Below is a simple chart depicting the Activity Cycle. The Activity Cycle is meant to provide caregivers with a template to reference when planning a spontaneous day off. Traditionally unplanned and/or spontaneious days off for the kids can equal terror for the caregiver (“It’s only a matter of time before…”).  I recently created this cycle based on observations I and caregivers I work with have made about the behavioral patterns seen in children. CLICK ON THE PICTURE.

Please read the footnotes at the bottom of the picture as they explain the terms.

What the terms mean

Choice: Open ended and child-centered activity. If you feel that your child needs more direction, I like to set out 3 or 4 simple stations (ex: a few trains and tracks, art table with a few paints and paper/ a scissor cutting activity, sandtray/water bucket with a few fun toys).

Structured Activity Ideas: Meant to help the child regulate following free time that is often overstimulating/disregulating. Example: Sorting toys by category (animals, action figures, cars), Toy Car Wash, sifting rocks/beads out of sand tray, helping to cook a simple meal, putting together a simple puzzle, etc.

Physical Activity Ideas: walking, playing at the park, horsing around/gentle wrestling, stair climbing, hiking, floor exercises, yoga, whatever gets the body moving and expending energy.

– Try to always follow the physical activity with another calming, break-like activity (maybe this is an opportunity for your child to do something quiet like play with his/her card collection, read a familiar story with or without you, watch a short show, take a nap, go on the swing, etc).