| How to Help Fidgety Kids Sit Still Posted: 28 Dec 2018 04:00 PM PST A bit of fidgeting is normal, especially in kids and teenagers. If your child fidgets a lot, you may be wondering how to help them sit calmly and focus. If you notice a certain child fidgeting a lot, here is how to handle it. EditEncouraging a Healthy Lifestyle - Encourage adequate exercise. One factor that may make children more fidgety is a lack of exercise.[1] Children should get at least 60 minutes or more of physical activity a day. Any physical activity that accelerates your child's heart rate will help them burn off excess energy, allowing them to focus.[2]
- Consider having kids play games and sports that encourage a lot of physical activity, like tag or soccer. You might also encourage them to jump rope, practice animal walks, do some wall pushups, or simply run around in the park.[3]
- Promote a healthy diet. In some children, fidgeting and an inability to concentrate may be the result of a poor diet. Sugary foods, such as soft drinks and sweets, cause a spike in activity followed by a quick crash in energy. In order to help children stay focused, try to promote a diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats. This will ensure that your children are eating foods that will supply them with a steady source of energy throughout the day.[4]
- Choose calming foods for snacks, like low-fat cheese, low-fat yogurt, whole grain crackers, nuts or seeds, and veggies, instead of foods with lots of sugar.[5]
- Make sure that lots of stimulating activities are available. Sometimes, kids can get restless because they're bored. Keep options available so that the child can find something to do if they are bored.
- High-energy activities, like jump ropes and mini trampolines, can help a child burn off excess energy.
- Include some activities that children can do for longer periods, like books, toys, puzzles, and coloring books.
- Spend one-on-one time with your child each day. Sometimes, kids act out a little because they feel like they aren't getting enough attention. Your child may be a bit more peaceful if they get some attention from you.
- If your child seems bored, you can always ask "Are you bored? Do you feel like hanging out?" You can also encourage your child to ask you to do things with them (e.g. inviting you to draw pictures or go for a walk) when they want attention.
- Encourage your child to communicate their feelings and talk about them.
- Develop relaxation practices. Anxiety is another factor that can cause children to be fidgety. To help your children feel less anxious, teach them mindfulness practices, such as meditation and controlled breathing. This will help them manage their anxiety and concentrate on their tasks.[6]
- Mindfulness practices are a great way to teach a kid to handle distractions and hone their concentration.
- Children can also do yoga and meditation to help them relax and self-soothe. Look for kid-friendly videos online, such as "Cosmic Kids Yoga" and "Stop, Breathe and Think Kids."
- If your child is particularly anxious, you should talk with them about their anxiety. You may also want to consult a mental health professional if the anxiety appears severe.
- Eliminate distractions. Fidgeting can be the result of external distractions. For example, music, a playing television, or noises from outside may distract your child from their task. If you want your child to concentrate and not fidget, be sure to remove anything that may distract them. Turn off any loud appliances and try to create an environment that is peaceful and relatively quiet.
- If outside noises are a distraction, you might consider using a white noise machine, playing ambient music, or providing your child with noise-cancelling headphones.
- Fidget toys are less likely to help typically developing children. You can try fidget toys, but for kids without disabilities, they may be more harmful than helpful. See what works for your child.
EditManaging Fidgety Behavior - Create realistic expectations. In some cases, it is the adults who need to adjust their expectations about how long a child can sit still. Some fidgeting is normal for children. Keep in mind that the average attention span for a child is their chronological age plus 1, in minutes. Therefore, a 6-year-old has an attention span of around 7 minutes. Be mindful of this and don't expect a child to sustain an activity past their natural attention span.[7]
- Allow fidgeting. Some kids need to move more than others do, so if your child fidgets a lot, it's not something to worry about. Kinesthetic learners may need to move their bodies while learning and/or focusing.[8]
- Fidgeting is also normal and healthy behavior in autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, and similar disabilities. Children with these disorders will probably need to fidget in order to sit calmly and focus.
- If you discourage a naturally fidgety child from fidgeting, they will spend all of their mental energy trying to stay still, which distracts them from their other tasks. As long as the fidgeting is not a distraction to others, you should allow fidgety behavior.
- For example, a child might find it helpful to swivel in their chair, twirl their hair, or tap their pencil.[9]
- Consider offering fidget toys. One way of proactively addressing fidgeting is by giving students fidget toys that allow them to fidget while they work. These toys are typically soft balls, like a stress ball, or objects that students can squeeze as they concentrate on a task. This ensures that the kids are not distracted by their own restlessness.[10]
- Some kids (especially kids with disabilities) focus better with fidget toys. Others find them more distracting than helpful. Try them out with your child and see what happens.
