The Best Tip for Tired Moms

If you are a tired mom, you need this tip! Summer is a great time to start this, but really you will want to keep it part of your routine for the rest of the year.

This definitely ranks up there as the best mom hack – from my 19 years of being a mom!! I have heard from countless moms how adding this one simple thing into your daily routine does wonders for your sanity!!

incorporate this into your routine

You may have heard me talk about Independent Leisure Time before– but hey, it’s so awesome i wanted to create an entire post about it.

The idea is simple – your kids have a prescribed amount of time when they have to completely entertain themselves with something other than a screen – or you – or their siblings.

Read on to learn about the best tip for tired moms!!

What is Independent Leisure time ?

Independent Leisure Time is a portion of the day when your kids are occupying themselves, independently, with anything that is not on a screen.

1. An amount of time is decided upon, like 30 minutes, for instance.
2. Kids find their own spot in the house – and you do, too.
3. Kids can occupy themselves with a book, art supplies, puzzlas, etc
4. No one leaves their space or bothers anyone else for the designated time.
5. You get a break!!!!

I understand if you have questions…..

how do i get my kids on board?

The idea is so brilliantly simple and yet, you may have some difficulty starting. There are definitely some handy tools that will help.

A visual timer can be your friend. You can set a timer and leave it in a central place, if it makes your kids feel more comfortable. You may have to start for 10 minutes, if kids do not have a sense of time.

Gradually work up to 30 or 60 minutes. We love our time timer for this, so kids can see how much time is left. If your kids yell from their rooms, “How much time is left?” you do not have to answer.

Keep a few items solely designated for this time. If you have some art supplies, books, etc that can only be used during Independent Leisure Time, they will always feel fresh. Keep a basket of these items in easy reach for when they are needed.

what do kids do for Independent Leisure Time?

Your kids may choose any activity they can do quietly, in their room – or designated space – for the duration of the time.

If your kids have become too conditioned by screens, this can take some discussion and suggestions from you. As you make this more a part of your routine, your kids will find it easier and easier to entertain themselves.

Some great things to suggest:

• Use a fun workbook.
• Learn to fold origami figures
• Do a jigsaw puzzle
• Have fun with a new art supply.
• Listen to a book on tape or kids podcast.
• Subscribe to audio stories, like Sparkle Stories.
• REad a good book.
• Draw, paint or color.
• Write in a journal.
• Sit and think.
• Listen to music.
• Clean their room.
• Play with legos.

Remember, as little help from you before, during and after independent leisure time is the goal !!

benefits of independent leisure time

Problem solving – Kids have to solve the problem of what they are going to do, which will be harder for some than other.

Beef up those planning skills – Your kiddo will be building their executive functioning skills as they come up with a plan for their time.

Building frustration tolerance – Being alone and having to entertain themselves may cause your kids some stress And, depending on your kid, they might hate to be alone. But, it is something we all need to get comfortable and heck, even grow to love.

Make it part of your routine

Independent Leisure Time works best when it becomes part of your daily/weekly routine. To really solidify being independent, it’s best to have it part of your daily routine at first.

When you make it part of your routine, you build skills over time and this practice becomes automatic – just something your family does. You can count on the time to make sure you get a break.