Parenting Ideas

PARENTING IDEAS FROM MICHAEL GROSE & Dr JODI RICHARDSON – Parent Educators

Wellbeing – it’s a word we hear a lot these days. We understand that it’s important for our kids; but it’s not always clear exactly what it is, how we know if they’ve got it, and how we can help them to get more!

Put simply, our kids’ wellbeing is a combination of their physical, mental, emotional and social health. And because a range of different elements contribute to their wellbeing, there are a bunch of activities we can do with them, role model for them and teach them, to improve it.

Developing wellbeing is more than ensuring the absence of ill-health, it’s about taking action to adopt thinking and behaviour patterns that researchers have shown to foster flourishing physical and mental health. 

Here are 5 practices that you can put into action to enhance your kids’ wellbeing:

1.Get them outside and moving 

There’s so much we can do! Park further from school at drop off and pick up and increase their daily exercise at the same time; stay a while after school to let the kids play; stop at the park on the way home or head outside after bags are unpacked and have a bounce on the trampoline. 

2. Create plenty of opportunities for your kids to foster positive connections with their friends, family and of course with you! 

Positive social relationships not only enhance kids’ wellbeing, but are key to their future wellbeing as adults as well. Time spent with friends helps our kids to develop social skills including sharing, compromise, listening and conflict resolution. 

3.Keep screen time to a minimum

Kids love screens, but we’re the parents and we can work with our kids to create clear and consistent limits. Kids aged 2-5 are recommended to have one hour of screen time per day and two hours a day max for 5-12-year-olds. 

4.Help your kids develop mindfulness skills

Mindfulness is about paying attention in the present moment, letting thoughts come and go without getting caught up in them. Sounds easy, but like any skill it takes time and practice. It gives kids’ overstimulated minds a rest! I highly recommend the Smiling Mind app for age appropriate mindfulness meditations. 

5.Last but not least – ensure your kids get ample sleep

Primary school kids need 10-12 hours per day. Often, what helps enormously is establishing clear and consistent routines including no screen time one hour before bed, a ‘wind-down’ routine which may include a bath/shower, being read a book and then quiet reading before lights out.