How Do My Child’s Lifestyle Choices Affect Their Education

There’s a lot that can affect our concentration and ability to learn. Our diet, sleep routine and social life are some to name a few. They can affect children in their education both positively and negatively. Here are some for you to think about from a private school in Surrey.

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Sleep

Concentration can massively be impacted in a negative way by a lack of sleep. The brain’s ability to retain information is also reduced if a person does not get enough sleep. So, to be able to focus and absorb information at school, it’s important that children get their full 8 hours of sleep on a good kids mattress that will support their bodies. You can help your child achieve this by making sure they have a good sleep routine in place that is similar if not the same every night.

Diet

We are what we eat, and a poor diet can impact our motivation and productivity. Sugary foods typically do this. After they bring our initial energy levels up, we experience a “crash” where we feel tired and lethargic. Ensuring your child is getting their 5 fruits and veg a day and any additional vitamins they may need will help them to be motivated and operating with a consistent level of energy.

Screen Time

We don’t need to be told about the addictive nature of screens. Smartphones and other devices can be difficult for children to put down and be a distraction from their studies. If not correctly implemented, a child can easily spend all of their time playing video games and surfing the internet instead of doing their homework, something that can really stop them from making the progress that they are capable of at school. You may find it beneficial for both you and your child if you have screen time boundaries in place. This could be around the amount of time they are allowed to spend on their devices, what apps and games they can access or whether other things like homework and chores must be completed first.

person holding game pad
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Social Life

A social life is important for achieving a good work life balance, otherwise your child can experience burnout and become demotivated where their studies are concerned. It’s also an important part of their development as social interaction will help them to develop social intelligence, language skills and confidence. However to much socialising can also have a negative impact on their education so again, like screen time, it is important to set rules about the amount of time they can spend socialising with friends and what, if anything must be completed first.

Exercise

Now, you may be thinking “what does running a lap have to do with education?” It helps to keep the mind healthy. Exercise has been proven to make us feel better within ourselves by releasing endorphins that lift our mood. It also keeps our brains healthy as cardio helps to strengthen the brain’s hippocampus. Therefore, it is important to encourage your child to exercise on a regular basis. This could be something as simple as walking or cycling to school in the morning or signing them up to sport related extra curriculum activities. Plus the more time they spend outside exercising the more tired they will become thus improving their sleep and the less time they will have for their devises to it really is a win win.

These simple, everyday, lifestyle choices can have massive impacts on your child education so it is important to get good routines and boundaries in place early.