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Last week we looked at getting you out of a rut; this week we’re going to focus on your kids.
If your child is very young, a consistent and structured day may serve both of you well. But as children get older, novelty and some variation may make daily life more interesting for everyone.
Where do you feel like your child’s routine could use a little adjustment? Does he watch too much TV, play longer than you’d like with electronic toys, eat the same three foods every day, need more exercise? Let’s look at each of these.
Occasional television and electronics can give moms a much-needed break sometimes – if this is the case for you, there’s no problem. If your kids are watching more TV than you’d like, however, this is a great place to integrate something new. What could you have them do as an alternative?
- Think of some non-mom-intensive crafts. Family Fun (www.familyfun.com) has hundreds of ideas, which can be sorted by your child’s age and the amount of time you want to spend. For something easy, coloring, drawing, or getting out (or making) play-dough can occupy a child long enough for you to get something done.
- Try rotating the toys your children play with – for younger kids, the novelty of a toy will return if they haven’t played with it for a couple of weeks.
- Have some open-ended building toys on hand; Duplos or large connecting blocks offer a new experience each time children play with them.
- Involve kids in what you’re doing; give them a bowl and spoon to play with if you’re cooking or doing dishes, have them match socks during laundry time, or let them play with your junk mail if you’re sorting the day’s deliveries.
Many moms feel like their kids are in a food rut. Depending on the cause, there are lots of ways you can address this.
- If you just need more meal ideas, there are endless possibilities on the internet. Kraft (www.kraftfoods.com) offers dozens of easy, kid-friendly recipes on their site; you can always substitute other brands for their recommendations.
- If your kids will only eat a few foods, try to introduce one bite of something new every day or two. They don’t have to like it, they just have to try it. Eventually, their taste buds will become more accommodating.
- If nutrition is your biggest concern, look for ways to add more whole grains, reduce intake of fried or high-sugar foods, or sneak in some healthy stuff behind the scenes (Jessica Seinfeld’s book Deceptively Delicious, for example, gives lots of recipes that include unseen veggies).
A lot of kids could benefit from more exercise, both for their health and just to burn off some energy.
- Look for times to fit in even a 5- or 10-minute visit to a park, going to or from errands.
- Check out the drop-in options offered at many indoor kid gyms, for rainy days or times when you just need a change of scenery
- Step out your back door; simply being outside brings out kids’ desire to run around and explore
Your assignment: Think about what parts of your child’s routine could benefit from a little change or variety. Come up with one new activity (or food!) for them to try in the next week.
Ready to take the assignment? Want to talk about this? Share your ideas and thoughts at the M.O.M. Balance Forum.
Want to read more from Karen Harvey's M.O.M. Balance column? Click here.
