editable Morning and Bedtime Routine Schedule

Editable Daily Schedule Suggestion

Everyone experiences emotions. Emotions are important to name, recognize and feel.  They help give us language to what is happening in our bodies. There are no "good" or "bad" emotions; emotions just are. We can tach emotions through pictures, books and offering a calm spot for children. 

A great book for helping us name and feel how emotions are experienced in the body is listed below. 

Click on the picture for a link to Amazon!

A great way to get familiar with emotions is to have some still, quiet time. It is easiet to teach our children if we do this with ourselves first - then guide them. I can't tell someone what sadness feels like, if I haven't felt sadness! There are more resources for this in the "Take Care of YOU" section!

Another great way to talk about emotions is the ever-popular emoji. 

The picture below is of a "calming corner." Why not experiement with building something that offers quiet refelction for your kiddos? This is not a "time out" corner, but a time for children to practice self-regulation and self-awareness. 

Generation Mindful offers a great website for "building emotional intelligence playfully." 

A very simple method to taking care of your child's body is to provide them with basic water and nutrients that support their growth. Every kid is different - medication alters appetites and allergies pop up randomly. An easy start is to provide your kiddos with a glass of water when they wake up - in the middle of the day - and before bed. I'm not saying no sugary drinks - just make sure water is in there! 

Move move move! Do what feels good. Have fun :) 

• Ride a bike. 
• Take a walk. 
• Dance in the living room.
• Cook a meal.
• Clean the bedroom.
• Jump Rope. 

The following picture is from Coach DeLeon's (Lobit Middle School PE Coach) school web page. Click to go directly to her page! 

I really appreciate a morning yoga routine. Yoga with Adriene is sure to make me laugh every time! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMMRb10LtGM

Parenting often brings up the deepest and most hurt parts of ourselves - mostly because we experienced grief and unprocessed emotions as children- and they remind us of things long since forgotten. Our kids are learning- and we are teaching - how to navigate life. We'll make mistake after mistake - and so will they! The more we are gentle with ourselves and with them, the better they will become at self-correcting and adjusting to life. 

I'll never forget the first time I felt peace and calm in my own apartment - at the age of 24 years old. I had just visited a therapist for the first time who really helped me find the calm within. I was constantly doing things for other people and putting their well being before my own. I had no idea there was such a thing as becoming calm and quieting my mind. Since then, I have learned many new techniques. The most important thing I can suggest is to lean on other people.

Here is a great video from a Social Worker and Researcher, Brené Brown: Brené Brown, The Power of Vulnerability 

I gently suggest getting into a group or meeting with someone who can support your emotions and personal experience.

Here is a Parent Support Group in Dickinson, Texas. Click the picture below!