| I'm sitting here at my desk staring at the | | | | light, consider darker curtains. Older kids may be |
| computer screen. At least I'm pretending to be | | | | willing to wear an eyeshade.o Daydreaming |
| staring at the screen so that I can fool myself | | | | Daydreaming is not all bad. A wise parent will join |
| into believing that I'm working. Really I'm gazing | | | | the child and allow for the creativity of thought |
| out the window. | | | | that can evolve. Remember lying on the grass |
| My office is in my home and looks out over the | | | | looking at the clouds and discussing the shapes? |
| garden. While I enjoy the view, for most of the | | | | Instead of discouraging your children, join them. |
| year it's an asset but not a distraction. But now | | | | We do a lot of talking about how children watch |
| it's Spring. Spring brings picnics and flowers, | | | | too much TV and don't engage in creative play. |
| sunshine and baseball. For parents of young | | | | Well, use this daydreaming time of year to teach |
| children, it also brings spring fever. Hey, that's' the | | | | your children how to let their minds roam and |
| case with many of us. We're more likely to | | | | wander. It won't hurt we adults either.o Outdoors |
| become dreamy or restless during the Spring | | | | Spring is also a time when children want to spend |
| than at any other time. | | | | time outdoors. Again, join them. Go for walks and |
| So is it any surprise that children are restless, | | | | see the new flowers, baby ducks and bird's nests. |
| daydreaming and driving their parents to | | | | Go to the park and play on the swings or toss |
| distraction. While parents notice the changes in | | | | around a baseball. |
| their children they often attribute it to | | | | If you encourage outdoors play by joining in, your |
| misbehavior. But it's Spring fever and it's real. | | | | children will benefit by having fun with you while |
| Many of us find ourselves in the garden, on the | | | | they get needed fresh air and exercise. |
| golf courses and at the ballpark. And that's normal | | | | Kids always benefit from outdoor play. If your |
| and healthy. Remember the news stories every | | | | kids are normally reluctant to play outdoors use |
| year about how many adults skip out of work on | | | | Spring fever as a chance to start a new habit. Put |
| opening day at the local baseball stadium. There | | | | on old clothes and let them run, play get dirty and |
| they are in their suits with their cell phones and | | | | just have a great time.o Silliness |
| hot dogs. | | | | Some people get very silly in the Spring. If you |
| There are some typical child behaviors we see in | | | | are one of these, go ahead. It won't hurt your |
| the Spring.o Light at Bedtime | | | | children to see you being silly. If you child is one |
| Every child is different but certainly as soon as it | | | | of these then have fun. Turn regular activities into |
| is light outside children want to stay up later. | | | | games, laugh and joke while you pick up the toys. |
| Instead of getting angry, parents can first realize | | | | The world will not fall apart because a job is not |
| that this is a reasonable reaction. When I was little | | | | done seriously. |
| my mother would recite the poem, Bed In | | | | Of course life must go on and children, like adults, |
| Summer by Robert Louis Stevenson about a child | | | | can't use the onset of spring as a chance to avoid |
| who hates to go to bed when it is still light | | | | homework, piano practice and chores. But, when |
| outside. The poem let me know that she | | | | you acknowledge your child's spring fever, when |
| understood my feelings. Mind you, I still had to go | | | | you make room for her need to daydream, to be |
| to bed. | | | | outside, to play , then your child will be much |
| For children who really have a problem with the | | | | more willing and able to take on the regular tasks. |