Families
“Parenting shouldn’t feel like a competitive sport. It’s plenty challenging without any added obstacles. Strive to be loving and kind; have the courage to ask for help; take a break when you need it; celebrate all the great stuff; be kind to yourself, and be yourself. That’s who your kid loves anyways.”
~Ariadne Brill
Activities for Families
set a goal to have FAMILY DINNER at least once a week/month
Involve kids in making dinner, ordering dinner, setting the table, etc. Have the younger kids take everyone's order with a take-out menu, maybe the child is the one ordering, give them jobs in the kitchen like chopping vegetables, measuring out ingredients, mixing in a bowl etc. The dinner prep may take a little longer but the time spent will worth it.
Limit screen time as a family and go for a walk, hike, bike ride, kick a ball around, craft...
Let's face it, screens are around us all the time. Have you ever looked or tracked the amount of screen time you actually have on your tablets/computers/ phones during the day? The average screen time for adults is approximately 7 hours. This study found that those spending six hours or more per day watching screens had a higher risk for depression and limiting social media use to 30 minutes per day lead to a "significant improvement in well-being."
Schedule and find time for you!
In our roles as parent/guardians/grandparents we are constantly giving - to our children, families, professional lives, friends, etc. and at the end of the day sometimes it may feel like you have nothing left to give. So, prioritize yourself or else you will be pouring from an empty cup. Participate in activities that fill up your cup - such as joining a pottery class, going on a walk, getting your nails done, saying "no" to something to have time for yourself, going to dinner with friends, participating in an adult sports league, etc. Once you start prioritizing yourself you will find you have a better outlook, an easier time managing stressful situations and a better well-being due to finding a healthy balance.
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Outside Providers / Supports by NJ COUNTY
"Comparison is the thief of joy." ~Theodore Roosevelt