- Coloring books are another way for kids to be physically active while concentrating on a task.
- Use different types of seating. Various desks and chairs may help students work out their fidgeting issues while boosting their concentration. Standing desks allow students to move their legs while they work. Stability balls provide a similar amount of physical stimulation for kids with disabilities. A Hokki Stool is another seating device that allows students to fidget while not distracting those around them.[11]
- If it is not too much of a distraction, you might consider allowing students with ADHD and related disabilities more time to walk around while they work on a task.
- Redirect a child whose fidgeting is getting excessive. If a child is fidgeting to the point where they aren't focusing, it means they probably need to take a break to get up and move around.
- Remind children to respect others' personal space as needed. For example, if your child is fidgeting with another kid's hair, you could say "Annie, we always need to respect people's personal space when we fidget. You can play with your own hair or your toys, but it's not okay to play with Susie's hair without her permission."
- If the fidgeting isn't disruptive, then let it be.[12]
EditRecognizing Developmental Disabilities - Realize that all kids fidget. All children fidget sometimes, and plenty of adults fidget from time to time also. Don't worry if your kid is a little more fidgety than average. It could just mean that you have an energetic kid.
- Look for signs of ADHD, autism, and related disabilities. Fidgeting can be a sign of a developmental disability that impacts your child's ability to sit still. Learn the signs and see if they sound familiar.[13]
- Inattentive type ADHD involves difficulty listening, daydreaming, and difficulty paying attention.
- Hyperactive type ADHD involves impulsivity, restlessness, excessive talking, and other signs.
- Autism involves a need for routine, intense interests, fidgeting, social confusion, and developmental delays and quirks.
- Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) involves over-sensitivity, under-sensitivity, and/or fidgeting used to calm oneself or stay occupied.
- Talk to the child's teachers, and other adults who work with the child. Go to anyone who works with lots of children, because they have a good sense of what is typical and what is different. Ask them if they've noticed anything different about your child.
- If they say yes, don't panic. Whether your child has a disability or not, they can still have a happy and meaningful life. Plenty of kids with disabilities grow up into happy and healthy disabled adults.
- Talk to a mental health professional. If you believe that your child is autistic or has ADHD, you should visit a mental health professional and have them assessed. It is important that a professional evaluate your child in order to receive a correct diagnosis and course of treatment. A mental health professional will likely give you some strategies for handling your child's disability that may include things like medication or increased activity.[14]
- Children with developmental disabilities may also have disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and behavior issues like conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder. If this is the case, finding the diagnosis/diagnoses can help you learn to identify and manage problems.
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| How to Keep Goggles from Fogging Up Posted: 28 Dec 2018 08:00 AM PST It can be frustrating to deal with constantly foggy goggles when you're trying to work or swim. Luckily, though, there are some simple ways to get rid of the fog quickly. If you have swim goggles, you can try using saliva as a quick fix or buy an anti-fog spray to get rid of the problem completely. If you have scuba gear, consider burning away the film to keep your goggles from fogging up, and for other protective eyewear, try to select a breathable, anti-fogging design. EditUsing DIY Fixes to Prevent Fog - Splash cool water on your face to slow down condensation. By lowering the difference in temperatures between the outside of the goggles and your face, you might be able to decrease the amount of fog that forms on the lenses. Splash a little bit of cold water over your face 4 or 5 times immediately before putting your goggles on to cool your face down.[1]
- While this might work on the fly, this isn't a great long-term fix. Consider investing in different goggles if the problem persists.
- Rub a small amount of saliva on the inside of the goggles for a cheap solution. Just before putting on your goggles, spit lightly into each lens. Use one finger to lightly spread the saliva around the lenses until both are covered, building up a small film that can reduce fog.[2]
- While this isn't a long-lasting method for preventing fog in your goggles, it is one of the most effective methods that won't cost you a cent. Use this technique if you need to stop your goggles from fogging up for a short period of time.
- Try using baby shampoo or another liquid soap to stop condensation. Put a small drop of a liquid soap on your finger and rub it around the lenses of your swimming or work goggles. Dip the goggles in some clean, non-chlorinated water and wash the soap away. A tiny amount of soap remaining on the inside of your goggles will stop fog from forming on the plastic.[3]
- Make sure you wash the excess soap out of the goggles before putting them on, so as to avoid getting soap in your eyes. Using baby shampoo or something similar may also help, as it will hurt less if you get it in your eyes.
