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Positive Mood Swings

Life looks and feels much different whether we are in a positive or negative mood. Children, like grown ups, have varying degrees of positive and negative moods. Fortunately there are ways to swing your child's and your mood in a more positive direction. Here are ways to encourage positive mood swings:

  • Go outside with your child. If you have a swing set or park nearby, suggest the child hang upside down on the monkey bars or swing facing down with their stomach on the seat. The vestibular stimulation helps the child forget what they were upset about in the first place.
  • Turn on some upbeat music. Encourage the child to join you in dancing, singing, or other movement to help change his or her outlook.
  • Visualize a time when your child was really happy and engaged in something they truly enjoyed. Tell the child about this time and describe it to them in detail. "Do you remember when . . .?"
  • Think of a kind deed you and your child can do for someone else. This puts a positive focus on helping someone and takes the attention off the negative mood.
  • Break up television viewing or electronic game time into shorter increments or reduce the time spent engaged in these activities. Children's brains can be over stimulated from screen time and can leave the child irritable and their body in stress mode.
  • Substitute sweet treats with protein snacks. Forgo the snacks laden with sugar, food coloring and preservatives. Balancing blood sugar with protein snacks can have a positive impact on the mood of the child.
  • If you are feeling affected by the child's low mood, take a break from each other. Excuse yourself for 10 minutes to another room, if you are confident your child will be safe left alone to play by himself. Take the time to relax and do some deep breathing exercises to center yourself.

The good news is that a negative mood doesn't last forever. You can use these tips to promote a higher mood where everything looks brighter.