"Stop all the rushing and screaming: too much excitement is bad for families.
``
Stop
all
the
rushing
and
screaming
:
too
much
excitement
is
bad
for
families
.
Kids are missing out on an essential life - relaxed down time," says Dr. Charlotte Reznick.
Kids
are
missing
out
on
an
essential
life
-
relaxed
down
time
,
''
says
Dr.
Charlotte
Reznick
.
"Parents work, and kids do scheduled activities - there' s little family time without pressure," says Reznick.
``
Parents
work
,
and
kids
do
scheduled
activities
-
there
'
s
little
family
time
without
pressure
,
''
says
Reznick
.
"One parent is taking the son to a soccer game, and the other parent is taking the daughter to her swim meet.
``
One
parent
is
taking
the
son
to
a
soccer
game
,
and
the
other
parent
is
taking
the
daughter
to
her
swim
meet
.
Then there's art class, baseball practice, extra tutoring, and more!
Then
there
's
art
class
,
baseball
practice
,
extra
tutoring
,
and
more
!
By the time the family meet up for dinner, everyone is exhausted."
By
the
time
the
family
meet
up
for
dinner
,
everyone
is
exhausted
.
''
All the rushing makes for a short temper.
All
the
rushing
makes
for
a
short
temper
.
"When parents are reduced to shouting at their children to get them to listen, they lower their own self-esteem as well as losing the respect of their children," says Dr. Carl Pickhardt "While parents think it shows they' re serious about what they're saying, they are really just showing helpless desperation at not getting their way."
``
When
parents
are
reduced
to
shouting
at
their
children
to
get
them
to
listen
,
they
lower
their
own
self-esteem
as
well
as
losing
the
respect
of
their
children
,
''
says
Dr.
Carl
Pickhardt
``
While
parents
think
it
shows
they
'
re
serious
about
what
they
're
saying
,
they
are
really
just
showing
helpless
desperation
at
not
getting
their
way.
''
These days what kids are learning at school and from the outside is a lot greater than it used to be even just a generation ago.
These
days
what
kids
are
learning
at
school
and
from
the
outside
is
a
lot
greater
than
it
used
to
be
even
just
a
generation
ago
.
"The problem is that stress-relieving activities - reading, taking walks or hot baths, watching the sunset and other activities are not even part of most kids' experience any more," says Reznick.
``
The
problem
is
that
stress-relieving
activities
-
reading
,
taking
walks
or
hot
baths
,
watching
the
sunset
and
other
activities
are
not
even
part
of
most
kids
'
experience
any
more
,
''
says
Reznick
.
"There are so many more social-interaction opportunities in our computer age, but not all of them promote meaningful connections, which is another potential outlet for stress," she says.
``
There
are
so
many
more
social-interaction
opportunities
in
our
computer
age
,
but
not
all
of
them
promote
meaningful
connections
,
which
is
another
potential
outlet
for
stress
,
''
she
says
.
One way to relieve stress is a simple technique called "the balloon breath".
One
way
to
relieve
stress
is
a
simple
technique
called
``
the
balloon
breath
''
.
It's a great way for everyone to become calm so that they can respond thoughtfully rather than just react.
It
's
a
great
way
for
everyone
to
become
calm
so
that
they
can
respond
thoughtfully
rather
than
just
react
.
Here's how to do it.
Here
's
how
to
do
it
.
Imagine a deflated balloon in your stomach - about two to three inches below your navel.
Imagine
a
deflated
balloon
in
your
stomach
-
about
two
to
three
inches
below
your
navel
.
Slowly breathe in to a count of l. .
Slowly
breathe
in
to
a
count
of
l.
.
.
.
2. .
2.
.
.
.
3. .
3.
.
.
.
and feel the lower belly expand, and flatten as you slowly breathe out to a count of l. ..2. .
and
feel
the
lower
belly
expand
,
and
flatten
as
you
slowly
breathe
out
to
a
count
of
l.
..2.
.
.3. .
.3.
.
.
.
"Stop all the rushing and screaming: too much excitement is bad for families. Kids are missing out on an essential life - relaxed down time," says Dr. Charlotte Reznick.  "Parents work, and kids do scheduled activities - there' s little family time without pressure," says Reznick. "One parent is taking the son to a soccer game, and the other parent is taking the daughter to her swim meet. Then there's art class, baseball practice, extra tutoring, and more! By the time the family meet up for dinner, everyone is exhausted."  All the rushing makes for a short temper. "When parents are reduced to shouting at their children to get them to listen, they lower their own self-esteem as well as losing the respect of their children," says Dr. Carl Pickhardt "While parents think it shows they' re serious about what they're saying, they are really just showing helpless desperation at not getting their way."  These days what kids are learning at school and from the outside is a lot greater than it used to be even just a generation ago.  "The problem is that stress-relieving activities - reading, taking walks or hot baths, watching the sunset and other activities are not even part of most kids' experience any more," says Reznick.  "There are so many more social-interaction opportunities in our computer age, but not all of them promote meaningful connections, which is another potential outlet for stress," she says.  One way to relieve stress is a simple technique called "the balloon breath". It's a great way for everyone to become calm so that they can respond thoughtfully rather than just react.  Here's how to do it. Imagine a deflated balloon in your stomach - about two to three inches below your navel. Slowly breathe in to a count of l. . . 2. . . 3. . . and feel the lower belly expand, and flatten as you slowly breathe out to a count of l. ..2. . .3. . .