Like many spirited, gifted toddlers, my two-year-old is prone to anxiety and tantrums. I've resorted to several unconventional and "alternative" treatments for some of her emotional and behavioral disruptions, including aromatherapy and acupressure. But, above all other methods, I've found that quality outdoor time can treat some of the emotional ups and downs associated with childhood.
Children today spend less than half as much time playing outside now than they did 20 years ago. It's no coincidence that children now also suffer from behavioral and emotional disruptions to a greater degree than any other generation. Outdoor time can help to treat behavioral problems more effectively than medicalized interventions-- and it has the added benefit of enhancing a child's physical and intellectual development.
Here are some outdoor play tips for children with behavioral and emotional problems.
1. Interact with animals.
Feed the ducks by a local pond. Look for centipedes under a rock in your garden. Listen to the birds sing and try to identify each of them. These simple activities can help your child get the most of his outdoor play. Outdoor time can help a child to understand how he is connected to living things around him. For kids with behavioral disorders, interactions with wild animals can help to foster empathy and compassion-- skills that some children need help developing.
2. Have a few plants.
Even if you don't have the time or space for a full-fledged garden, you can help to soothe your child's emotional disruptions by encouraging her to care for a plant. This can give your child the satisfaction or helping a living thing grow and thrive. You may be surprised by how quickly your child develops a parent-like bond to "her" tree, bush or flower. My own daughter absolutely adores a holly-bush that she helped to plant, and I've seen that it has helped her to learn about the outdoor world while also giving her a sense of pride and personal responsibility.
3. Don't have too much structure.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids get at least one hour of unstructured outdoor play each day. It's great to guide your child and encourage his interactions with plants and trees, but it is equally important to give him the time and space for unstructured play. This will help to ease behavioral or emotional problems by encouraging creativity, self-reflection and meditation. It will also simply give him a much-needed break from the hustle-and-bustle grown-up world.
No comments:
Post a Comment