Parents - We Have So Many Ways We Can Help Your Children
One of the hardest things for us to all witness is the impact these last 16 months have had on our little ones.
High levels of anxiety, sleep issues, low self esteem, skin problems, self harming, separation anxiety, depression, poor social skills, lack of confidence to name just a few of the problems parents have contacted us to ask for advise.
Thankfully we have the skills and the expertise to deal with all of these problems and more. Please find some tips and advice from our therapists here at Therapy Life Centre and feel free to share with your circle of parents that might find this helpful.
Top Nutrition tips for your kids
1. Our immune system is in our gut.
Let your kids get dirty.....yes you heard me right...rolling around in the mud is a great way to increase our gut bugs, subsequently improving our immune system.
We are a nation of clean freaks and this needs to STOP as it is doing more harm than good. Some kids need some encouragement to get outdoors so now is the perfect time to plant some vegetable seeds, this is so rewarding for children of all ages to watch their plants grow and enjoy eating the fresh flavours that you do not find in the supermarket.
Get your children connected with mother nature at the same time as being educated about where the food comes from that nourishes them.
If not seeds, then heading down to your local garden nursery and purchasing some plants that have just started to grow, is just as rewarding. Strawberries, tomatoes and cucumber plants are a great place to start!
2. Increase fruits & vegetables (Whole foods and organic where possible).
The more fruits and vegetables our children eat, the less processed foods they are having.... that can only be a good thing right?!
I know... I know... this is easier said than done. Being a mother myself I totally understand the dramas around meal times, especially when it comes to presenting something new and god forbid if its GREEN. I appreciate we have to live by our pockets so just presenting small amounts of different foods, maybe just one different food per week you can introduce?
Perseverance and patience is key as our taste buds change so frequently and it takes a number of times for our pallet to adjust to new flavours and textures.
Our gut bugs need as much variation as possible, and considering our gut houses a large part of the immune system (a huge 70-80% in fact), they need diversity from as many fruits and vegetables as possible. A chart is a great way to get your children to count throughout the week how many different types of food and even the colour and why that colour is beneficial.
If you would like to book a one to one or a group session with Claire please contact us by either replying to this email or calling 01702 433959
Claire Brooks BSc
Naturopathic Practitioner
Nutrition, Gut Health, Iridology
CranioSacral Therapy
This incredibly gentle hands on treatment has amazing benefits for all sorts of problems your children may have.
From a few days old all the way to 18 years old this treatment can help .
Babies -
Are they having problems with
difficulty feeding either with latching on or fussing on the bottle
poor sleeping either falling asleep or constantly being woken up
unsettled/ fidgety
colic
reflux
just not happy
Did your baby have a challenging birth?
Too long, too fast, forceps, ventouse or caesarean section.
These are signs we are very used to hearing. If you think about the kind of trauma their little skulls are subjected to its not surprising they are left with some problems.
Tension in the spine or in the skull can cause your baby to be stuck in a "flight / flight" reflex which will make them very unsettled unable to get into a deep sleep or fussy when eating as they are unable to get into the "rest and digest" aspect of their nervous system.
This is just one example and can really be helped by the gentle and powerful Craniosacral therapy.
These problems when not resolved can continue on causing your toddler to be anxious ( separation anxiety), angry or even delayed in development.
As your child continues to grow these problems can stay with them . Just being manifested in a different way.
Children are incredible at finding coping strategies for there challenges. So often difficult behaviours can have underlying tensions that may well be helped with some gentle therapy.
As our children move into teenage years things like orthodontic treatments can increase the underlying tension in the cranium leading to mood swings, anger, anxiety and negative thought patterns. (This is not the case with every problem but it is certainly worth considering if your child is struggling.)
Please also think about any head traumas your child may have experience. Falls, knocks to the head or face, sporting injuries. All of which could be creating tension which then leads to some of the already mentioned problems.
We have 2 paediatric trained therapists Karen Revivo and Rob Williamson. Both are trained through to the advanced level and
Hayley Roswell works with teenagers 12+
For more information please reply to this email or call us on 01702 433959.
Mindfulness Sessions
Another area we are able to offer great support is with your child's mental health is Mindfulness Sessions
that take place at our centre every Wednesday.
'How baby massage and baby yoga can support you and your child
Alex Smith, Basking Babies Southend-on-Sea
Baby massage and baby yoga are invaluable when it comes to supporting your child in their early stages of development with techniques that can be used from as young as newborn. The benefits of baby massage are numerous; it can prevent and alleviate colic, relieve wind and constipation, stimulate brain development, support physical development, encourage sleep, support weight gain, and improve baby’s immune system.
One of the most incredible benefits is the bonding process that it encourages between parent and baby. The relationship between a parent and their child lasts a lifetime, and the basis of this is formed even before a baby is born. Massage is great for encouraging that bond as there is lots of eye contact involved and regular communication with baby throughout. There is also lots of skin-to-skin contact which is wonderful for boosting oxytocin levels. When a parent massages their baby, the body produces hormones called prolactin and oxytocin which are known as the ‘feel good’ hormones. These hormones help to balance the levels of stress hormones in the body (cortisol) and therefore help to lower blood pressure and heart rate and also improve their appetite.
Baby yoga is also incredibly beneficial in supporting a child’s early development by improving muscle strength and tone, co-ordination, hip flexibility and balance. Plus, it’s also a wonderful way to bond with your baby and have fun together through basic moves which incorporate stories, songs and rhymes.
Alex Smith
Qualified Basking Babies Instructor
07921 679 780
alex@baskingbabies.co.uk
www.baskinbabies.co.uk
For parents seeking more information and ways to help their children, Young Minds worth a check, it is UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people's mental health. If you want to find out more about them, their mission and how they can help, please go HERE