How Do My Child’s Lifestyle Choices Affect Their Education?

(Collaborative Post)

Young people don’t tend to understand the full ramifications of poor lifestyle choices, so its up to their parents to help guide them in the right direction. Not only are things like a poor diet, lack of sleep, and limited exercise bad for their physical and mental health, but they can also have a negative impact on their education. 

For this reason, I have teamed up with a pre-prep school in Hampshire to share some of the ways in which your child’s progress in school can be hindered by their lifestyle.

Sleep

First of all, lack of sleep can affect a child’s ability to concentrate in class and can even decrease brain development, so learning problems become more frequent for children who don’t have a decent bedtime. With this in mind, it’s important to make sure your child puts down their digital devices a few hours before bedtime so that they have the opportunity to wind down. Depending on their age, they should be getting at least 8-hours of sleep.

Diet

The food your child eats will also impact their behaviour and ability to focus. Sugary snacks and fizzy drinks provide a temporary energy boost, but this is shortly followed by a “crash”, so your child will likely feel sluggish throughout the day. Send them to school with a belly full of healthy breakfast, and make sure their breaktime snack is something nutritious and full of fibre, rather than a chocolate bar.

Exercise

We all know that exercise is great for strengthening bones and muscles and reduces the risk of becoming overweight or developing various health conditions. However, exercise can also benefit children from a mental perspective. Even something like a short walk after school is important for your child’s cognitive skills, as well as promoting the development of their motor skills. So, try and encourage them to play outdoors or walk the dog if you feel as though they are not getting enough exercise.

Mummy Snowy Owl

xx