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to handle differences between themselves and other children. Kids who can share humor with their peers are often better liked and also more equipped to handle childhood adversities, like playground bullies. There are a lot of ways to encourage humor and playfulness in your children as they grow, and you should start at a young age. Babies may not fully understand humor, but they do recognize when people around them are happy. That’s why they laugh when you make funny noises or silly faces at them. They sense your joy and react. They’re highly responsive to physical stimuli too, like tickling. Toddlers appreciate physical humor nearly as much as babies do, especially if it includes elements of surprise, like peek-a-boo. As they start to develop basic language skills, they’ll find humor in nonsensical or rhyming words. This is also the age when kids usually start attempting to make their parents laugh. They may deliberately point to the wrong facial features when you practice with them or run around the house in your oversized clothes. As kids begin to attend school, they’ll find even more humor in the incongruities of the world around them. A picture of a cow wearing sunglasses, silly jokes and puns, or objects that don’t make expected noises, like a car horn quacking instead of honking, will be especially entertaining to them.
It’s never too early to start developing a child’s sense of humor. Be a humor model to your kids by being silly with them and teach them that adults can be funny too. Take their humor seriously, even if it doesn’t always make sense. But it’s also important to know where to draw the line. Don’t laugh at inappropriate jokes — explain why they’re not funny instead. As long as you’re creating a healthy, humor-rich environment and encouraging your kids to be as funny as they can, you’re giving them an important tool they need to thrive.
FINDING MOTIVATION ON THOSE TOUGH DAYS Top Mental Strategies for Your Fitness Routine
into the gym. Sometimes, people will wake up and think that the gym isn’t possible that day as they lay in bed. Some people will psych themselves out of working out because their time is limited, or they worry about how tired they’ll be after the workout (especially after or before a busy day). Instead of thinking of reasons you can’t or don’t want to go, focus your mind only on the task of getting there. Stepping into the gym will often give you the mental push to actually work out. It’s also best to leave the all-or-nothing mindset behind — a 45- or 55-minute workout isn’t required every single gym session. Life happens, and even if it’s a short exercise, your workout will actually energize you for the rest of your day. Studies have found that the most successful people share grit: the ability to work hard and endure even the most difficult times. Workouts will burn, and the motions may feel uncomfortable or even painful, so it’s crucial to have the grit to push yourself to the limit. Rather than give up, you should embrace the pain and see it as a sign you’re growing stronger. Adjust your inner vocabulary. Anything that seems “uncomfortable” should be reconsidered as “intense” but something you can work through. Of course, be careful of injury pains! PUSHING YOURSELF TO THE LIMIT
Whether your New Year’s workout routine is finally embedded in your schedule or you’re still trying to make it happen, always remember that your mind is just as important as your body. On some days, you may feel like anything is possible, and on others, it may feel impossible to even get out of bed. Don’t worry, that’s totally normal! There’s no reason to feel ashamed if you’re struggling with gaining steam and motivation for your workout. Here are some mental strategies to help you get firmly into your routine this year and the years to come.
GETTING TO THE GYM
What’s the hardest part of working out? For most people, it’s not the heavy weights or the long cardio sessions — it’s actually stepping
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