- Instead of soap, you can also use a tiny amount of shaving cream smeared thinly over each lens. Again, make sure you wash it off to avoid getting any minty gel in your eyes as you swim.[4]
- Rub a cut potato over your lenses to repel water. Cut a small chunk from a potato to expose some of the flesh. Rub this over the lenses of your goggles to build up a thin protective layer that will work to repel water and moisture from sticking. Wash the lenses in clean water to remove any visible residue.[5]
- While this may work on plastic lenses, it's generally most effective when used on goggles with lenses made from glass.
- Clean your goggles with toothpaste and a toothbrush. Put a small amount of toothpaste on the inside of your lenses. With a clean, damp toothbrush, spread the toothpaste around and lightly scrub the inside of the lenses. Rinse your goggles in clean, unchlorinated water to remove any leftover toothpaste.[6]
- The light abrasion of the toothbrush and the toothpaste will remove any protective film on the lenses, as well as giving it a thorough clean. A thin layer of toothpaste will remain, that can help prevent fog from building up on the lenses.
EditUsing Commercial Options to Keep Your Goggles Clear - Opt for an anti-fog spray or fog prevention wipe for a long-term solution. If you don't like the idea of putting saliva or soap on the inside of your goggles or don't find that either of these methods lasts long enough, you can also purchase anti-fog products from your local sporting goods or swim store. You should always follow the manufacturer's instructions provided, but here are a few products and the recommended way to use them.[7]
- Spray a small amount of anti-fog spray on the inside of your goggles. Use a clean cloth to rub it into each lens before rinsing them clean. This will get rid of excess spray and leave a thin layer on the inside of your goggles.
- Take a single fog prevention wipe from its packet and use it to wipe down both lenses of your goggles.[8]
- Choose protective eyewear that sits further from your face to reduce fogging. The main cause of fogging in protective eyewear or masks is moisture from your breath or face getting heated and trapped inside the goggles. Look for eyewear with better ventilation, or that will sit further from your face to reduce the amount of moisture and heat that can build up on your goggles.
- Purchase anti-fogging swimming goggles for an easy solution. There several different swimming and scuba goggles that come pre-coated with a layer of material that prevents fog from forming. Look at your local swimming or sports store for goggles that are marked as "anti-fogging" or something similar to easily reduce condensation.[9]
- Burn away the protective film over the inside of your scuba goggles. Scuba diving masks are often made with a thin, protective film coating the inside of the lenses, which will easily accumulate fog. Hold a lighter around away from the lenses and move it around, trying to cover the whole surface of the glass. Let the goggles cool naturally before rinsing them.[10]
- Make sure not to burn or melt any silicon, rubber or plastic insulation around the edge of the goggles, as this may stop them from being entirely waterproof.
- If you don't feel comfortable doing this yourself, your local diving shop may be able to burn your goggles for you.
- Try not to touch the inside of your goggles with your fingers, as this will transfer oil and grime to the lenses that can leave big smudges.[11]
- If you're swimming in a chlorinated pool, rinse your goggles in clean water when you've finished with them. The chlorine will cause the thin film on your goggles to disappear more quickly, requiring you to apply more soap or anti-fog spray much more often.
- Keep your goggles as dry as possible when you're not using them. Any moisture that gets trapped inside the lenses will turn into condensation the next time you go swimming.
- Try and avoid putting goggles on your forehead at any point while you're swimming, as this will add more moisture to the inside of your lenses.
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| How to Display Medals Posted: 28 Dec 2018 12:00 AM PST Whether you've earned a collection of sports, contest, or military medals, you may be interested in sharing your accomplishments with your friends and acquaintances. After all, your medals likely symbolize many hours of hard work and sacrifice and they deserve to have a special place in your home or office! If you have some medals you'd like to display, there are several creative options for showing off your prizes with style. EditHanging Your Medals - Hang your medals from a display shelf with hanging hooks. Purchase a display shelf with hanging hooks that are attached to a wooden strip that runs underneath the length of the shelf. Medals with ribbons can be hung from the hooks, while medals that cannot be hung can be placed on the above shelf. Many big-box and online stores sell these, calling them wall shelves with coat hooks.[1]
- If your shelf is large and somewhat heavy, you may consider using screws and plastic drywall anchors to hang it instead of nails.
- Consider how you'd like to display your medals that can't be hung from the hooks. Framing your medals or purchasing display stands could be a good option.
- Construct your own hanging shelf by screwing small hooks into the bottom of a wooden shelf. These hooks are small and can be attached by hand.
