Alia's Childcare Centre
7725 112 st V4C 4H1 Delta, BC, Canada

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Why Play Matters - An Infographic The instinct to play is hard wired into the human DNA. When children play, they develop connections between the motor, percept...ual, cognitive, social, and emotional areas of the brain. Critical thinking, communication, language, and emotional expression are also developed in play through trial and error. Impairments to cognitive, language, emotional, and physical development have all been linked t a deficit in play. To download please go to http://macnamara.ca/downloads/

Sometimes we work too hard pushing a child to grow instead of trusting there is a developmental plan that will unfold with time. Adults have a role to play in h...elping unlock maturing dynamics by providing for a child's relational needs. When we care for a child's heart and all their emotions that make them fully human, then nature will do the rest. They will care enough to set goals and be considerate of others, they will have courage to take healthy risks, and will use their fear to safely navigate through life. #restplaygrow See more

Alia's childcare centre

A SILENT TRAGEDY There is a silent tragedy that is unfolding today in our homes, and concerns our most precious jewels: our children. Our children are in a deva...stating emotional state! In the last 15 years, researchers have given us increasingly alarming statistics on a sharp and steady increase in childhood mental illness that is now reaching epidemic proportions: Statistics do not lie: 1 in 5 children have mental health problems A 43% increase in ADHD has been noted A 37% increase in adolescent depression has been noted There has been a 200% increase in the suicide rate in children aged 10 to 14 What is happening and what are we doing wrong? Today's children are being over-stimulated and over-gifted with material objects, but they are deprived of the fundamentals of a healthy childhood, such as: Emotionally available parents Clearly defined limits Responsibilities Balanced nutrition and adequate sleep Movement in general but especially outdoors Creative play, social interaction, unstructured game opportunities and boredom spaces Instead, in recent years, children have been filled with: Digitally distracted parents Indulgent and permissive parents who let children "rule the world" and whoever sets the rules A sense of right, of deserving everything without earning it or being responsible for obtaining it Inadequate sleep and unbalanced nutrition A sedentary lifestyle Endless stimulation, technological nannies, instant gratification and absence of boring moments What to do? If we want our children to be happy and healthy individuals, we have to wake up and get back to basics. It is still possible! Many families see immediate improvements after weeks of implementing the following recommendations: Set limits and remember that you are the captain of the ship. Your children will feel more confident knowing that you have control of the helm. Offer children a balanced lifestyle full of what children NEED, not just what they WANT. Don't be afraid to say "no" to your children if what they want is not what they need. Provide nutritious food and limit junk food. Spend at least one hour a day outdoors doing activities such as: cycling, walking, fishing, bird / insect watching Enjoy a daily family dinner without smartphones or distracting technology. Play board games as a family or if children are very small for board games, get carried away by their interests and allow them to rule in the game Involve your children in some homework or household chores according to their age (folding clothes, ordering toys, hanging clothes, unpacking food, setting the table, feeding the dog etc.) Implement a consistent sleep routine to ensure your child gets enough sleep. The schedules will be even more important for school-age children. Teach responsibility and independence. Do not overprotect them against all frustration or mistakes. Misunderstanding will help them build resilience and learn to overcome life's challenges, Do not carry your children's backpack, do not carry their backpacks, do not carry the homework they forgot, do not peel bananas or peel oranges if they can do it on their own (4-5 years). Instead of giving them the fish, teach them to fish. Teach them to wait and delay gratification. Provide opportunities for "boredom", since boredom is the moment when creativity awakens. Do not feel responsible for always keeping children entertained. Do not use technology as a cure for boredom, nor offer it at the first second of inactivity. Avoid using technology during meals, in cars, restaurants, shopping centers. Use these moments as opportunities to socialize by training the brains to know how to work when they are in mode: "boredom" Help them create a "bottle of boredom" with activity ideas for when they are bored. Be emotionally available to connect with children and teach them self-regulation and social skills: Turn off the phones at night when children have to go to bed to avoid digital distraction. Become a regulator or emotional trainer for your children. Teach them to recognize and manage their own frustrations and anger. Teach them to greet, to take turns, to share without running out of anything, to say thank you and please, to acknowledge the error and apologize (do not force them), be a model of all those values you instill. Connect emotionally - smile, hug, kiss, tickle, read, dance, jump, play or crawl with them. Article written by Dr. Luis Rojas Marcos Psychiatrist.