A
mental health-care tool kit for parents


By
Valerie Berenyi, Postmedia NewsOctober 10, 2011


 
 
-- What can parents do to help keep their children and youth mentally healthy?



Jodie
Cossette, a recreation therapist with the Eating Disorders Clinic at Alberta
Children's Hospital offers these tips:


--
Find the balance between work and play. Work, school, being productive and
goal-oriented are important, but so is making time to rest, rejuvenate and
recharge.


--
Play together as a family - and not just at sports. It can be board games,
goofing around in a park, hanging out with friends and family. Have fun, keep it
lighthearted.


--
Aim for a healthy, balanced lifestyle on a budget. "It doesn't have to be Hawaii
for three weeks. Entertainment can be very simple, like a game of charades.
Finances don't have to be a barrier. Get back to the
  basics"


--
Find a passion. "Life can be very difficult, demanding and stressful, whether
you're working or going to school, whether you're a child, adolescent or adult.
Having an outlet, an activity, a hobby can help restore, help heal and distract
us from the difficulties - not to avoid them but to take a break from
them."


--
Humour is vital. Laughter helps us breathe, let go of tension and look at life
from a different perspective. "We need to be able to laugh at ourselves, knowing
that we, as human beings, are not perfect; we are incredibly flawed. Look at the
lighter side of life. Be playful.


"We
cannot laugh and play all day because that's not healthy either. Again, it's
finding the balance."


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