Stahlke Adoption

Running Off Steam

From the kids' arrival, Jonathan and I have intuitively known that exercise is critical to managing their behavior. During the first few months in fall 2005, we headed out every afternoon to bike, skate, visit a playground, sled, etc. The children were bursting after an entire day of school in a language they couldn't understand. I'll never forget David learning to bike before he knew how to stop. He'd crash into the curb, take a tumble, and come up grinning for more.

Deborah Gray's book confirms our hunch about exercise (p. 131):
"If children are filling with the energy for fight or flight, parents can give the child an outlet for the energy, as well as help her to calm down. Children can do 150 jumping jacks, run in place for five minutes, or run up and down a hill."

I now need to revise my plan, however, after reading this book. Sarah's 100 jumping jacks need to increase to Deborah Gray's recommended 150!

posted by Stahlkes @ 1:24 PM