Top Tips For Beating The ‘Winter Blues’
by: relaxkids
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Try and cut down on sugary snacks that meddle with the blood sugar and can affect mood. Lots of fresh vegetable soup will bring Winter cheer to your family table. Bananas are a great mood enhancer and can give your child lots of mental energy. They contain serotonin – a mood lifting substance, and Dopamine – great for emotional balance.
Have Fun
When it is dull, the last thing you want to do is take the children outside! Getting the kids to have fun and exercise in the open air will bring them more energy and make them feel great. Even running and jumping in puddles will increase their heart rate and give them a ‘feel great’ factor!
Hugs and Cuddles
There is nothing better on a Winter’s day, than snuggling up and having a cuddle. Lots of hugs and cuddles will remind your child that he/she is loved. Just feeling loved and safe can improve a child’s behaviour. Try some gentle massage strokes on your child’s back, forehead or arms. Better still, see if they will give you a massage back!
Water Everywhere!
The heavens are opening at this time and water is everywhere outside. It is easy to remember to take water inside when the weather is hot, but easily forgotten in rainy weather. Water will help flush out toxins and helps the nervous system work better, so improving your child’s mood and brain power.
Dance
Music is a great mood enhancer. Pop on some fun and lively music and get the family dancing in the living room. You’ll feel so much better after a good dance than watching reality TV.
Stay Light
We can often feel low in Winter, as we are taking in less sunlight and many adults and some children are affected by Seasonal Affected Disorder. Even though the sun may not be streaming through your windows, it’s important to make sure the children get enough natural daylight.
Be Cosy
Often when it is so cold outside, we can feel quite miserable as we yearn for the warm Summer months. Make the Winter fun and wrap up in bright warm hats and coats. Find some cosy family activities such as cuddling up with a book, drinking hot chocolate, building a cosy den with lots of warm blankets.
Laugh
Make sure your family has lots of laughs together. Children are great at this. Children love making up jokes or you could dig out an old joke book or even find some on the Internet. You could have family stand-up nights where each member entertains the rest of the family. An easier option could be watching a funny DVD together.
Do a Good Deed
There is nothing better than doing something good for someone else. It would be a treat for the whole family to work together and do something lovely for someone that needs it. Watch everyone’s mood change as you see the happy face of the recipient.
Smile
If you do nothing else on this list, but smile, you will be on your way to beating the Winter blues. Ask your family to try to smile but have really sad thoughts. Now make a really sad face while having happy thoughts. It is amazing that it is virtually impossible. The more we smile, the better we will feel about ourselves and others.
Relax
Try to spend some time just relaxing as a family. Listen to a relaxation CD together. You might like to try the Chill Skills for older children or Princesses and Superheroes CDs for the younger children.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleStreet.com/profile/relaxkids-12792.html
About the Author
Marneta is founder of Relax Kids - UKs leading expert on children's relaxation. She is author of 2 books and has produced a range of over 20 relaxation products and has appeared on BBC Dragons' Den. Marneta is editor of RELAX - a monthly online magazine and trains parents and teachers to help children to relax. www.relaxkids.com www.relaxschools.com.
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