10 Top Tips for Tip Top Kids

10 Top Tips for Tip Top Kids 

1. Encourage barefoot time, especially on natural surfaces.
2. Watch their joints for strength and not laxity (muscles flexible = good.  joints  too flexible (lax) = not so much).
3. Ask their teacher if your student can stand more (we don’t need to practice sitting all day).
4. Ask yourself if your child can do their homework on the floor instead of in a chair.
5.  Develop a mini stretching routine before bed, this can be especially helpful if your child gets the dreaded night cramps.
6. Allow them to try things that might be perceived as “dangerous” but that kids do naturally; like climbing things, walking barefoot, wrestling, and even scaring themselves a bit with their adventures.
7. Would you consider having them sleep on the floor, or mattress on the ground?  
8. Teach them to “breathe” when stressed or upset.
9. Ask them what they feel in their body as they encounter physical and mental challenges.  
10. Encourage them to struggle.  The struggling is where the growth occurs.  Support the struggle vs. the outcome.

Some of these might seem common sense to you and others might seem totally out there?!  I hope to elaborate on each of these topics on my blog over the next year.   To get the notifications of my very infrequent blog posts for Pilates After School, like our page on facebook https://www.facebook.com/pilatesafterschool