Summer is a time of year when many grandparents take care of their grandchildren while their parents work or enjoy a well-deserved vacation. This task can be very rewarding, but it is also challenging, energy-intensive, and a huge responsibility.
That is why, in this article, Lanier Pharma wants to lighten this task a little, offering you some tips so that you can enjoy this experience to the fullest, avoiding, as far as possible, stress and fatigue.
Take care of yourself so you can take care of your grandchildren
To be able to take care of your grandchildren this summer, and to do it in the best possible way, you should also think about your health and well-being. In order to take care of those little devils who never seem to run out of energy, you need to be in good physical and mental condition.
Some recommendations for taking care of yourself include:
Get enough rest: Try to get at least seven hours of sleep a day and take a nap if you need to.
- Hydrate properly: Drink at least two liters of water a day and avoid drinks with caffeine or sugar. If you go to the park, remember to protect yourself from the sun and heat with hats and sunscreen. Seek shade and don’t overexert yourself.
- Relax and enjoy yourself: Try to find time for yourself, to do what you enjoy, or to disconnect. Don’t feel guilty about asking for help or delegating a task if you need it. Remember that taking care of your grandchildren should be a pleasure and a way to help your children, never an obligation. Experts are already talking about the so-called ‘slave grandparents’ syndrome: referring to those grandparents for whom taking care of their grandchildren is a duty, a task that takes up a large part of their time.
- Eat well: Follow a balanced and varied diet, according to your state of health. Avoid alcohol, tobacco, and fatty or sugary foods.
- Take supplements to stay motivated: There are natural ingredients that can help you increase your physical and mental energy. Consult a specialist for advice. From our laboratory, we propose Altiusvit as a good alternative if you want to reduce muscular fatigue while improving your muscular endurance. It also stimulates your memory and improves your mood.
Altiusvit is an innovative combination of Citrulline malate, Glutamine, and red Panax ginseng that will give you the physical and mental energy you need.
Organize yourself and plan your activities in advance
One of the keys to taking care of your grandchildren this summer is to plan the activities you are going to do in advance. This way you can make the most of the time, adapt to their tastes and interests, and avoid boredom and arguments. Some ideas of activities you can do with them are:
Activities for all ages
Cultural visits to museums, libraries, guided tours around the city, etc.
You can also go to open-air leisure centers, taking advantage of the good weather, such as parks, swimming pools, aquaparks, children’s shows…
Other alternatives that will entertain them a lot and allow you to rest, are crafts, board games, puzzles, or home experiments.
You can also read stories, what children’s movies, listen to music or learn something new together.
Teach them to fend for themselves from an early age
Involving them in the simple and safe household or everyday tasks as a game usually works very well. Your grandchildren will look forward to ”doing grown-up things’ as long as you guide them through the tasks with good humor and a touch of feigned seriousness.
Keep in mind that the activities should be simple and of short duration so that the child does not get tired or feel obliged to do them.
Cooking is usually an activity that they love. Try to choose simple, healthy, yet appealing and visually attractive recipes. Children eat with their eyes. Look for recipes for colorful salads, different snacks, or healthy desserts.
Try to choose simple recipes that do not generate a lot of chaos and mess in the kitchen
Summer is the perfect time for outdoor sports
If you are in good physical shape, you may want to play a sport or do some kind of physical exercise with your grandchildren. You can also suggest that they do something they enjoy while you watch them.
July and August are two months that, for the older members of the household, can be hectic, with many plans and responsibilities that give no respite (children don’t take no for an answer and, anyway, we don’t usually want to deprive them of their fun times).
This extra activity that involves going to the park often, preparing more meals, and spending a lot of time playing, can end up exhausting grandparents. Recovering that energy and enjoying a body that is at 100% at all times is not easy, but we hope that these tips, along with our nutraceutical Altiusvit, will help. This summer we say goodbye to fatigue!
