Help the child get some exercise by going for a walk, riding bikes, or going to a park. All kids get built-up energy that needs an outlet, and it may be particularly the case for a hyperactive child. Getting fresh air and a change of scenery can be really useful in redirecting a child’s disposition. Find a sport that the child enjoys doing. Do not pressure them to do a sport they don’t like, as this can increase their hyperactivity and lack of focus. Give your child a chance to take a breath and relax by reading a book with them or singing a soft song. Giving them a warm bath is also a good idea. Add lavender essential oils to the bath to create a calming scent. Nature can have a calming effect on people, even if it’s just spending time in the yard or garden. Taking a walk or hike in a forest can also be very beneficial, as the child will get fresh air, exercise, and a chance to clear their heads. If there is an activity that seems to trigger your child’s hyperactivity, such as something that is noisy, frustrating, too chaotic, and so on, redirect their attention to another activity. This can help refocus their attention. Meditating is, for any age, a good way to calm the mind and body.  When children are unable to handle thinking about stressful situations, you can help them visualize how they can respond to those situations. This can help calm them down. Search online for examples of these, or find a book at your local library on meditation and guided imagery for children. For example, have the child sit and close their eyes. Ask them to imagine a calm space, like a beach or a forest. Have them pay attention to the sounds that they hear, the wind they feel on their face, and the details they see around them. Using a regular imagined calming space can be helpful. Teach your child how to take deep breaths to relax. Take a deep breath in through the nose and slowly breathe out through the mouth. Focus on different parts of the body while taking these deep breaths.  For example, have your child think about their legs while breathing deeply and rhythmically. Have them tighten up their leg muscles when they inhale, and relax those muscles with every exhale. Go through different parts of the body until the entire body is relaxed. Have your child imagine a warm color or light that surrounds them as they breathe. Imagine this color or light wraps them up to calm them down. Calming meditative practices like yoga and tai chi are not just good for adults. They help kids get centered and find balance in their lives. Find a DVD at your local library that guides kids through yoga or tai chi. Similarly, search online for one. If the child is old enough to write, give them a notebook or journal to write their feelings in. They can write a page or two every day, jotting down their thoughts, problems and concerns. They can either keep the page intact or crumple it up and throw it away. Do not read your child’s journal. They should feel that they can be totally honest in their journal, and respecting their privacy will help them feel safe enough to write what is really on their mind.
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One-sentence summary -- Help your child burn off energy. Do calm activities. Spend time in natural settings. Distract the child with another activity. Use guided imagery and meditation. Practice breathing techniques. Practice kids’ yoga or tai chi. Give your child a journal to write in.


Your body language can say a lot! You don't want to be telling girls that you are nervous, or worse, that you don't want to talk to them. Your words might sound comfortable and engaging, but if your body language is off, they'll be as nervous as you are and the interaction will be awkward.  A smile works wonders! Also keep your hips and shoulders open to potential conversation partners (crossed or folded arms and hands are bad!) Use reasonable hand motions, gestures, and eye contact while speaking. You'll appear more engaging, plus the physical movement is an outlet for stress, relaxing and soothing you.  Casually make friendly physical contact when appropriate. A tap on the forearm to draw attention or a touch on the shoulder when passing are perfectly normal and are very easy physical icebreakers. Girls are actually very much like guys, and enjoy talking about many of the same things. Discover mutual interests and focus on those, or let her know that you are curious about her interests. Conversations with girls are probably easier than you think, especially when you are talking about a comfortable subject that you already like.  The most important part of a conversation? Being a good listener. If you are a good listener, both guys and girls will be more than happy to pour out their hearts and minds. The best part is that you won't even have to talk too much if you aren't comfortable doing that. Listening is the most important communication skill you can have. Being a good listener will also demonstrate that you care about the other person, rather than being focused on yourself. The easiest way to not only break the ice but also build comfort in a relationship is to do things together. This doesn't have to occur in the format of a date. By having your attention focused on a particular task or activity, nervousness is less likely to creep in. It is a much more low pressure way of building comfort and getting to know one another than an extended 1-on-1 conversation or date.  Find activities that involve common interests or responsibilities. Walk your dogs or do your homework together. Suggest new adventures that you both might be interested in. If you both do something new, you'll be more nervous about and focused on the new activity, rather than your nervousness about being around a girl.
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One-sentence summary -- Project welcoming body language. Engage in conversation. Do things together.


Clear ones work the best, but you can also use colorful, patterned ones instead. For a more interesting bracelet, use a glow-in-the-dark or sparkly toothbrush. Make sure that the toothbrush does not have rubber grips, and is the same width all along the handle. You will be placing the entire toothbrush into this pot, so make sure that it is big enough. The water needs to be deep enough to cover the toothbrush, plus a few extra inches/centimeters. Do not put the toothbrush into the water just yet. If you don't have access to a stove, you can heat some water in a large, microwave-safe bowl or dish in the microwave instead.  If you are heating the water in the microwave, you will need to cook it for 2 to 5 minutes to ensure that it is hot enough. Place a chopstick or wooden spoon over the bowl before putting it into the microwave to prevent the water from boiling over.
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One-sentence summary --
Find a simple, cheap toothbrush. Fill a pot with water. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat.