You’ve heard it said time and time again.
“Kids are not meant to spend so much time indoors!”
“They need to get out there, explore and make friends.”
“There is a whole world outside they should see!”
Now, these are certainly very good parenting attitudes. Kids who take time to get out and exercise are naturally going to be healthy while meeting other people is important for social skills.
Sadly, we can’t always have the luxury of going outside. Lockdowns, rain, snowstorms and other major downers can leave us confined to our homes for extended periods of time. We also can’t forget the age-old rule of being home before dinner.
That leaves us with plenty of time in a day that needs to be spent indoors. Hence, parents shouldn’t just neglect the ways kids can cheer themselves up while inside. Putting too much emphasis on outdoor fun and making life inside the house feel boring may cause kids to be more distressed when circumstances cancel outings or meetups with friends.
So, just what are some of the best ways to keep their spirits high (and do any of them depend a little too much on unhealthy screen time)?
While limiting screen time is good, there are still just some moments where it is best to kick back and watch something with the whole family (especially when everyone may be feeling a little too tired to move after a long day).
That said, nothing beats entertainment that is appropriate and positive. Look for films that teach a lot of good values to children such as empathy, kindness, generosity and creativity. And asides from movies or shows, you can also have reading sessions or play boardgames that can really spark the imagination.
Indoor exercises may not seem as refreshing as an outdoor jog, but you and your kids still need exercise nonetheless!
Because whether it is inside our outside, all forms of exercise create those life-saving endorphins that can combat stress, anxiety and even depression.
And by improving the quality of mental health, you are also boosting the quality of your children’s immune system. That makes exercise a great way to boost everyone’s resilience in heart, mind and body! What’s more, there are plenty of indoor exercise resources out there (including entire workout programs) so you’re never short of ideas.
Whether it is cooking together, painting pictures or even something more ambitious like building a go-kart in the garage, there are loads of family projects you can work on together while indoors.
These are not only great ways to bond with your kids, but they can also be opportunities for all of you to teach each other and work together. Take it as a chance to share little tricks and fun facts that your kids may even apply later in life!
While there is definitely a lot of science backing up why spending too much time indoors is bad, kids can’t also spend all their time outside either.
Sometimes they have to spend their time inside, but that certainly doesn’t mean all the fun and learning stops.
If you need any advice or support, then know that we at the Australian Tomatis Method are still here to help you. Please reach out if you need to, either by email at info@tomatis.com.au or by phone to Francoise at 0414 444 915.
Official Representative of Tomatis Developpement SA in Australia, Asia and South Pacific, Director of the Australian Tomatis® Method, Registered Psychologist, Certified Tomatis® Consultant Senior, Tomatis® International Trainer and Speaker, Co-author of the Listening Journey Series, 40 Years of Experience, Neurodiversity Speaker
