From the food that we eat, to how long we stay up, our lifestyle choices all affect our body and mind. For growing children, it’s even more of a concern. A poor lifestyle can affect their ability to concentrate, retain information and thus their grades at school. The way forward is a good routine. It creates structure for children and set guidelines to adhere to. Keep reading to learn more about how lifestyle choices affect children in their education.
Lifestyle Choices – Sleep
Sleep of course is the big one. We all need sleep, irrespective of how old we are as it “recharges” the body and mind. A lack of sleep can make children irritable, tired and they will likely have difficulty paying attention in class as a result. While sleep routines vary depending on age, it is recommended that children get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night. To help get your child to sleep on time there are a few things that you can do:
Lifestyle Choices – Introduce Storytime
Reading can help children to relax and unwind before bedtime. It’s also a nice way to get their recommended 15-20 minutes of reading in.
Lifestyle Choices – Lights Out and Devices Off
It’s also a good idea to limit screen time before bed. According to research the blue light that devices give off can disrupt the body’s sleep patterns by tricking the mind into thinking that it’s still day. Turning the lights off can also help them to drift off.
Lifestyle Choices – Mindfulness
If you’ve never come across the concept, mindfulness is a way to calm the body and mind. It reduces anxiety and can help children going through difficult emotions. When anxious or overwhelmed, children can have a hard time getting to sleep. Practising one of the various techniques can help children part with the feelings and enjoy a good night’s rest.
Lifestyle Choices – Diet
As the saying goes, “we are what we eat”. There’s no doubt that filling up on junk food will make your child feel awful and unprepared for the day. Also, food has been closely linked to child behavioural issues. To help give your child a good start to the day and keep their energy levels and concentration up, try encouraging them to eat their five a day and produce healthy and nutritious meals. For breakfast, opt for cereal with less sugar, or oats as an alternative. It will provide lasting energy and they will be less likely to experience an “energy crash” as they would after a sugary filled meal.
Lifestyle Choices – Exercise
Exercise can surprisingly help children through school. Aside from physical health benefits, it helps to relieve stress and anxiety which can help children to perform better at school. Aerobic exercise is also believed to strengthen the brain, helping children with their memory, and retaining information.
*Collaborative post
About Debz Louise
Debz Louise is a UK-based lifestyle expert and the founder of several lifestyle blogs. Specialising in everything from interior design and home renovation to body-positive fashion and parenting, Debz brings a wealth of hands-on experience to every guide. Her mission at Stereotude is to simplify the modern world for her readers through expert curation and fiercely honest advice.