The kids have finally gone back to school and now is the time that everyone is getting back into the swing of things. This is good for your kids, it will keep them busy and make them work their body and minds as they start with homework assignments and rejoin their favorite sports teams. Remember, the brain is a muscle too, so at first the little tasks that your child was able to do so easily at the end of the last school year may seem laborous now, especially if they haven't been reading or practicing their math skills. It is important to encourage them and try to help them when they get stuck (but also realize that if they are completely distraught, doing their homework for them won't help them in the long run either, this would be the same as running a mile for their track practice and having them sit on the couch).
As for all of our other 'regular' muscles, make sure that your child knows the importance of stretching out before and after every practice. Most coaches are very good about teaching children proper stretching techniques but if they don't, show your child some simple stretches, such as these: hamstring stretch (picture 1, hold for 8-10 seconds bilaterally for all the stretches shown), quad stretch (picture 2), and posterior shoulder stretch. These are very simple stretches and are since these are large muscle groups that tend to get sore after lots of exercise it also tends to be a good starting point to teach children about why we should stretch. The soreness can originate from a build up of lactic acid, which you can explain to a child as follows: as we exercise it gets harder to breath, this means that our body is craving oxygen to do whatever activities that we are trying to do. Sometimes we don't get enough oxygen and thats when certain processes in our body start to skip steps to make energy so we can keep on doing our activity. This is when our body starts to make too much of something called lactic acid. Of course you could go into much more detail but for young children this would be a great start to understanding a very complex cycle.
Having the kids back in school is also a good thing for parents (and not just because you are no longer stressing and pulling out your hair with the kids being home), you can start a new routine yourself, add in an exercise routine, start a new healthier cooking regimine, or take a class or join an organization that you've always wanted to. Most people will wait until the new year to start up at a gym, but the fall is a great time to join a gym and get into a routine before all the holiday feasting begins. Just think, you could get a jump start on weight loss and have more energy for when you have to run the kiddos around to all of their activities and practices. Remember that if you are strapped on cash there are lots of ways to accomplish all of the above without spending much or anything at all. Fall is a great time for hiking or taking a late evening stroll (and the kids could come along too!). Cooking classes can be expensive, but there are lots of cooking shows on TV that walk you through new recipes, use your DVR system and record one so you can write down all the ingredients and come back later to watch it again. Lastly here is a website with some great group meetings for relaxation and meditation: http://spirituality-personal-growth-meditation.meetup.com/cities/us/ny/schenectady/.
Finally, both parents and children should understand that change can be stressful at first but eventually the satisfaction that comes with learning a new skill or overcoming an obstacle once thought of as impossible is extremely rewarding. Stress can cause a number of problems for us, including subluxations, so make sure to schedule an appointment with your chiropractor and make sure that regular adjustments are part of your new fall schedule!
As for all of our other 'regular' muscles, make sure that your child knows the importance of stretching out before and after every practice. Most coaches are very good about teaching children proper stretching techniques but if they don't, show your child some simple stretches, such as these: hamstring stretch (picture 1, hold for 8-10 seconds bilaterally for all the stretches shown), quad stretch (picture 2), and posterior shoulder stretch. These are very simple stretches and are since these are large muscle groups that tend to get sore after lots of exercise it also tends to be a good starting point to teach children about why we should stretch. The soreness can originate from a build up of lactic acid, which you can explain to a child as follows: as we exercise it gets harder to breath, this means that our body is craving oxygen to do whatever activities that we are trying to do. Sometimes we don't get enough oxygen and thats when certain processes in our body start to skip steps to make energy so we can keep on doing our activity. This is when our body starts to make too much of something called lactic acid. Of course you could go into much more detail but for young children this would be a great start to understanding a very complex cycle.
Having the kids back in school is also a good thing for parents (and not just because you are no longer stressing and pulling out your hair with the kids being home), you can start a new routine yourself, add in an exercise routine, start a new healthier cooking regimine, or take a class or join an organization that you've always wanted to. Most people will wait until the new year to start up at a gym, but the fall is a great time to join a gym and get into a routine before all the holiday feasting begins. Just think, you could get a jump start on weight loss and have more energy for when you have to run the kiddos around to all of their activities and practices. Remember that if you are strapped on cash there are lots of ways to accomplish all of the above without spending much or anything at all. Fall is a great time for hiking or taking a late evening stroll (and the kids could come along too!). Cooking classes can be expensive, but there are lots of cooking shows on TV that walk you through new recipes, use your DVR system and record one so you can write down all the ingredients and come back later to watch it again. Lastly here is a website with some great group meetings for relaxation and meditation: http://spirituality-personal-growth-meditation.meetup.com/cities/us/ny/schenectady/.
Finally, both parents and children should understand that change can be stressful at first but eventually the satisfaction that comes with learning a new skill or overcoming an obstacle once thought of as impossible is extremely rewarding. Stress can cause a number of problems for us, including subluxations, so make sure to schedule an appointment with your chiropractor and make sure that regular adjustments are part of your new fall schedule!
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