- Construct a wall hanging with a sports item. Drive nails directly into the handles of wooden items such as baseball bats or hockey sticks and hang them from the wall with picture hooks. Tie a string around both ends of metal objects such as golf clubs or tennis rackets, and hang the string on a picture hanger nailed into the wall. Slide the ribbons attached to your medals onto the sports equipment now hanging from your wall to create an interesting display![2]
- You can either hang the medals directly from wooden objects like baseball bats, or you can purchase small hooks that screw easily into wood by hand. These hooks can be found at most hardware stores.
- Cycling medals can even be displayed by hanging them from a tire rim that has been affixed to a wooden plank and hung from the wall!
- Tie medal ribbons to the blades of ice skates and hang them on the wall by the laces from a picture hook.
- Repurpose a common household object to create a medal hanger. Take an unexpected household object such as the railing from an old baby crib and convert it into a stylish, low-cost place to hang your medals. Hang the crib from the wall so that the bars run horizontally using wall hooks, like the kind that you might find on your bathroom door holding your towels. These can be screwed directly into doors and walls with a power drill. Tie the medals to the rungs of the crib railing. [3]
- To add extra visual interest, consider painting the crib railing or hanging your medals at varying heights to create a unique pattern.
- Convert a tie rack to a medal hanger. The small hooks attached to the wood double perfectly as hooks from which to hang medals!
- Replace your Christmas tree ornaments with medals during the holidays. This can be a fun and creative way to display medals in an unexpected way!
EditEncasing Your Medals in Glass - Arrange your medals in a shadow box. Purchase a shadow box from a craft store. Pin your medals to the shadow box backing, which is typically covered in a velvet-like fabric, using the pins attached to the medals or with small, straight pins that are typically used in sewing. Shadow boxes are the best display option for military medals or similar medals, which are pinned rather than hung by a ribbon.[4]
- Avoid using glue or staples, which can damage valuable military medals.
- Shadow boxes are also a great way to physically protect and preserve your medals.
- Consider following military protocol when arranging military medals in your shadow box. Medals that denote the highest honors are typically placed in the top left corner. [5]
- Show off your medals inside a glass jar. Purchase a large glass jar with a lid. Arrange your medals inside of the jar so that they face outward. If the medals are attached to long ribbons, gather the ribbons together and pull them to the center of the jar as you continue to layer your medals along the inside of the glass.[6]
- This is a great option if you'd prefer not to hang your medals. The jar can be conveniently placed on a table or bookshelf.
- Consider adding a string of battery operated LED lights to your jar to light up your display! You can purchase these lights at stores such as Target in the home décor section.
- Display your medals in a military coin case. Purchase a military coin case from a craft store such as Michael's or online from stores like Amazon. You can place your medals on the shelves that line the inside of the case.
- If your medals are attached to ribbons, you can remove them or simply tuck them behind the medals.
- Coin cases are covered by glass and will protect your medals from dust!
- Consider arranging your medals by color or size in order to create an organized display.
EditCreating a Framed Medal Collage - Disassemble the medals you would like to display. Gather your medals and begin disassembling the ones you would like to display by removing any ribbons or pins that are attached. You will need to create a flat surface on the reverse side of the medal that can be easily attached to your frame board.[7]
- Consider removing plaques from trophies with a flathead screwdriver to include in your collage. This is a nice way to display trophies in a compact way that doesn't require shelf space.
- Only include medals that you don't mind altering. You may not want to remove ribbons or pins from military medals that have historical value.
- Purchase a large frame and cover the backing with fabric. Remove the cardboard or wood back of the frame. Wrap the frame backing with a sturdy craft fabric such as burlap or canvas, carefully folding the edges over the corners of the board. Use staples or a hot glue gun to attach the fabric to the frame backing.
- You can also repurpose an old frame that you may have lying around the house. You won't need the glass front of the frame, so you can discard it.
- Consider painting your frame to match your medals or the walls in your house.
- After the frame backing has been covered with fabric, reattach it to the frame.
- Arrange your medals and attach them with hot glue. Place your medals on the fabric-covered surface of your frame in an interesting pattern. Plug in your hot glue gun, insert a glue stick and allow it to heat up. After about 10 minutes, your glue gun is ready to use. Apply glue to the back of the medals, flip them over, then press firmly for a few minutes to allow the glue to set.
- Be very careful when using the hot glue gun, as it can get very hot! You can accidentally burn yourself if you touch the tip of the gun or the glue.
- Place a paper plate or sheet of newspaper under the glue gun to protect your table while you are working.
- Once you've finished attaching your medals, allow the glue to dry and set completely, then hang your new medal collage in a special spot!
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