Grounding with Kids

No, I don't mean the type of punishment. Grounding is something different that I learned about not too long ago through instragram. I started to follow these two sisters who are physical therapists and they mentioned one method that is called grounding. They are very holistic and zen and I don't believe in all that they preach, but grounding has really stuck with me, and myself and my kids practice grounding often.

So, what is it?

Grounding is a therapy technique that has very little research around it. It promotes connecting to the Earth and using Earth's electricity to your benefit, for your mental and physical health.​ Now, listen, there's not a lot of research on it, but if you think about it, this technique makes a ton of sense and has merit.

Think about the activities that we do inside. I would say that 90% of the time, we are interacting or surrounded by various radiation. Whether it's the TV or your cellphone or microwave or landline or refrigerator or dozens of light bulbs, there's constant movement of energy. Sit in your living room in the quiet and listen. I bet you you hear a buzzing, regardless of what's on or who's home. 

This isn't necessarily bad, and honestly, there's not much we can do to prevent it aside from moving into the forest and living an electric free life. And let's be honest, who wants to do that? I certainly don't. I like my trashy TV shows and my Diner Dash on my phone while the kids nap. 

But there are times when we need a break. And that's exactly what I see grounding as for my family. It's not an electronic-free life, but a time each day that we connect with the Earth and disconnect from the world. 

What do you do?

This video is one example of how we ground. The biggest thing is being shoe-free. Rubber and plastic soles really prevent us from feeling the Earth and connecting to it. Be barefoot. If that's not an option, I know you can ground via your bare hands so that's an option, too. But honestly, bare feet is the key for us. 

The best part about grounding is that you don't have to do much of anything. There's no planning, no setting up an activity. You're using your Earth around you. For example: I had my coffee today, plopped both kids in a shaded part of our yard, and sipping while they explored. I had my shoes off too and it's such a beautiful thing to see your children climb and taste and sniff and use all of their senses. 

We're lucky to have a yard right now (our old house barely had a few feet of grass so it's something we definitely don't take for granted) but you can do this anywhere. Parks are the best option because there's an abundance of grass. Beaches, lakes, meadows. Anywhere in nature. 

What do you think? Do you buy into grounding? Did you know about grounding before reading this?