||INSIGHTS|| 
by Michael Grose -Australia’s leading parenting educator 
Helping kids unwind 
||INSIGHTS|| 
by Michael Grose -Australia’s leading parenting educator 
Helping kids unwind 
Nothing wrong with kids being busy as long as they have plenty of chances to 
relax and unwind. 

Modern kids are busy kids. Regardless of age, their days are 
filled with activities. 

Under fives do a range of adult-initiated learning activities designed to 


give them the best start to their learning lives. 
School-aged kids have a huge range of leisure and after-school 
activities to choose from. It is not uncommon for kids to have four and 
five extra-curricular activities a week. 


Nothing wrong with kids being busy as long as they have plenty of 


chances to relax and unwind. 
Relaxation is a key to good mental health and well-being. It is an 
important life skill for kids to learn. 


Balance busyness with boredom 

One way to ensure busy kids unwind is to make sure kids get bored 


every so often. 
There is a temptation to fill kids’ days with activities so that no time is 
wasted. 


“I’m bored!” is the last thing most parents want to hear their kids say. 
Many parents feel compelled to do something to alleviate a child’s 
boredom. 


There is nothing wrong with a little boredom now and then. 

Boredom can be good for kids’ mental health and well-being, giving 
them the chance to muck around and take it easy for a time. 

Here are 5 ideas to help you unwind your kids: 

1. Let your kids regularly stare into the ‘fire. 
Ever sat around a camp-fire and stared at the flames? If so, you 
will know how calming it is. No exertion! No need to think! No 
need to talk to anyone! Just a chance to chill-out and relax. The 
TV is the modern version of the camp-fire. Yep, TV used in this 
way is good for kids’ mental health. 

2. Let kids exercise without rules. 
Kids are the kings and queens of play. Always have been. Until 
lately that is, when their lives have become highly organised and 
scheduled. Free, child-initiated play is the ultimate in relaxation. 
Fun games, games with few rules and games that kids control 
help them to unwind 

3. Let kids experience flow. 
Flow is a state we get into when we are so engrossed in an activity 
that time disappears. It is the ultimate unwind. We get flow when 

we pursue our passions so encourage teens to find activities that 
they truly love and get lost in. Free play generally takes young 
children to flow very quickly so opportunities for unstructured 
play are essential. 

4. Help kids calm down around bedtime. 
Have a bedtime routine that calms kids down rather than winds them 
up. You can become part of this routine by reading books, telling 
nursery rhymes, providing soothing back rubs and other ways. 

5. Unwind with your kids. 
When I was young the best times I had with my dad were spent in 
the backyard playing cricket. Sounds like a cliché I know. It was 
fun because it was never a chore for him. He loved it as it was a 
chance for him to unwind after work. Find ways you can unwind 
and rejuvenate with your kids. 

We want our kids to be busy and involved rather than inactive and 

apathetic. However, activity needs to be balanced with unscheduled 

time so that perspective as well as everyone’s sanity is maintained. 


Published by Michael Grose Presentations. All rights reserved. 
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© 2008 Michael Grose www.parentingideas.com.au