Mental health of parents
Parenting is never easy. It can become even more challenging if you have a special needs child or decide to homeschool your children.
In any situation, parents must look after their mental health. Aside from a diagnosed condition such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, parents need mental rest. Of course, if you’re in the throes of ADHD parenting, you’re going to find this a little difficult to manage but you can choose to carve out some time as best you can; even if it’s after the kids go to bed. You need to be as rested as you can to deal with parenting challenges. Your children will still have the very best from you because you’re trying.
It’s often suggested to get a good night’s rest but how can you rest if your mind just won’t quit?
In this blog post I suggest some relaxation games that I love to play that allow me to decompress. These single player games really do the trick in getting my gears to stop from grinding.
- Solitaire
- Mahjong
- Sudoku
- Crossword
Most people are familiar with solitaire. If you remember the first versions of desktop computers it was built in.
For those parents joining us after smartphones arrived, you are more familiar with game apps.
These are some of my favorites featured on solitaire.org, all free with no ads and you don’t need to install or download anything!
Solitaire
The basic version of solitaire you may hear referred to as Klondike solitaire. This is different from spider solitaire or mahjong solitaire. There are many different versions of the game, but this is my favorite.
If you are used to playing cards in a group of friends this is a game that you play alone.
When I first started homeschooling I was mentally drained every week. It seemed as if all I did was lesson plan. Now I make sure to not let myself get overwhelmed.
Mental health of parents is so important because you need to keep it all together for yourself and the children.
Taking time to play a game or two really releases a lot of tension. Falling asleep is much easier for me after playing a few games that don’t require mental stress.
Once you go to solitaire.org you’ll notice that there are a variety of versions to choose from. Try the basic Klondike solitaire that I enjoy or try another version for something different.
Mahjong
Mahjong is another relaxation game that I have grown to love. I did not grow up playing this game but I have heard it mentioned in circles of homeschooling moms.
It was developed in Shanghai around the 1800s. The main objective of this game of 144 square tiles is to take your 13 tiles in the game during game play to form 4 suits and a pair to win.
There are many styles of game play but the most important thing is to relax and enjoy not thinking about serious things.
Sudoku
A game that has gained a lot of popularity over the last 10 years! I still remember when these sudoku puzzles started popping up in magazines and newspapers.
Now you can play these strategy games directly on solitaire.org whether you are using IOS or Android. I bookmark the link and go to it whenever I need a mental health break.
The object of this relaxation game is to fill in a grid 81 squares divided into 9 blocks that must contain numbers 1 through 9 without duplicating. Each row and column must contain numbers 1 through 9. This is a game of logic, reasoning and deduction.
I have found this sudoku game to be most helpful when I need a mental health break from monotony and repetition. There may be times as a homeschooling parent that you need to break free of an endless repetition of preschool songs.
All puzzle games on solitaire.org suit a different need. I highly suggest this one if you are feeling isolated, in a rut or in need of some adult activities.
Crossword
A classic paper and pen game makes its way to solitaire.org. When I was homeschooling my children in Japan I would have given anything to do a relaxation game like crossword.
It took me a very long time to find English language materials. I spent most of my time online.
I wish I had known about these free games. Being able to play games for free online without having to register or download anything is truly a plus.
Again, I love that I don’t need to go to the app store, this can also be printed if you desire.
There are dozens of other games available on solitaire.org. I highly suggest you give yourself some time to just do nothing and think about nothing!
Read more about homeschool games that I play with the children. There are a few that they can play by themselves as well.
Please leave a comment to let me know what games you play. Always looking for something to add to my reserve for when I need to dip into my stash or relaxation games after a tough homeschooling week.
Leave a Reply