August 5, 2013
Getting Started - Tips for Successful Outings
Averting meltdown - 3 tips from a developmental psychologist
1. Lower your expectations by 1/2 to 1/3 when planning. Kids' brains send signals of both joy and unhappiness within shorter time frames and after less effort than do adults' brains. Plan accordingly.
2. A terrific nutrition researcher colleague once said "sugar is an analgesic." Recent findings suggest she's not off-base-- sucrose may actually blunt children's experience of mild pain and discomfort. The suprise and pleasure of a can of Coke in the wilderness can avert meltdown.
3. Framing: We remember past events by how we tell the stories of triumph and tribulation, afterwards. No one is perfect, and everyone (including me) is likely to have a meltdown at some point on a trip. Re-frame those episodes as "minor mishaps" rather than tragic dramas - everyone will remember those trips as "best times ever."
Discussion:Yes, I want to receive expert advice on getting my family outside!
Tip of the Day
Look for animal tracks. Even if the only wild critters in your neighborhood are dogs and squirrels, it’s fun to follow their adventures in the snow.