Watch, Pray, Read While They Play, or Take Your N Vitamin!

I want to recommend that you give your child a daily dose of the “N” vitamin. John Rosemond says the word no is a daily dose of the N vitamin. While that is applicable to rearing youngsters, I want to offer another idea for the N vitamin – nature. Are you planning outside play for your children this summer? I hope so!  Granted, summers are hot, but mornings after breakfast are good times as are evenings after dinner. 15 minutes a day gives us our daily dose of vitamin D!As you watch your child and provide supervision (remember, you do not need to entertain), here is your assignment, sweet RDS Mom. First thought was giving you a list of books from which to choose as you don your straw hat, sunglasses, and carry a tall glass of iced tea, lawn chair in hand, children following behind you as you head to the yard, but then I rethought it. Read on…How do you get out the door so fast?  You have situated the play things on the grass prior to breakfast, and you are ready!  Remember that list of ideas given to you at our last evening of encouragement? Borrow ideas from that; it was stellar!  You might need to train your children to solo play. This will take time and perseverance. In the beginning stay engaged without entertaining them. Make suggestions and ask questions. Sit close-by.  After a week or two of this, something magical will happen! They will not need your soft engagement because you have provided the slow release of solo play with the fun things you have provided them. (Naturally, this will vary depending on your children’s ages). Talk to them about this slow release so they know what you expect of them – independent play. Change it up a bit and rotate children through stations you have set up; keep it simple. Remember your voice tone and speak with intention and authority. Children understand the difference.Once the routines and expectations of outside play have been established, you can sit a distance away and observe. While doing so, please, please, please resist the urge to scroll through your cell phone. In fact, I will be bold here – put that device away.  You are modeling for your children. They will remember what they see you do and when they become users of technology…well, you get the picture! Tell your friends that you will be checking your texts once or twice a day, if, in fact, you take my advice here.  Make any necessary arrangements with your hubby, but please do not allow the phone to be a home invader, an attention grabber, a joy robber, and a mind divider.What do you do as you watch?  I want to give you permission to do nothing – it’s your N vitamin!! Or, you can read a devotional, God’s Word, or pray for your children, one by one as they play. This is your rest time. Just allow your heart to “Be still and know that He is God.”  You might need to feign reading so your children think you are occupied and are less likely to ‘need’ your attention – at least until they are fully trained in the expectation you set for them – solo play. Allow the laughter of your children to be a salve for your soul. Do you hear a squirrel scampering, a bird singing sweetly? Does your heart rejoice in the God of all creation? Slow down and savor the moment. Give yourself permission to take vitamin N.Speaking of electronic devices and the propensity for addiction - if you would like to understand the impact of technology on the brain of children, then a must read is Glow Kids by Dr. Nicholas Kardaras. If I could, I would make it required reading for parents of all aged-children, that’s how passionate I am about parents understanding screens and children’s developing brains!  Enjoy your vitamins D and N!