Give your kids a head-start for the new school year The first day of school can be tough! There are so many new faces, new rules and so much new information for your kids to take in. The start of the school year can be filled with anxiety, dread or excitement. Fortunately there are some simple and effective things you can do to give your kids a head start for the beginning of this school year.
Sharpen their mental focus
There are herbs which support brain function and improve memory and learning in children by improving their focus and resilience under pressure. These herbs may be particularly useful if your children have poor concentration. These herbs and other nutritional supplements especially for kids are available from True Medicine. Avoiding foods that prevent mental clarity must be a priority for all lunchboxes. Read about the dangers of sugar. There is ever increasing evidence of the dangers of sugar in our diet: That Sugar Film is a great one for all the family to watch, as is Over Fed and Undernourished.
Is the new school year stressing them out?
Many children get stressed and anxious at the beginning of a new school year. Anxiety can interfere with children’s confidence, attention and behaviour and is often associated with ADHD in children. Once again, certain herbs can help to calm children whilst improving focus and behaviour; relieving anxiety or stress as they are both gentle and calming. A combination of herbs can help children get off to sleep as well calming them down if they are experiencing day time anxiety. Certain nutrients are also valuable in supporting your child’s stress and anxiety levels. Talk to Dagmar about which combinations are best suited for your child or children.
Over the past 15 years in clinic, I have treated numerous children who found it difficult to concentrate in school or who were found to be disruptive, even violent. After a thorough assessment, causes included parasites, fungus and/or heavy metals. Once there were cleared from the body, there were no longer any behavioural problems.
Simple recommendations to maximise your child’s learning experience:
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Make sure your children eat a nutritious breakfast – most cereals are high in sugar, which can affect their concentration. Give your child whole foods rather than processed, high sugar/low nutrient options. Eggs are also a great way to start the day, as the protein can help to maintain healthy blood sugar levels throughout the morning.
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Get your children off to bed at a reasonable time. Children need more sleep than adults and lack of sleep can affect their learning.
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Get into a regular routine and stick to it; this will make the start and end of the day less stressful for both you and your children.
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Encourage your kids to talk about their day, this helps them develop their communication skills and can give you valuable insight into how they are going. If you sense any problems, discuss it with their teacher.