Category: Well-Being

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders in children. It can manifest itself and often makes it difficult for kids to focus on schoolwork or enjoy social activities. If your child has anxiety, it’s tough to know how to help them. Luckily, there are a few strategies that have been effective in calming anxious children.

Take a Walk Outside

One of the most effective ways to calm your child down is by taking them outdoors for a walk. It would help if you chose an outside environment with plenty of natural light. Fresh air isn’t stimulating with lots of stimuli or noise. Children enjoy walks through forests and grassy fields. Also, along beaches with calming sounds like water from rivers flowing into lakes or waves crashing on shores. These outdoor settings often help kids relax without being distracted by electronics. These can trigger unwanted stressors if they feel overwhelmed while trying not to be anxious during playtime at home.

Draw or Write

When kids are feeling anxious, one way to help them calm down is to do some creative activities, like drawing or writing. This can be a great way for children to express their feelings and work through any worries. Not only does this activity help with anxiety, but it’s also been shown to improve focus and concentration skills.

There are many ways to encourage your child to engage in creative writing or artwork. Some parents find it helpful to provide prompts for their kids. “For instance, draw a picture of what makes you happy” or “write about a time when you felt confident.” If your child enjoys reading, there are plenty of books for children dealing with anxiety and depression.

Listen to Music

Another great way for anxious kids is listening to calming music. You can find a lot of songs that are specifically designed with relaxation in mind, such as classical or jazz tunes. These have been shown to reduce stress levels and help people feel more at ease. Listening may also be beneficial because children can express their emotions through the lyrics.

If you’re not sure where to start, there are many compilation albums of relaxing music designed for kids. You can also search online for lists of recommended songs or create a personalized playlist with your child. It’s important to make sure that the music is at a low volume so that it doesn’t become overwhelming and further stimulates any anxious feelings.

Some parents find it helpful to have their children listen to music before bedtime, as it can help them calm down and fall asleep more easily. Try different calming activities until you find what works best to help your anxious child feel better.

Mindfulness Meditation

This is another great way to help children relax and cope with anxiety. It’s important because it teaches them how they can focus their thoughts on the present moment. But also because it reduces stress levels by helping kids focus less on things like schoolwork or social issues. The best part about practicing mindfulness techniques at home, though? Many apps available today make this type of activity fun and easy. You don’t even have to go outside; sit cross-legged wherever you feel most comfortable. Close your eyes while listening as an instructor guides you through different exercises.

There are also several unique books that you can check out from your local library on mindfulness meditation for kids. These usually have accompanying audio CDs so that children can practice along with an adult’s voice. Mindfulness mediation is one activity that should be practiced regularly when helping kids with anxiety. Thus, to see the best results, aim for at least 15-20 minutes per day.

Sensory Play

Another great way to help kids with anxiety is by engaging them in sensory play. Sensory play allows the child’s mind to get some relief from all this stimulation. This is because they aren’t focusing so much attention on their environment. But using other senses such as touch or smell may calm those jittery feelings caused by overstimulation. Children also love things like slime and water beads. Both provide tactile sensory input while being fun activities at home too.  And finally, there are our tried and true stuffed animal friends that provide comfort because they look like animals and are was soft as a pillow.

Conclusion

If your child is struggling with anxiety, don’t worry. There are ways you can help. No matter what age they may be at—preschool or elementary school-aged kids all need support when trying something new, so never give up hope. Remember that every child is different. Some children respond better to one calming strategy than another, depending on their individual needs and personality traits. Try these strategies today to help anxious children feel calmer at home.

Seasonal depression is tough for anyone to deal with — but it’s especially tough on kids. That’s because kids usually don’t understand concepts like seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or vitamin D intake, and the winter seems to drag on forever for them.

But the reality is that they will probably suffer from some amount of depression until winter ends.

That doesn’t mean you should lose all hope. Just like the rest of us, kids can mitigate their symptoms of seasonal depression with a good, healthy diet and a few engaging activities that keep their minds stimulated.

Here’s a short guide to encouraging your child through SAD.

Identifying Seasonal Affective Disorder

Nobody is quite certain of what causes SAD, but medical experts know that children who have a family history of SAD are more likely to suffer from the condition. Symptoms of SAD are usually quite easy to spot once you know what you’re looking for, and include:

• Irritableness
• Constant tiredness
• Lack of energy
• Difficulty functioning

Of course, we all display these “symptoms” once in a while, but you should only start to consider seeking a SAD diagnosis if they seem to persist for two weeks. This diagnosis will get you the medical help you need and will help everyone in your family understand why your child may be “acting up” in the winter months.

