The Power of Play and Experiences

Remember to spend time with your children during the holidays. Encourage them to play board games, card games and complete jig-saw puzzles. Play ‘I Spy’ using letters, numbers and words. These activities all assist in connecting the ‘wires in our brains’. Providing our children with experiences broadens their ability to use vocabulary and builds their communication and writing skills. Children are better able to write about things they have experienced.

Learning musical instruments is another great way for children to also improve the capacity of their brain, once again connecting those pathways. Listening to music is also a great thing to do!

Remember to READ in the holidays! Encourage your children to read but also remember to read to them. Children are never too old to be read to!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Yoga and Mindfulness

We all know the benefits of moving for our mental and physical wellbeing. There are many wonderful websites and resources for teaching your child yoga as a calming routine. Yoga can help your child grow in confidence, as they master new poses and create a flow between the body and mind. Regular yoga poses help build, stretch and strengthen coordination, flexibility and balance. Concentration, attention, focus and the behaviour of students improves with the implementation of yoga techniques. Controlled breathing can assist with moments of anxiety and stress. Yoga does not focus on an ability level but allows you to be the best you can be. Kids yoga can include songs, story-telling and word play.

There are many sites available to visit if you want to try yoga at home with your children.

https://youtu.be/jSZvMHlw9vs?list=PL8snGkhBF7ngqv160qM0Uf9IDaBkGzpo5

Allow your child opportunities to experience calming activities: yoga, listening to music, playing an instrument, colouring-in, meditating and building with lego. Just like adults, children need time out from over-stimulation and constant activity.