Half of us wanted Trump and half Clinton.  So that means half of us are disappointed.  If your kids were one of those kids, it is hard.  My kids asked me if we might go to war,  and also worried about why a man who didn't like women was president.  That is a pretty hard one to deal with.  I can't explain that and no matter what I do as a mom, it will be hard to walk away from this without them getting the message that respecting women isn't a prerequisite for being very rich, successful and even the President.  We are all tired of the division in this country but let's learn from our mistakes and see if we can become a united nation—starting with us and our families and, our children who are always watching.  

I don't like having my kids sad or disappointed, just like you.  But psychologically this is an OPPORTUNITY to build confidence and resilience in children.  We might as well seize it!  Here are some tips from a variety of sources to help kids suffering from  disappointment:

• Allow your children to feel disappointment about the setback; Don't "spin" the situation to make your children feel better;

• Support your children, but don't give them a consolation prize;

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• Keep the regular rhythm of the day. This will give the children a sense that no matter what is swirling around them, life moves forward and they are safe.

• Be especially mindful of your own inner experiences and how they may have an impact on your child.

• Be gentle with each other as parents and adults. Set the example.

Here is a video specifically on the topic of this election that covers talking with your kids on important lessons to take away.

Sources:  Video, Good Morning America and message from our head of school, Julie Amberg
Articles: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-prime/201106/parenting-disappointment-is-good,   http://www.cubsstudy.com/2015/04/how-to-help-our-kids-to-build-his.html, 
http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/development/social/helping-kids-deal-with-disappointment/, ​http://www.parents.com/kids/development/behavioral/failure-is-an-option/

If you follow this guide you can't go wrong!  We even have a recommendation for you — see our product spotlight for the PAS recommended backpack!

What's the big deal?  Backpacks aren't exactly rocket science... or are they?

The big deal is basically that our shoulders weren't really designed for having things hanging on them.  That is why you probably have experienced pain when doing so, and also why so many people carry things stacked on their heads.  Ultimately stacking your stuff on your head would be a much better solution.  However, that might be a far reach for a child going to elementary school with no practice of doing so (not to mention the "Hey look at me, I am doing something totally different then everyone else!"  Good luck getting your kids to do that!  But if you can, please share your mad skills with the rest of us. Email me, seriously.

So the big concern is that carrying too much weight or even a really bad fit of these packs can absolutely destroy your childs' alignment and with that, goes the posture, the spine, the joints, and in comes the hunch back, forward head and potential of pain and real injury later on.  Children can even develop serious spinal injury and/or scoliosis from this horrible alignment.

Not sure what I mean, see image:

A Recent Report From The Institute Of Medicine Of The National Academy Of Sciences Indicates That Approximately 30.3% Of Children Between The Ages Of 6 To 11 Are Overweight And That 15.3% Are Obese. For Adolescents Between The Ages Of 12 To 19, 30.4% Are Overweight And 15.5% Are Obese. These Are Startling Numbers And Much Higher Than For Previous Years.

Concerned Parents Are Now Looking At Exercise Programs For Their Children In An Effort To Keep Them Fit And Set Them Up For A Lifetime Of Good Health. A Rigorous Exercise Regimen, However, May Not Be Beneficial For Young Children And Could Even Be Harmful. The Concern Stems From The Fact That A Young Child's Developing Skeletal Frame Cannot Handle The Demanding Forms Of Exercise In More Aerobic-Oriented Or Cardiovascular Programs. For These Children, A Safer, Healthier, Low-Impact Workout Is Needed Such As Pilates. While The Popularity Of Pilates Among Adults Is Well Chronicled, The Exercise Program Also Offers A Large Range Of Benefits To Children. Improved Posture And Spinal Alignment Are Realized As Exercises Increase The Strength And Flexibility Of The Abdominal And Inner Muscles Of The Body (The Core Or Trunk). It Promotes Toned, Sleek Bodies And Improves Athletic Performance. Through Pilates, Children Can Gain Awareness Of Their Body, And Learn How To Move Efficiently And Gracefully. As Children Grow, Their Bodies Are In A Constant State Of Change And Development. Correctly Or Incorrectly It Is Here Where They Will Formulate The Physical Attributes That They Will Take Through Life. Posture, The Way They Walk, The Way They Bend Over, Etc. Pilates Can Help Establish Correct Principles Of Movement That Children Will Use For Their Entire Lives.

It Will Also Create A Balanced Musculature That Can Alleviate Pain And Reduce The Potential For Injury Now And As They Continue To Grow Into Adulthood. Beyond Physical Fitness, Having A Strong Core Can Open Up Other Benefits For Children-Including Improved Learning.

Advocates Believe That When Trunk, Or Torso, Stability Is Absent, Sitting And Standing For Extended Periods In School Can Be Difficult. If Children Are Expending Their Energy Throughout The Day Just To Maintain Stability, Their Stamina For Homework And Other After School Activities May Be Depleted. A Strong Trunk Or Core Conserves Their Energy And Allows Them To Be More Attentive To Schoolwork.

Because Pilates is a mind and body discipline, it can guide kids to a stronger body, and a more relaxed state of mind. Working to strengthen their bodies can increase children's selfesteem, stamina, abdominal strength and sleep. That, combined with the focused breathing techniques essential to the exercises, can help kids attain a much more serene and less stressful outlook.
-​By Ken Endelman 

*This is an article written by Ken Endelman, Founder of Balanced Body.  I am sharing it here as this was originally written 10 years ago.  If this was the situation 10 years ago....  imagine how apropos it is today.