Eat Nutritious Foods

Combating seasonal depression can be tricky. Hopefully, after you receive a diagnosis your doctor will give your child a treatment that replaces the vitamin D that they have not received through sunlight.

But, you must also ensure that you provide your child with a nutritious, well-balanced diet. That’s because poor nutrition, particularly at breakfast time, is amongst the biggest mistakes a schoolchild can make. Children who don’t eat breakfast are more likely to feel tired during the day and will have a hard time focusing at school. This will compound the problems they are facing while dealing with SAD.

If you aren’t sure of what a “nutritious” diet looks like, then you can always get in touch with a dietitian or nutritionist who specializes in child development. They will likely recommend you include more “brain foods” like eggs and kale and should avoid sugary food and drinks that will simply deepen your child’s depressive dip.

Fortified Foods and Supplements

Aside from eating a healthy, balanced diet, you may want to check out the vitamin D levels in your foods. That’s because, according to Yale doctors, most of us do not need to get our vitamin D from sunlight. In reality, most people can get all the vitamin D they need through fortified foods and nutritional supplements.

You can usually purchase vitamin D supplements from your local pharmacy or grocery store and should check the labels of foods like milk, juices, and cereals. That’s because most production companies will fortify their goods with vitamin D, and there is nothing wrong with getting your daily intake from these sources.

Connect With Activities

SAD makes it difficult for kids to find energy for activities and can leave them feeling dissociated and disinterested in family bonding. So, as a parent, you might need to raise the stakes and provide even more attention to your kid while they are battling SAD.

There are plenty of wintertime activities for you to choose from, but it’s worth bearing in mind that your child probably doesn’t want to feel cold or exhausted from exercising in the cold while they have SAD. For this reason, activities that center around a fire pit are perfect — your child stays warm, puts down their devices, and goes outside for at least an hour or so. You can make it into a more engaging activity by having them cook food over the pit and allowing them to help you tend to the fire.

Get Professional Help

The reality is that SAD isn’t something that most parents can deal with on their own. As much as you want to help your child, you are not a medical expert and might end up doing more harm than good if you don’t seek expert advice.

Fortunately, SAD is a medically-recognized condition and is amongst the common mental health issues that children face. This means that medical professionals have seen the condition before, and are well equipped to help you handle a case of SAD. This gives you confidence that your approach is backed by research, and that you’re doing all you can to help your child through a difficult time.

Conclusion

In the depths of winter, seasonal affective disorder can feel overwhelming. But, by taking a proactive, evidence-based approach to SAD, you can help your child mitigate their symptoms. In particular, you should review their diet to see if sugary foods are compounding the issue, and should seek medical advice from doctors who are well equipped to help your kid overcome the challenges they face during the winter.

About the Author
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in education, mental health, family lifestyle and online safety. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. You can follow her on Twitter.

The word ‘stimming’ is an abbreviation for ‘self-stimulating behavior’ which is typically socially acceptable and normal behavior. What is stimming ADHD?  The answer is that it’s a form of self-stimulation used when one is bored or experiencing something uncomfortable.

Children living with ADHD face unique challenges. Stimming is simply a way to help them to focus, reduce anxiety, or release excess energy.

Some of the things a person does that can be considered ‘stimming’ include:

• Chewing the inside of their cheek
• Excessive or unnecessary sniffling
• Twirling your hair
• Biting your nails
• Humming
• Tapping a writing utensil such as a pen, or pencil

From these examples, you can see that stimming is a very common behavior. These behaviors can be observed in people of all backgrounds, disabilities, and ages. Stimming is a natural response that is not unique to intellectually or developmentally disabled individuals.

Difference Between ASD Stimming and ADHD Stimming

Stimming for those on the autism spectrum disorder is different than ADHD Stimming in severity and duration. ADHD self-stimming behaviors occur when sensory overload happens while trying to concentrate. An example is someone with ADHD thinking about writing, as they rock back and forth, or twirl their hair.

