The school year can be hectic, especially if your kids have extracurricular activities. Between looking for the best ADHD medication for child with anxiety, driving everyone to soccer practice and helping kids with their homework, it’s easy to feel frazzled. However, you can reduce stress and create a peaceful environment with just a few tips.
Prioritize Your Routine
Children crave consistency. It creates a sense of comfort and safety since they know what to expect. While home life can get chaotic with young children, it’s crucial for parents to establish this consistency through routines.
Morning, after-school and bedtime routines are the cornerstone of a harmonious home. They not only create a sense of security but also help kids meet your expectations. A morning routine helps them prepare for school, while an after-school routine allows them to decompress after a stressful day. Bedtime routines can help them fall asleep faster and get more restful sleep.
Set Boundaries With Technology
Today’s kids have access to technology at a very young age. While tech literacy is critical to academic and work success, too much screen time can have consequences:
- Less time for creative play
- Desensitization to violence
- Impaired academic performance
- Irregular sleep
- Obesity
There’s also the issue with algorithms. Without proper safeguards, social media algorithms may recommend videos that aren’t age-appropriate. If you don’t monitor your kids’ technology use, they may get exposed to mature content or even predators.
To protect your kids, it’s essential to place boundaries on screen time. Limit how much time your kids can spend on their devices and what they can access. It’s also a good idea to be in the room with them while watching television or using a tablet until they’re old enough to decide whether content is appropriate.
Communicate Expectations Clearly
Communicating expectations clearly is essential to a peaceful household. You may need to do so several times for neurodivergent children. For instance, ADHD in 5 year old may manifest as forgetfulness or being easily distracted, making it more challenging to follow directions. Recognizing your children’s needs and adapting to them can make a huge difference in family harmony.
Kids respond best when directions are specific. This is especially important with neurodivergent children, who may interpret directions literally. You should also state the consequences of not obeying. For example, if your children don’t finish their chores by dinner, they can’t play video games.
Plan Meals and Snacks
Nutritious food is vital for growing kids, but daily cooking can be stressful. Meal prepping minimizes the amount of work while ensuring high-quality family meals.
Having healthy snacks on hand after school and sports practice is also important. While sugary treats and junk food are fine in moderation, you should help them create good habits with healthy snacks:
- Yogurt and fruit
- Celery and peanut butter
- Cheese sticks and whole-grain crackers
Place these snacks on lower shelves in the fridge and pantry so children can easily reach them.
Finally, address mental health issues as they arise. While some kids may outgrow anxiety, many need help to manage this condition. A non habit forming anxiety medication may alleviate symptoms, allowing kids to focus on school, friends and enjoying their childhoods.
