Mind Boosting Activities For Kids

It’s not uncommon for kids to feel stressed out and anxious with pressures from school and social media. But while they might think staying indoors watching TV or playing computer games is a good way to relax and unwind, encouraging them to be active and get outside is a much better way to help to boost their mood.

With this in mind, Belle About Town spoke to the experts at health and fitness brand, realbuzz, and outdoor education and adventure brand, Kingswood,  to discover the best activities to suit whatever emotion your child might be feeling.

Sad

While it’s often easier for children to lock themselves away in their room when they’re feeling blue, exercise can really help in perking them up. And the best exercise for it is going for a swim. Not only is swimming widely known for its soothing and relaxing nature but it also gives you the space to clear your head.

Adam Walker, realbuzz swimming expert, says: “Swimming stimulates mood-boosting endorphins and also provides an opportunity to clear your mind and take perspective of your day.

“The stress-busting attributes swimming brings also work on a deeper level for those with a mental illness. If you suffer from anxiety, swimming can help ease pent up tension and muscle pain and allows you to be mindful and worry-free as you exercise.”

Lonely

Although children are surrounded by people at school, every now and then it’s not uncommon to feel a little lonely. That is why encouraging them to join a club or even start something fun and upbeat like a dance class can help them with making new friends. Plus doing something with like-minded individuals will give them a sense of unity and encouragement.

Anxious

The worry over homework and exams can all mount up and often leave children and teens feeling anxious. However, yoga is a great activity to help them relax and clear their minds.

Breathing exercises involved can help slow down heart-rate while meditation can clear negative and anxiety-inducing thoughts. Focusing on the here and now is an ideal way for them to distract their mind while they concentrate on balance, positions and breath.

Bored

If your child expresses they are bored or if they don’t know what to do with themselves, a great fix is encouraging them to take up something competitive like basketball, football, badminton, tennis or even judo. Fast-paced sports will get the heart pumping and keep their minds occupied, and the social element will help keep them entertained.

Angry

Whether it’s friendship fallouts in the playground or arguing with a sibling over the remote, anger can take us all over at the best of times. But letting it stew or lashing out at said person doesn’t help. Instead encourage them to channel their energy in a boxing class – they will come away from it feeling a lot more positive.

Stressed

With mounds of homework and keeping up with social media, it’s no surprise that children are feeling stressed. But studies show getting outdoors or going on a camping trip can help lower levels of cortisol – the stress hormone – in the body^[1]. That is why Kingswood Camps and Kingswood Family Adventures are a great way to enable children to experience all that nature has to offer.

Steve Anderson, Head of Activities at Kingswood, says: “It is a well-known fact that embracing the outdoors and having adventures reduces stress. Breathing in the fresh air can do wonders for the mind and through all of our activities, not only are we encouraging children to become more active – helping to release those feel good endorphins – we are also teaching essential skills such as team work, communication and problem solving.

“Our on-site activities help build resilience, equipping young people for setbacks in their studies, work and all aspects of life by enabling them to learn from failures and view them as positive opportunities.”

Tom Madders, campaigns director at Young Minds, the children and young people mental health charity and Kingswood charity partner, agrees.

He tells Belle: “Children and young people today can face a wide range of pressures, including stress about exams, worries about body image, and the pressures associated with around-the-clock social media. Spending time outdoors, learning new skills, being with friends, taking time out from your daily routine, and having space to talk about how you’re feeling can have real benefits for mental health.”

• For more information, as well as more tips and advice, visit www.realbuzz.com or www.kingswood.co.uk
  

[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2793341/