ADHD Stimming or in Developmentally Delays

ADHD stimming can function as a source of comfort and control for those with developmental disorders. Most children or adults with developmental disabilities often experience sensory overload. Stimming is a means of regaining control over a certain sensation or experience.

Children who are easily overwhelmed by too much auditory input might easily begin shouting or shrieking in response. A child overwhelmed with visual input may begin pressing their hands against eyelids, or move their eyes back and forth quickly. These actions are known as adaptive mechanisms.

These adaptive mechanisms, or stimming help the disabled to communicate their emotions. For this reason, stimming can be loud, different, and distracting from the ‘normal’ sources of self-stimulation. These types of stimming are most likely the reason people associate stimming with those who are developmentally delayed.

ADHD Stimming

Developmental disabilities are not always accompanied with ADHD. What is more common is for children with ADHD to experience sensory difficulties. For this reason, ADHD stimming is much like what you would see in a child on the autism spectrum, rather than what would be observed in their typical peers.

ADHD stimming typically involves fidgeting. Stimming for these children can range from squirming in their chair to humming loudly, and even speaking over others and more. These behaviors are used for the child to find some form of sensory input.

Stimming helps a child with ADHD quiet down their sensory systems and the unpleasant sensations in their body. Depending on the child and the environment, stimming will create a new sensation that is pleasant to experience. The reasons for seeking sensation are unique to each and can change daily.

Autism is characterized by high levels of anxiety and stress. As such, many autistic people have an aversion to bright lights, especially if they are flashing or strobe light patterns. In fact, some autistic people may be so sensitive to these types of stimuli that they cannot even tolerate them. This can be a challenge in the classroom setting for students on the spectrum.  However, there are ways for educators to provide solutions for coping with this type of hypersensitivity.

How ADHD Stimming Helps

There are multiple reasons an individual uses stimming. For some, they want to gain control over a situation, others are trying to redirect unpleasant energy or fear. When used for these reasons, sensory overload is typically involved. Stimming is a form of control and can appear in a dramatic movement.

Dramatic stimming can include rocking, crying, or jumping. These actions are able to help quiet an overloaded sensory system. Stimming can relieve excess energy, so tapping feet, pacing, and fidgeting can also quiet overloaded sensory systems. The core of ADHD is hyperactivity, so these actions are not abnormal, but more matter of course.

For some, stimming is used as a means to alleviate boredom. This is perhaps the most common reason for those without a disorder. These small expenditures of energy engage a body in several ways without taking a lot of effort or thought.

When to Intervene on ADHD Stimming

For the most part, stimming does not require intervention. If the action is not interfering with one’s daily life, you do not need to stop the action. When stimming begins to interfere with one living a well-adjusted, healthy life, then educators, parents, or therapists need to intervene.

Intervention is often needed when a child is on the ADS, and in some cases, children who have ADHD. If a child stares off into space and does not acknowledge their educator, it interferes with their academic achievement. If a child hums or speaks over others, this will also require intervention.

Intervention can include applied behavioral analysis, as these behaviors negatively impact a child’s social skills and social behaviors. Children with ADHD and sensory issues are likely to have larger stimming behaviors. These students will probably have an IEP, or 504 plan to improve their learning abilities.

ADHD stimming at home is unlikely to need the same level of intervention as when in school. You may still want to apply some support or an intervention such as ADHD therapy. Children with ADHD often have trouble sitting at the table and could develop unhealthy relationships with eating and food.

Other stimming events that can occur in the home include difficulty completing chores or listening to your directions, which can lead to rifts in relationships. There are some cases where stimming can lead to self-injury which will need intervention.

In Conclusion

Some people feel that discouraging a child not to stim is like forcing someone to give up something they love, that it is cruel. For others, stimming functions are a source of alienation from peers and must be addressed and resolved.  Determining if stimming is damaging or not depends on your child’s goals. You will have to seek the treatment you feel necessary for them to succeed.

Learn what to do if you are a parent struggling with ADHD symptoms.

If you’re looking for a peaceful, fun experience for you and your child, then Paint by Numbers is a very good idea. What makes it great is the fact that you can easily have fun together or even allow your child to pursue his creativity and create some amazing art pieces.

Paint by Numbers for children is one of the best ideas if you want your child to explore his/her creativity and come up with some amazing wall hangers as well.

Why Paint by Numbers is a great opportunity for kids!

