Children have seemingly endless amounts of energy. They’re constantly on the move, curious about their surroundings, and eager to explore new activities and feelings. While they may seem like they never want to sit still, it’s important to practice calmness, especially in the evenings after a long day full of learning and playing. Just like us, children need to have moments of calmness in order to process the new information they’re absorbing and unwind.
Color
Coloring is not only fun, but also therapeutic. According to the Art Therapy Association, creating artwork helps us “explore feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem.” Coloring provides an outlet for kids to express themselves and helps calm a busy mind by focusing on one objective. Once their drawing is complete, they will feel a sense of accomplishment and pride.
Read books
Books open up new worlds and adventures for kids. Reading fosters healthy imaginations and helps children understand the world around them. Even if your child is too young to read words printed on the page, it’s important that they understand reading the page from left to right. You might notice your child looks at the pictures on pages and creates a story of their own. This is a wonderful milestone! It shows that your child is using their imagination and associating pictures on the pages with the written words. By understanding the basic mechanics of reading, they will be ahead in reading and other subjects by the time they start school.
When you read to your child, it will facilitate a healthy thirst for knowledge as they ask you questions about the book. Reading before bedtime will help your child feel relaxed, accomplished, and eager to learn more the next day!
Look at photos
Printed photos are wonderful keepsakes and are also great for helping your child understand their family structure. Before bed, take out the family photo albums and watch how excited your children become as they look at pictures of their family. Take the time to explain who each person is and tell brief stories about the day the picture was taken.
Take a family walk
If your child does not want to sit still, take an evening family stroll to unwind. Walking releases endorphins and helps channel that last remaining bit of energy that’s preventing your child from calming down. You can use this time to talk about your day, make plans for tomorrow, and listen to your child’s feelings.
Do you have a favorite way to encourage calmness? Share it with us in the comments below!
