childhood

In Ayurveda, childhood is seen as the Kapha phase, a phase in which the earth element is of great importance. The children gain substance, the tissue multiplies, they grow. It's a growing challenge for us parents these days to stay calm with whatever comes our way and whatever the tasks we have to deal with.

What is particularly important for children in their development?

Relaxed parents :-)

Really true! If we observe ourselves, stressed fellow human beings have an unpleasant, unsettling effect on us. How should our children be if we are constantly stressed?

The eight-hour day taken up by Robert Owen with the slogan "Eight hours of work, eight hours of leisure and relaxation and eight hours of sleep" is also followed by TCM, Ayurveda and herbal medicine. And how do we do that? First of all, let's take a look at our current everyday life. How is this structured? Maybe write down: How many hours do you spend with office work and work around the home, shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc.? How many hours do you sleep? How many hours do you have "free time"?

This can sometimes mix and cooking, baking or decorating becomes a leisure activity. All you have to do is observe and take a look from above to see whether you have enough time to relax in your everyday life and whether and how you can integrate these times.

For each type - each individual there are completely different challenges.

Pitta parents

For Pitta people, for example, it is a great challenge to gradually tackle goals that they have previously pursued with ambition and motivation. If something doesn't go as it should, the Pitta type becomes a rather unpleasant conspecific. Here it is important to find your golden mean. In your free time it would be good to see yourself and your life a little more relaxed and to practice tolerance. The Pitta type gets stressed very quickly, especially with children! But being aware of this is a start. Watching yourself here and retreating and breathing before an eruption of inner fire into a volcano. This is how you, dear Pitta person, practice dealing with your own feelings more calmly and become a predictable parent who is able to exemplify relaxation.

Nutrition with sweet, bitter and tart flavors can also support this - heating foods should be avoided, as well as cooling, calming sports such as swimming or yoga and lots of fresh air. Applications such as massages with Pitta-reducing, grounding oils or a forehead shower are also recommended.

Vata Parents

Vata people usually react strongly to changes. Change and a restless lifestyle can overstimulate or overwhelm you. Your Vata dominance in your basic constitution ensures a high level of sensitivity in relation to your body and your mind. Since you are curious and enthusiastic, you quickly get involved with too much. A full everyday life with work, household, children and your many own interests is extremely busy. The children have hobbies and interests that you naturally want to cater to, you make everything possible, you want to support them, every day is different, the schedule is full from morning to evening, you travel a lot. You are at risk of being overwhelmed, nervous and stressed if you take on too much! What can help with a Vata imbalance? Regularity. Surprisingly, routine is good for children and us alike. Things that we can all rely on, a fixed daily routine, a structured, even diet (breakfast, lunch, dinner, preferably approx.at the same times) and relaxing leisure activities such as being creative with painting, pools or handicrafts, walks or yoga Yoga with children would certainly be a great idea and a nice program item in your new daily rhythm. And how would you like each other's oil massages at the weekend?

Kapha Parents

People of the Kapha type usually have a heavy physique, are mostly balanced and well-tolerated and not easily disturbed. Well prepared for everyday life with children, they are endowed with peace and serenity. But beware! With the strong focus on calm in everyday life, the active part threatens to be forgotten. Children are in their Kapha phase of life (approx. up to the age of nine).

Encourage limitations in flexibility and a reluctance to change - physical inactivity also brings with it an even lower digestive fire. The result is obesity, little exercise, depression and absent-mindedness.

Exercise, energy, activity - preferably in the fresh air and regular motivating sports units should help to prevent a fixed state of indolence from developing. Even if the quiet does have its advantages: bring some variety into your daily routine every day! Swimming, cycling, running or dancing are all great sports that can work wonderfully together with the children.

And something else: "You eat what you have filled up!" should not be considered in the case of a Kapha disorder and overweight.

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