Calming Kids in an Uncertain World

It's been a week since the U.S. Presidential Election, and many parents have been struggling with how to parent their young children in a time that can sometimes be riddled with anxiety. Our kids pick up on our feelings and attitudes, and even when they are too little to understand what's going on, they know that something is not quite right. The question is: how do we calm our children and provide them with the positive environment that they need to learn and grow? The answers can often be found in nature.

1. Go Outside!

Every parent has had a day when things just don't go their way; the kids are tired, hungry (or both!), toys just don't seem interesting, and you've pulled every trick out of the book but nothing seems to work. Many times just getting shoes on and opening up the door to head outside will easily do the trick. Breathing the fresh air, gaining a new perspective, and activating the senses can turn around even the worst attitude.

Nature heals the heart and soul

What you can do today: Sit outside on the porch or curb with your child, take some deep breaths, and look up to the sky or down to the ground. Ask your child what they hear, what they see, what they can find. You'll be amazed at the simple things they are aware of that we might not even notice. Feeling a bit more adventurous? Take a mini nature walk around the block, and let your child lead you.

2. Dig it!

Dirt has some amazing health benefits. Can you believe it? We spend most of our days reminding kids to wash hands and use the "magic soap" hand sanitizers. How many times have we asked after a day of play, "How did you get so dirty?" Studies have shown that exposure to organisms and certain bacteria found in dirt can actually have many positive effects on our minds and bodies, including a boost in immunity and a decrease in allergies and asthma. In addition, exposure to dirt can also raise serotonin levels and stimulate neuron growth, helping our kids learn and grow, and boost their happiness in the process!

Little Seeds learners - doing what they do best!

What you can do today: Visit a park, or simply use a pot or plot of dirt in your yard and let your child play! Mud pies, "pancakes' and just plain piles of dirt are good for the soul. Kids are used to hearing "stay out of the dirt" more often than not, so it may be a surprise to be told to play in the mud! Wet weather? Dirt turned into mud? Grab your boots and go find some mud puddles. Kids can use sticks and other found objects to draw in the mud, see what can get stuck in the mud, and perhaps dream up a mud-puddle rescue. If mud makes you crazy, keep a couple of old towels, some baby wipes and an extra pair of shoes in the car. The unexpected hour of calm, engaged play will be worth the extra clean up!

3. Be the change!

When it seems like things are out of our control, and the anxiousness starts to creep in, one thing that we can do to alleviate some of these fears is to focus on something else, look less at our own issues and more outward to see how we can help others. Whether we like it or not, we are our child's most influential role model and they see everything we do, the good and the bad! Why not show them how to help, and teach them how to cope in times of uncertainty.

Fall is the perfect time of year to rake a neighbor's yard.

What you can do today: Go out and do something positive that might be different from your normal routine. It can be something small, like raking a neighbor's leaves (a great activity for young children who love putting things in a container, and then dumping them into another one!) You can plant a garden, or even plant a tree to beautify your neighborhood, or city. Many local cities hold events (especially around Arbor Day, and Earth Day) to plant trees in the community. Residents of Mountain View, California can apply for a free tree from the city in celebration of Arbor Day. How cool is that?

Changing our child's environment, and turning towards nature can often help our children and ourselves, especially when things seem unsettling and emotions run wild. Making simple changes in our routine to include the natural elements help to keep us grounded, expose our kids to a healthy lifestyle and remind them that there is something greater beyond ourselves.

To read more about the health benefits of dirt, and the role that nature plays in childhood play, check out these great resources:

The Dirt Cure, by Dr. Maya Shetreat-Klein

The Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv

**In what ways has nature helped you parent your children in a positive way? Let us know in the comments!