Intense experiences for kids

[Anonymous]

Someone on here recommended Celebrate Calm — the guy talks about how kids need and seek intensity, and if they don’t get enough they start acting all kinds of crazy to get their needs met. That made sense to me, and I think many people are to some degree understimulated in that department due to the pandemic. What do you guys do to get your kids’ need for intensity satisfied? Could be physical or emotional.

[Anonymous]

How old are the kids you are talking about?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How old are the kids you are talking about?

Early elementary

[Anonymous]

Yes, they need appropriate physical risk and challenging muscle stimulation. That is why they love trampolines, zip lining, and stuff like that. We take them places where they can do that stuff, and a lot of swimming. Also find opportunities for them to do "heavy work" that is safe, like helping carry bags of garden mulch, watering can, etc. Anything where they have to really push or pull with their full body is very calming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, they need appropriate physical risk and challenging muscle stimulation. That is why they love trampolines, zip lining, and stuff like that. We take them places where they can do that stuff, and a lot of swimming. Also find opportunities for them to do "heavy work" that is safe, like helping carry bags of garden mulch, watering can, etc. Anything where they have to really push or pull with their full body is very calming.

Are you doing those trips to places during COVID also?

[Anonymous]

Never heard of this. Interesting!

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Never heard of this. Interesting!

Thanks.

It makes sense. Thinking maybe explore in a new environment, learn a challenging new skill, maybe more play dates with activities like obstacle course (or go to a new playground)?

The problem is we (adults) are burned out and don’t want to do anything on the weekends, so they are climbing the walls. If anyone has recommendations for toys or things they can do at home that might help that would be great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, they need appropriate physical risk and challenging muscle stimulation. That is why they love trampolines, zip lining, and stuff like that. We take them places where they can do that stuff, and a lot of swimming. Also find opportunities for them to do "heavy work" that is safe, like helping carry bags of garden mulch, watering can, etc. Anything where they have to really push or pull with their full body is very calming.

Are you doing those trips to places during COVID also?

Well, we have our own yard trampoline so it's not really a trip. But yes, I think it is worth it and outdoor things like Sandy Spring Adventure Park are quite safe because you are not near any one person for very long and it's all outdoors.

[Anonymous]

This is interesting. I have long been a big believer in the importance of sensory stimulation for regulating emotions. It's something I learned as a crisis counselor and have carried into my own life and my parenting.

But it's kid dependent and you have to take their interests/tolerances into account. I have a preschooler who is pretty risk averse when it comes to physical experiences. Like the kind of kid who has always been really cautious about a tall slide or who hangs back from playing with other kids because they are being very loud or fast. We've learned that what counts as an "intense" experience for her is different than it might be for other kids. She's less of a trampoline and zip lining kid, more of a gymnastics class and hiking kid. She also just prefers intense activities she can do on her own or with just one other person, rather than a group of kids (she's very sensitive to sound).

So pay attention to your kids preferences, too. Don't just throw them into these intense sensory experiences without considering their interests and what they have to say about it. I wouldn't push, either. That undermines the benefits, if they feel coerced into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, they need appropriate physical risk and challenging muscle stimulation. That is why they love trampolines, zip lining, and stuff like that. We take them places where they can do that stuff, and a lot of swimming. Also find opportunities for them to do "heavy work" that is safe, like helping carry bags of garden mulch, watering can, etc. Anything where they have to really push or pull with their full body is very calming.

Are you doing those trips to places during COVID also?

Well, we have our own yard trampoline so it's not really a trip. But yes, I think it is worth it and outdoor things like Sandy Spring Adventure Park are quite safe because you are not near any one person for very long and it's all outdoors.

My friend is an ER doc and said no yard trampolines. I just realized we have been avoiding anything that might end up in ER due to COVID. Interesting! Maybe they are missing all that.

Also they acted out a lot less when we were spending an hour or two at the pool every day. They are at school in person now, but on the weekend I think they need more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is interesting. I have long been a big believer in the importance of sensory stimulation for regulating emotions. It's something I learned as a crisis counselor and have carried into my own life and my parenting.

But it's kid dependent and you have to take their interests/tolerances into account. I have a preschooler who is pretty risk averse when it comes to physical experiences. Like the kind of kid who has always been really cautious about a tall slide or who hangs back from playing with other kids because they are being very loud or fast. We've learned that what counts as an "intense" experience for her is different than it might be for other kids. She's less of a trampoline and zip lining kid, more of a gymnastics class and hiking kid. She also just prefers intense activities she can do on her own or with just one other person, rather than a group of kids (she's very sensitive to sound).

So pay attention to your kids preferences, too. Don't just throw them into these intense sensory experiences without considering their interests and what they have to say about it. I wouldn't push, either. That undermines the benefits, if they feel coerced into it.

Good points. I think both like the heavy work mentioned above. Maybe we can involve them in more yard stuff. Hiking we could do more now that the weather changed, I think uneven terrains and exploring satisfies some of that. They love friends and going wild a little bit. Maybe biking on new trails, stream exploring…

They like music a lot, I could find live music maybe. Hula hoops and bounce animals. I wish I could get them some heavy indoor toys… like bean bags the size of grain sacks. They probably would like carrying that stuff a lot.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, OP. Looking into this.

I do know I experienced this as a teen. I drove dangerously and did other things that were unsafe. I plan on signing my kids up for some fun extreme driving school, allowing underage music shows at venues in the city, and other ways they can feel excited and stimulated. Liking suggestions for them while they're still in elementary.

[Anonymous]

My 4 year old loves climbing. We looks for playgrounds with lots of climbing equipment… some of it freaks me out with how high she gets but she loves it. She also loves monkey bars and has been doing increasingly higher and more difficult monkey bar courses. She’s definitely a physical risk taker and is very confident she can do it all. She’s like a ninja.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know if it’s intense so much as basic opportunities for risk taking and adventure. That’s one reason we have playgrounds - allow a younger child the opportunity to conquer her fear of heights by climbing up and taking the slide down. For my older kids, they get that with contact sports, rope courses, climbing walls

[Anonymous]

I never heard of this, but I did take my DD ziplining when she was in elementary school.