Take some time to chill!

My husband loves to take naps.  Me, not so much.   I always feel I am wasting time.  Think of all the things I could get done if I don't nap.  Typically what happens is I go as long as I can and then I crash.  To be honest the time right before I crash usually isn't very productive.  I was raised with the belief that 5-10 idle minutes is plenty of time to start a project.  Watching t.v.?   Multitask and fold clothes.

I think we do that to our kids.   We are so worried they won't be ready for this or for that or the neighbor's kid will look or be smarter or better or whatever, that we don't allow our kids to just chill, to just be. I think we have a lot of overly anxious kids because they can't just chill.   You know, just play or relax.

I am guilty myself of telling parents to talk or read or explore or investigate with their child.  But not 24 hours a day or even every hour the child is awake.   Yes, you need to talk to your child to develop oral language but it's okay to just be still or quiet.  They will not be behind if an hour or two slips by and you haven't engaged them in an activity.

Children need to be independent, they need to learn how to entertain themselves.  Don't feel like you have to be the cruise director for your child every waking minute.  They will be fine if they play a little bit while you do something else.  They will be fine if they just relax.  I don't even mean with a movie or game,  just relax.

We indirectly teach them that they have to be 'doing' all the time.  They grow up thinking they can't take time for a nap!