What's the Buzz? January 2009
The official E-Newsletter of Bee Well Kidz
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According to Taoist astrology, 2009 is the year of the Ox, a time for hard work, diligence and conscientious effort. Looking forward to some tough times for many families but with a renewed sense of hope and direction, we can all learn a little from the nature of the ox as we try to be a little more resolute, honest and patient with others and ourselves.
Enjoy this issue of What's the Buzz??
Bee Well,
Naomi Richman
President and founder, Bee Well Kidz
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In This Issue:
The Farmer and the Horse
Stress and Kidz
Kidz Zen
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The Farmer and the Horse
If you have seen the movie "Charlie Wilson's War" you may recollect the fable Philip Seymore Hoffman tells at the end of the movie about an old man and a horse.
It goes:
One day a poor farmer came upon a wild horse. With a bit of effort, the farmer was able to capture and train the horse to help him plow his fields. When the other villagers learned that the farmer now had a horse to help him plow his fields they were struck by his good fortune.
A few weeks past and the farmer's son was on his way home from the market when a loud noise spooked the horse throwing the boy and causing him to break his leg. When the other villagers heard about the boy's broken leg, they were struck by the farmer's bad fortune.
A short time later the country went to war. All of the young men from the village were rounded up to serve in the army. The war was brief but brutal and most of the young men of the village did not return. The farmer's son, however, could not fight because of his broken leg and was spared.
This ancient Asian fable teaches a lesson in perspective and reminds us that good can come from an apparently bad situation and bad from good. With these tough economic times hitting many families hard, it is important to keep an open mind to the lessons we learn through struggle and the possibilities difficult times may bring.
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Kids and Stress
Kids get stressed; not about house payments but kids have their own concerns. And regardless of whether we think the issues are important, the stress feels just as real and can be just as overwhelming as our own.
KidsHealth® conducted a poll explored what makes kids feel the most stress and what coping mechanisms kids use to deal with their emotions. They also asked what kids wanted their parents to do about it.
The poll showed that kids deal with stress in a variety of ways, and most want their parents help them deal with their often complex emotions.
Poll Results: Causes of Stress
#1 Grades, school, and homework (36%)
#2 Family (32%)
#3 Friends, peers, gossip, and teasing (21%).
Poll Results: Coping Mechanisms (Kids could give more than one response):
52% play or do something active
44% listen to music
42% watch TV or play a video game
30% talk to a friend
29% try not to think about it
28% try to work things out
26% eat something
23% lose their temper
22% talk to a parent
11% cry
The survey also found that roughly 25% of kids take their stress out on themselves by doing something to hurt themselves, such as banging their heads against something or hitting or biting themselves when they felt overwhelmed.
Many kids internalize their parent's stress and blame themselves for situations beyond their control. They feel embarrassed or angry for the role they played in the situation and do not have the coping mechanisms to effectively express their pain or embarrassment.
The poll also found that although talking to parents ranked eighth on the list of coping methods, 75% of the kids said they need their parents' help to get through tough times. When kids are stressed-out, they just need a little together time with their parents to work through their issues and help them solve their problems.
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Kidz Zen: Yoga, Tai Chi and Meditation
One of the greatest gifts you can give your child is effective coping mechanisms. How we deal with stress can effect every aspect of our lives; from our physical and mental health to our relationships and family life. Although the stress kids feel is very real, most children have an innate ability to learn to relax and let go. While it takes most adults concerted effort to learn to quiet their minds and release the days worries, kids tend to be more Zen beings, living in the moment.
Teaching your children techniques for self-health, relaxation, and inner peace will help them navigate life's challenges more easily as they get older and life becomes more complicated. Yoga, Tai Chi or Meditation at an early age encourages body awareness, physical boundaries, mental flexibility and calm while building self-esteem. While adults need to be constantly reminded of our connection to the world around us, children have an innate sense of it and regular yoga, tai chi or meditative practice allows them to maintain that connection.
When these practices were developed thousands of years ago, people lived in harmony with nature studying the natural laws that governed their lives. When children imitate and study these patterns, it allows them to internalize the rhythms and movements of nature and reestablish their connection with the universe around them and inside them.
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