Channelling Energy Towards Good Behaviour

When kids are bouncing off the walls with energy it can seem like one false step will bring on the worst possible behaviour. But just because children have some excess energy to burn doesn’t mean that they must engage in inappropriate behaviour. Instead parents can help channel this extra energy towards good behaviour. Setting clear limits, challenging kids to 'win' at a household project, encouraging them to join a sport or club, investing in some outdoor toys and making time to play together are all actions that parents can take to help channel their kids’ energy towards good behaviour.

Setting Clear Limits

Kids will often have so much energy that they run through the house, skip, twirl., climb, jump, yell, and throw, among other actions. Parents must make it known that these are all outdoor activities from the very start. If kids don’t know the limits of indoor behaviour, or are never told which activities belong in the garden rather than their bedroom, then it’s not fair to hold them accountable. However, once kids are advised of the limits on both their indoor and outdoor behaviour they should be expected to follow these rules immediately. If they don’t, disciplining them should be the result.

Challenging Kids to 'Win' at Household Projects

Kids with extra energy can be a great help to parents who channel this energy towards household projects. It may be that some kids are happy to pitch in for no other reason than that they like to wash the car with Dad or that they enjoy cooking with Mum. But some kids will need a little extra incentive. Turning household chores into games, such as by encouraging kids to 'beat the clock' or rack up points for their actions, often gets kids involved who might otherwise prefer another activity.

Encouraging Children to Join a Sport or Club

Children with extra energy often love to keep their bodies in motion and encouraging children to join a sport or club is another way that parents can harness this energy. Children who participate in sports and clubs learn discipline, how to use their bodies safely for activities and how to channel their energy into training that will make them faster and stronger. Sports and clubs also provide social outlets for many children which lead to the use of more energy while they are there.

Investing In Outdoor Toys

Outdoor play can usually get a little bit more energetic than indoor play, so parents who invest in outdoor toys may help find another outlet for their kids’ energy. Bikes, balls, racquet sports, rollerblades, hula hoops – all of these toys help kids use up extra energy. However, all proper safety equipment should be purchased with the toys and kids should be taught early on the rules of playing with these toys in order to keep themselves, and their new possessions, safe.

Making Time to Play Together

Many children with a lot of energy will use it all up when they have time to play with Mum or Dad. Making time to play together, then, is another way that parents can help channel kids energy towards good behaviour. By teaching kids new games, and insisting that they follow the rules while parents play with them, kids learn better sportsmanship and how to win and lose appropriately while at the same time working off some of their excess energy.

Channelling energy towards good behaviour requires parents to point their kids towards worthwhile, productive activities. Setting clear limits for them, challenging them to 'win' at household projects, encouraging them to join a sport or club, investing in outdoor toys and making time to play together are all ways that parents can begin to channel their kids’ energy towards good behaviour.