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let your child quit their math homework just because they don’t enjoy doing it, but extracurriculars are supposed to be fun. Participants should experience some level of enjoyment while doing them. Dr. David Elkind, professor of child development at Tufts University, believes it’s fine for kids, especially younger kids under the age of 9, to quit an activity if they don’t enjoy it. Elkind reassures parents that there is no evidence of “transfer of training.” Just because a child quits hockey or gymnastics doesn’t mean they are going to quit jobs as an adult. Forcing a child to continue participating an activity they hate can cause them to develop an anxiety about trying new activities in the future. However, when kids get older, Elkind encourages parents to enforce a trial period and insist their child finish out the current season, even if they don’t sign up again next year. Katherine R. Lewis, an independent journalist who covers parenting and education topics, shares Elkind’s belief. In
an article for The Washington Post, Lewis suggests that parents and children sign an “activity agreement” at the start of a new activity. The agreement acts as a promise that your child will complete the activity until the session is over, whether it’s the fall season of volleyball, an eight-week dance class, or at least five months of violin lessons. In any situation, you shouldn’t jump into action the moment your child declares they want to drop out of an activity. Licensed figure skating coach, Xan Nelson, says a parent’s first step should be to discover the root of why their kid wants to quit in the first place. Has the honeymoon phase of participating in something new worn off? Are they tired of waking up early to go to meets? Do they want to give up because “they aren’t good at it”? Are they struggling to get along with their teammates or instructor? Is it too overwhelming to maintain an activity on top of their school and homework responsibilities? Nelson suggests sitting in on a practice or speaking
with your child’s coach or instructor. By learning why your child no longer wants to participate, you can determine how to address this problem. In many cases, parents may find that the best course of action is to use Lewis’ activity agreement and insist their child stick with an activity until the end of the session. This can often help your child overcome whatever reservations they may be feeling and start to enjoy the activity again. At the very least, your child learns the importance of seeing something through to the end. However, if you discover your child is having a problem with bullying or some other serious issue, it may be in their best interest to quit the activity and participate in something else. The choice to quit or not to quit boils down to what’s best for your child. As a parent, you can trust your judgment to make the call that will most help your child in the long run.
The Effects of Negative News
They Say Ignorance Is Bliss … But Is It Healthy?
Why Is the News So Negative? As news media revenue goes down and people become desensitized, news organizations feel the pressure to show emotionally relevant material such as crime and accidents. At a basic level, for something to be “newsworthy” — negative or not — it needs to be the exception to the rule, not the norm. That means watching the news might give you an inaccurate view of what daily life is like in the world. How to Fight the Negativity It’s important to understand important issues of the day. But when the news becomes too much, psychologists encourage you to take a break with some good news — or no news at all. Advances in medicine and technology happen all the time! Seek out those stories, or take a break from news altogether. That’s when no news can become good news.
It’s nearly impossible to log on to social media or turn on the TV without seeing something distressing. Instead of dwelling on what’s troubling, let’s focus on how to protect our mental health. The Psychology of Bad News A study by Psychology Today found that people who watch negative news feel worse about pre-existing worries than people who watch happy or neutral events. That means people watching the news don’t just feel anxious about the world — they feel more anxious about their own lives. British psychologist Dr. Graham Davey, who specializes in the effects of media violence, says negative news can affect how you interact with the world around you. As you consume threatening news, you’re more likely to spot threats in your day-to-day activities that aren’t there, which leads to anxiety.
2 • www.bodymoksha.com
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