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Home › Articles › Your Children › Tuning In

Tuning In

15 Strategies for Focusing Children's Energy

By Cara J. Stevens

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. "My 7-year-old daughter has a busy schedule on Tuesdays," says Beth Freeberg, mother of two from Roslyn, N.Y. "She has art class after school, then she comes home, eats dinner and has a piano lesson. When I asked her how she would feel about changing her schedule, she admitted, 'Tuesdays are hard because I have so much to do.' She had never complained about it, but it turns out it was too much for her."

15. Keep in Touch. When you tap into what makes your children tick, you will begin to see where their interests lie and what brings them down. Many issues can be addressed in a parent-teacher conference or a parent-child heart-to-heart chat. And still others such as proper eating, sleeping and exercising habits can be developed over time. By making your home an active and well-structured environment, and living your life with the energy and enthusiasm you want your child to have, you'll see a difference in the energy level of your entire family.

Get up and Play!

It's easy for kids to get at least 60 minutes of exercise each day. Encourage your kids to get into these age-appropriate physical activities recommended by the American Dietetic Association:

Low energy – Hopscotch, tag, softball, golf, bowling, sledding, biking, horseshoes, fishing, badminton, archery.

Moderate energy – Volleyball, dancing, hunting, table tennis, walking a 15-minute mile.

Kick it up a notch! – Swimming, inline skating, downhill skiing, canoeing, cycling, walking 2.5 miles in 30 minutes.

Optimal energy – Soccer, running, basketball, racquetball, tennis, gymnastics, ice skating, cross-country skiing.

15 Ways to Help Your Kids Focus

1. Find your child's natural enthusiasm and build on that in other areas.
2. Share your expectations and create a structured environment at home.
3. Enlist teachers' support and check in regularly.
4. Work with your child and reward positive behaviors.
5. Offer fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy snacks instead of processed foods.
6. Limit sodas and fruit juices.
7. Make sure your child eats a good breakfast every day.
8. Have your child's blood checked for anemia and offer iron-rich foods.
9. Plan a good mix of physical and mental activity.
10. Encourage at least 60 minutes of exercise each day.
11. Don't let extracurricular activities interfere with school.
12. Avoid over-programming with too many activities.
13. Be a positive role model by eating well and tackling tasks with enthusiasm.
14. Create a good energy level in your home.
15. Continue to monitor your child's energy level and progress, and get help if you don't see positive changes.


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