April 2006
Your Parenting Coach:
Rainy Day Activity
My sister and I have four boys between us, ranging in
ages from 6 to 9. We have both heard you speak about how important movement
and physical exercise is for brain development, as well as for their health.
We agree. But frankly, on rainy days we are at our wits’ end, so
the TV comes on for our own sanity. Any suggestions?
Gina/Seattle
First of all, grab the opportunities for outside play when you can. At the first sign of a sun break, go for a walk! The other day I saw a mom and dad walking hand-in-hand with their 8-year old son. They were each bent toward the child as they listened intently to what he was saying. Huddled between them like small sunflower, he beamed!
This tender image reminded me that we can transform a simple experience like a walk into a special moment that creates lasting memories. Perhaps you and your sister can alternate taking each boy on a “talk walk.” They can look for treasures on these outings, too. A smooth stone or a four-leaf clover can spur imaginative stories. Such one-on-one time, combined with fresh air, for even 20 minutes, will refresh the boys and often help them to settle down when back home.
On real wet days think about bringing exercise opportunities indoors. One mom I coached found a rebounder at a garage sale. With pillows placed all around it, the boys can take turns jumping. They can jump to music or their own clapping and can even practice their spelling by using their bodies to “form” the letters as they jump and spell.
If the boys are in a sport such as soccer, you might work with them to role-play their moves in slow motion without the ball. The key here is very slow motion. They will pay more attention to their outstretched legs and the angles of their feet if they practice their best moves this way. Having fun with mime can also help them “get into their bodies” in a different way and practice slow, conscious movements.
There are a number of exercise videos for children that you may want to consider. Kick to Get Fit may appeal to your boys as it uses some of the same effective movements found in martial arts, but the violent characteristics of throwing a punch have been eliminated. Kid Sport Super Circuit is another fun workout, alternating between strength exercises and cardio drills. And the classic Chicken Fat workout has been re-packaged for modern-day kids. These videos can be found on www.fitnessandkids.com.
And one last tried and true approach: Remember the book Rain by Peter Spier (Doubleday, 1982)? Like the mom in it, you can send your boys outside wearing protective rain gear to enjoy a warm downpour. Let them run around and get drenched and dirty. After these thrills, they will be ready for a warm bath, hot chocolate and the cozy feeling of settling in for quiet time on a gray, wet day.
Gloria DeGaetano is founder and CEO of the Bellevue-based Parent Coaching Institute, as well as a parent educator and author. She hosts Parent Appreciation Radio Saturdays at 11 a.m. on 1150 AM, KKNW-Seattle. You may send questions for this column to Gloria@thepci.com or to nweditor@seattleschild.com or nweditor@pugetsoundparent.com.
©Gloria DeGaetano, 2006
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