Ever noticed how cranky and irresponsive your kid becomes when he/she is ill? This can be attributed to the direct influence of a child’s health on his concentration and behavior. Studies have shown that children who are ill tend to become more irritable and emotional, and can find it very hard to learn in a classroom environment as well. So how would one go about ensuring that these issues are thwarted in the best possible manner? The following tips would shed some light on the matter.
Nutrition
It is essential that your kids receive proper nutrition in order to grow healthy and strong. This in turn, would have a positive effect on their studies and classroom behavior as shown in many studies. Nutritional deficiencies can cause fatigue, irritability, concentration problems and shortened attention span in children. Hence, a healthy diet is necessary for kids to improve behavior and concentration.
Healthy fats
Healthy fats like those found in omega 3 fatty acids are considered essential for the proper development of your child’s brain. Low levels of these fatty acids have been linked to mental disorders and brain developmental issues in infants as well as children. So make sure your kid gets the required amount of omega 3 fatty acids to remain mentally strong and active. Some of the best natural sources of omega 3 fatty acids include eggs, poultry and salmon.
Proteins and Amino Acids
Proteins are considered as the building blocks of life. Hence, your child will require plenty of protein in the early years to repair and rebuild cells, including the chemical messengers located in the brain. Amino acids on the other hand facilitate the production of these chemical messengers along with enzymes and other proteins. These chemical messengers would in turn, affect the mood positively and improve concentration. So make sure you child eats plenty of legumes, dairy products, meat, fish and poultry that are rich in these nutrients.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is considered essential for the proper development and function of the brains as well as the nerves in children. Vitamin B12 deficiencies can cause several brain development problems in children, leading to behavioral issues in the long run. Severe Vitamin B12 deficiencies can also cause brain atrophy wherein the brain shrinks and causes cognitive difficulties in infants. Eating healthy amounts of Vitamin B12 via foods like poultry and meat can therefore, help boost brain health in children.
Physical Activity
A lot of kids refrain from indulging in any kind of physical lifestyle these days. Continued inactiveness would lead to a sedentary lifestyle, which in turn would have a direct influence on their behavior in school. Regular exercises are considered necessary to keep your children healthy, active and disease free; three factors that would immediately reflect in the way they perform in school and outside. Physical activity would help strengthen the body’s immune system, thereby reducing conditions like anxiety that could otherwise interfere with proper brain development.
Proper sleep
Lack of proper sleep has been attributed to many psychological disorders. A child would need at least 8-10 hours of sleep on a daily basis in order to remain healthy and active. Inadequate sleep can cause restlessness, anxiety and irritability, which would in turn affect classroom behavior. So ensure that your child sleeps for the recommended amount of time every night. Check with a doctor if he/she faces any sleep related disorders. Have a chat with his/her class teacher in order to deal with his/her classroom behavior in a more appropriate manner.
Treatment from acute illnesses
Children suffering from acute illnesses like flu, ear infections and strep throat, etc. will usually be irritable and find it hard to difficult until the symptoms of the condition disappear. In this case, it is considered wise to check with a doctor about the same and prevent your child’s behavioral problems from extending beyond the period for which the illness lasts. Prompt treatment would also help relax your child’s nerves, thus boosting concentration and behavior during this period.
Summary
Studies have indicated that the overall health of a child would have a direct impact on his/her concentration as well as behavior in school. The above mentioned points indicate how parents should go about ensuring that their children remain physically as well as mentally healthy and active as they grow up.