The Little Gym is encouraging parents to have daily, meaningful conversations with their children in honor of National Communicate with your Children Day, which takes place on December 5th.
"Although most parents communicate with their children on a regular basis about the details of each day, many are missing out on the opportunity to delve deeper into the child''s individual experiences," says Paul Dickison of The Little Gym International.
Dickison recommends that parents follow these tips:
- Walk together – If your home is within a moderate distance to school, the practice field or any stores in town, make it a point to walk to these places with your child. Fill the time by chatting about the child''s day.
- Unwind before bed – Allot yourself a half an hour before bedtime to catch up with your children by doing some gentle stretching in a quiet place. Turn off the TV and any other digital devices.
- Chat over chores – Enlist your child''s help around the house and use the time to find out about his or her likes or dislikes. Clean up the room, put toys away or empty the dishwasher. Let the child choose some music to play while the chores are done.
"You want to create an environment where they feel relaxed, and one way to do this is to talk while moving. It brings all parties onto the same page," says Dickison.
"Moving" is one thing that The Little Gym can certainly help parents and their children implement in their day-to-day lives. Offering curriculum-based gymnastics, movement and other programs to promote coordination, balance, rhythm and flexibility, The Little Gym is based on a philosophy of introducing kids to the world of fitness in a caring and non-competitive way. According to Dickison, at The Little Gym, staff members put a huge emphasis on praising children and encouraging them, especially in the Parent and Child classes. Also, with its Pre-School/Kindergarten and Grade School children, The Little Gym focuses on allowing children to achieve success – no matter how big or small their achievements may be.
For more information, please visit www.thelittlegym.com.
Contacts:
The Little Gym International
Paul Dickison, 480-948–2878
pdickison@thelittlegym.com