Life is a balancing act, whether it is taking those first baby steps or leaning hard on a cane as an elderly person. There is another kind of balance that we humans struggle to achieve. It is the management of our time, thoughts and actions. Too much or too little of anything can throw us off kilter, off balance. It happens to adults and it happens to children too. Consider these areas of your child's life:

• Physically active - Does she have time to run, skip and hop?A few minutes of singing and bouncing around to music can invigorate and is a great break between school and homework, or just a fun way to be active. (check out the Bingzy CD, by Arlene Richards)
• Emotionally sound - Does your child show signs of depression, sadness? It may be a simple conflict with a friend or it may be more. If you have a real concern, a check up by the Pediatrician to rule out any medical problem would be a good first step. (Be sure to check hearing and vision.)
• Mentally engaged - Does she catch on fairly quickly? Is he a reluctant learner? Are they on track developmentally? What are their main interests and how do they pursue them?
• Spiritually aware - Does he appear to understand right from wrong? Does she know why it is important to be truthful, honest? Who or what is becoming their greatest influence in character development?

In a busy world how do you add balance to your life? How do you assure that your child 's life is balanced? I hope you'll think about it and let me know. What you have already learned may help others.

The Schoolmarm