7 ways to support your child’s brain without using academic worksheets
Young children don’t need worksheets to learn. In fact, using these 7 principles is proven to boost your child’s brain development in more ways than a worksheet ever could.
Are you having struggles at home with the kids and boredom? Me too. I’ve been working on building my website and mulling over ideas about how to take my passion and expertise online for many years now.
I’ve known that I want to help parents of young children get back to the basics of connecting, playing, moving and learning to help build their child’s brain but just couldn’t seem to get started.
So now that we are in a global pandemic it seems like the perfect time.
Why, you may ask? Because we now HAVE the time.
Studies reveal that 1 in 5 children experience mental illness.
Referrals for children who are weak, uncoordinated, unmotivated, behaviorally challenged, anxious and inattentive flood my caseload.
I’ve been a pediatric Occupational Therapist for the past 20 years and I’ve seen a huge change in young children...and not always for the good! It shows up as depression, anxiety, inattentiveness and suicide.
I have witnessed first hand over the past 2 decades how many children are not developing the foundations of learning through play, movement and connection due to our busy schedules and technology enriched lives.
When this foundation is not fostered early, it cracks (much like the foundation of a house that isn’t poured properly) and it shows up in the form of mental illness and academic struggles later in life.
While I know this is a stressful time and the global pandemic abruptly changed our lives overnight, I’m hopeful that there will be a silver lining that comes in the form of getting back to the basics of learning for the improvement of our children’s brain development. I do feel that we’ve been given the gift of lots of time to connect, play, move and grow with our children.
Even if you are still working, your children now have time to work on independent play skills and new life skills that they otherwise would not get a chance to practice during the school day. I have two neighbors with young children that learned to ride a bicycle without training wheels this week!
This is why I’m so passionate about getting all of my help and expertise out to the world right now. I’m living this with you and I feel so fortunate to have my training about child brain development right now.
I know you may have anxiety about your child missing their academic studies. If they are motivated to do their school work then great. However, if your child is struggling and seems to be less than enthused about the next academic worksheet or online task, here is what you can do instead.
Know that these are the foundations for learning and will benefit your child’s brain development in the most powerful way.
So no more mommy guilt!
1. Connect:
This may be in the form of talking, hugging, reading, going for a walk or just playing something that your child chooses.
2. Play:
Play is the work of the child!
It is how they learn new things!
Ask your child what they want to learn more about.
Find new ways to make learning fun. Think about your child’s favorite activities and interests and turn them into a learning opportunity. For example...
Does your child love playing with cars?
Work on counting them or putting them in a pattern based on colors.
Does your child love soccer?
Try kicking the ball to identify numbers or letters written in chalk on the driveway.
When a child is interested in the activity, learning takes place naturally!
Need more ideas?
Here's a free printable with some screen-free ideas
Photo by Jordan Sanchez on Unsplash
3. Move:
Exercise releases endorphins “feel good chemicals”.
I think we can all use more endorphins during this stressful time.
There are also countless studies that prove there is a mind-body connection and that learning is enhanced when students get to learn by moving.
There are so many free online options available right now. Some of my boys favorites are cosmickids.com and gonoodle.com. I try to reserve the online activities for bad weather days. When it’s nice outside, so are we! Walk, run, jump, ride bikes, hike and play sports.
4. Laugh:
Tickling, telling jokes, dancing, pillow fights, watch a funny show together. Laughter really is the best medicine!
5. Encourage independence/learn new skills:
Tie shoelaces, potty training (if they are ready and interested), laundry, cooking, build something, typing, gardening. There are many possibilities here.
Photo by My Life Journal on Unsplash
6. Practice self-care:
Continue to have daily quiet time/nap time so everyone gets some alone time. My boys don’t nap anymore but we make sure they get some time in separate rooms each afternoon to read, draw, do legos, play cars, listen to music or an audiobook. Don’t forget to take care of yourself! I’m really making it a point to do some meditation and walk or do yoga each day.
Find more self-care ideas here.
7. Have a flexible routine:
Kids thrive on routine but there’s no need to be a martyr about it right now. Having some constant activities throughout the day as anchor points can help to ease your child’s (and your) mind about how you will get through the day. However, not having to rush through any one activity can be one of the blessings of this social distancing time.
Letting your child experience boredom is actually a great way to spark their creativity!
It is not your job to entertain them all day so you can let go of that pressure and know that you are actually supporting their brain development just by letting them figure out ways to play independently.
Are you ready to ditch the worksheets?
I hope that these general tips help put your mind at ease about meeting your child’s developmental needs without stressing over the worksheets. You are doing an amazing job and remember that we are all in this together!
Don't forget to grab the free screen-free activity printable here and please share with anyone who may need some new ideas.
