Social Emotional Spotlight – Sam’s Tips: Burning Off Energy
“Go outside, run around, and burn off that energy.” Have you ever said that to your kid? It sounds good, but have you ever noticed they actually seem to become more energized? Sometimes, a free for all can make things much worse.
There’s a difference between going outside and running around everywhere, and intentionally running back and forth between two points. The latter option helps put some structure to an open activity that may otherwise make your child more activated. From there, you can combine some structure with rhythm, the rhythm is often even more calming and organizing to the body and mind.
For example, pairing a rhythmic song like “The Ants Go Marching One by One” with jumping jacks can calm kids down quickly. Things like obstacle courses or jumping on a trampoline while counting are also ways to get a calming effect.
For more help or questions always feel free to reach out: ssavin@jccchicago.org
Written by Sam Savin LCSW, Youth Clinical Social Worker, JCC Chicago