Instructions are easy to follow

Even if kids don’t think they have an artistic side, they do, but they didn’t really uncover it yet. Paint by Numbers helps with your kid’s development because it encourages your child to venture into the unknown of their creative outlet. The instructions are easy to follow, and your child will develop great creative skills this way. Plus, it’s all guided, so you don’t even have to be there to assist in any way, which is incredibly important to keep in mind.

It provides a great creative outlet

A great advantage when it comes to Paint by Numbers for kids is the fact that it can be a great creative outlet. It’s a way for your child to try out something new and acquire a very important skill. On top of that, there’s a lot of room for creativity and pushing the boundaries in a fun way, which is exactly what you need to keep in mind. It might not be simple to do, but the benefits are second to none.

Your child learns more about being patient

Kids are known to be impatient, so activities that teach kids how to focus during a challenging task are important.  Paint by Numbers helps them to unwind, relax and learn patience while having fun. This is one of those things that kids find it really hard to learn, but it does help a lot, since your kid will find it easier to uncover and understand everything, with results being second to none every time.

It develops imagination

A Paint by Numbers canvas is filled with numbers, and it’s up to your kid to bring those numbers to life. It might not seem that much, but the truth is that your child gets to use his imagination to bring the scene to life. It’s a great exercise to test his/her imagination, while coming up with something that’s different and fun. It’s one of those things that it might take a bit to develop. But at the end of the day, the payoff is great, and that’s exactly the thing you want to pursue as much as possible here.

Learning more about colors

Maybe the best thing about Paint by Numbers when it comes to developmental skills is the fact that it encourages kids to learn more about colors. It can be difficult for a child to identify colors and remember their name. But thanks to something like Paint by Numbers, the entire thing is a lot more natural. It just leads to a better experience and a lot more fun. Which in turn makes things easier and more engaging in the long run. All you have to do is to avail the opportunity and introduce your child to this new activity. He/she will surely enjoy it and have a lot of fun.

Your child learns more about experimenting

No two Paint by Numbers kits will bring the same joy and excitement, or even difficulty level. But that’s the cool part about all of this, the fact that kids get to experiment and learn how to step out of their comfort zone. That’s great when it comes to developmental skills, because your kid needs to learn how to be uncomfortable and how to deal with those situations. There are always things like these appearing in life, so learning more about them via Paint by Numbers is very helpful in the long term.

It helps increase brain movements and concentration

Paint by Numbers brings in a very meticulous task. It takes a lot of time and attention. This is great because both the brain hemispheres are stimulated. Children are captivated by the world of Paint by Numbers, revealing the dynamic interplay between patience and creativity. If you’re an adult looking to foster your own artistic journey, consider exploring the remarkable offerings from Canvas by Numbers. Their beautifully crafted kits cater to all skill levels, offering a therapeutic and enriching experience that mirrors the developmental benefits seen in kids.

Such activities engage different brain hemispheres, nurturing both logical and creative aspects.  The left one is dealing with the rational and logical aspect, while the right hemisphere is all about emotions and creativity. This is an activity stimulating both sides of the brain, and that’s obviously very beneficial from a developmental standpoint. While this is happening the activity is helping your child develop fine motor skills.

Increasing emotional intelligence

While trying Paint by Numbers, kids get to experience empathy, love, and happiness. This is the type of activity that makes a lot of emotions flow, which is great. You want your child to understand emotions and know how to deal with them. For young individuals who may need more support in managing their emotions, online therapy for young can be a valuable resource. That’s really handy and it brings major potential all the time. It’s not always simple to achieve the results you want, but in the end, the benefits can be second to none.

Boosting the attention span

Believe it or not, Paint by Numbers is also an activity that focuses a lot on attention. That’s why this is great for kids, since it helps them be a lot more attentive and careful. Having a great attention span does help quite a bit and it conveys the results and benefits that you may need. It’s very helpful to at least try out Paint by Numbers with your child, and you will see how much it helps him/her.

Conclusion

There’s no denying that Paint by Numbers is a great activity for the entire family. However, it’s particularly great for kids, since it can easily convey extraordinary developmental benefits in the long run. This is one of the most incredible actions to focus on, and the quality can actively shine. Since there are so many Paint by Numbers kits to choose from, you just have to find the right option to suit your needs. It delivers a great way for your kid to develop amazing skills, which can be really useful in the long run!

Read about the benefits of art therapy working with children.