durzs, Author at Innovate Education Australia

Simple tips to get your kids to eat better

Want to keep your kids fit and healthy? If so, make sure they are eating well!

Over the past decades, childhood obesity rates have increased. Obese kids have an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and metabolic disorders later in life. They are also more likely to develop weight-related health problems in adulthood. Fortunately, these problems can be prevented through good nutrition and exercise.

Here are some tips to get your kids to eat better so they stay healthy and maintain their focus during the day:

Ditch the junk food

Get rid of any foods containing sugar and trans fats, such as cake, cookies, deli meats, fries, crackers, and soda. Set an example for your kids and eat healthy yourself. Keep potato chips, chocolate, and other treats out of sight. Let your child know why these foods are off limits.

Load up on fresh produce

Fill your pantry and fridge with fresh fruit, vegetables, pastured eggs, legumes, raw nuts, and seeds. Choose local and seasonal produce instead of frozen and canned foods. Encourage, support, and promote healthy eating in your household.

Plan your child’s meal

Meal planning plays a key role in good nutrition. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to plan nutritious meals for your child. Create weekly menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Make sure your kids eat in the morning. Cook different foods every day and try new recipes.

Stick to the basics
Healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated or boring. A good breakfast for kids can include simple foods, such as oatmeal and berries, cottage cheese and nuts, Greek yogurt with bananas, or whole grain crackers with turkey slices. Lunch can consist of brown rice or whole pasta and chicken breast, tuna salad, soups, stews, or grilled fish and veggies. For dinner, make steamed fish or chicken with leafy greens.

Choose healthy snacks
Prepare healthy snacks for your child instead of buying him chips and ready-made meals. Keep your cupboards stocked with almonds, yoghurt, veggie sticks, kale chips, walnuts, air-popped popcorn, and dried fruits. You can even create your cookies at home using healthy ingredients like fruit, stevia, cinnamon, oat flour, and raw cocoa.

Benefits of music to children

Music is a universal phenomenon; it forms part of our everyday life, just as it is part of our inherited culture. As common and widespread as music is, we often miss the huge benefits music offers not to us, but to our children.

Our children are like our crown jewels, what they do and reflect either make us proud or want to do more by improving on them. Music is a good way to help our children make us proud and it also offers us the opportunity to do more for them.

Music stimulates children’s learning
Research upon research has shown that music benefits the brain, and playing a musical instrument benefits the brain even more.

Science has proved that the more a child plays a musical instrument the more their brains begin to hear and process sounds that they could not hear before. This enhances “neurological distinctions” between some sounds that can aid in literacy. This ultimately translates into improved academic results for children.

Some relevant studies have shown that music stimulates children brains in no small way and this in return improves their cognitive abilities.

Here are some studies to buttress this point:

According to a Neurological Research, 1997 Studies shows that Piano students more willingly comprehend mathematical and scientific concepts. Children performed 34 percent higher on test measuring proportional reasoning, like ratios, proportions, fractions and thinking in space and time, because they had received piano training.

The National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 First Follow-Up, U.S. Department of Education reveals that music students have received more academic awards that non-music students. It also indicates that music student have more of grade A and B compared to non-music students.

Studies have revealed that music lessons for children, helps sharpen their minds more during senility. One of those studies is that of researcher Brenda Hanna-Pladdy, a neurologist at the Emory University School of Medicine, reports that; “Musical activity throughout life may serve as a challenging cognitive exercise, making your brain fitter and more capable of accommodating the challenges of ageing. Since studying an instrument requires years of practice and learning, it may create alternate connections in the brain that could compensate for cognitive declines as we get older.”

The Comparative Academic Abilities of Students in Education and in Other Areas of a Multi-focus University Peter H. Wood, ERIC Document No. ED327480; The Case for Music in Schools, Phi Delta Kappan, 1994) observed that more music students are admitted into medical school after application, than other majors like math, English, biology, and chemistry.

Aside from these studies and observation there are numerous benefits that music offers to children:

Music promotes team work in children

Music assist children develop their teamwork skills and discipline. A child in an orchestra choir learns that for the choir to succeed all of them must work together irrespective of their differences. Discipline is enhanced when children commit to practice, rehearsal and learning music all, for the singular goal of the performance.

Music gives your child a sense of security

Sense of security, can also indicate confidence, something to hold on to that belongs to them alone. Music builds confidence in children; by learning to play a musical instrument a child feels in touch with his/her core. This also increases their self-esteem and they are challenged every day to reach a higher stage of development.

Music develops patience in children

Patience is a virtue that is needed, in a generation where most want instant gratification. Learning to play and perfecting skills on any instrument takes time, in an orchestral group every player waits for his/her turn to play. A virtue like this developed gradually becomes invaluable in the future.

Music means continuous learning and creativity

There is no limit to music, just like music is a form of art and art develops creativity in children, so does music it help children to be creative and open to new ideas and possibilities.

Music shields children from bad influences

There are a lot of influences today that are detrimental to the positive development of children. This can come from peer group, family, school expectations all these can lead to mental exhaustion. By learning a musical instrument a child learns to channel mental exhaustion positively and avoid risky alternatives such as the use of drugs.

Music enhances memory

Learning music early enough helps develop the learning and memory function of children, by stimulating brain patterns music help children maintain a retentive memory. This is according to Maestro Eduardo Marturet, a conductor, composer and musical director for the Miami Symphony Orchestra.

Music gives better brain power

As stated earlier music helps to develop the brain, by allowing your child learn a musical instrument or participate in music lessons you invariable give him/her an edge over those that do not. Children’s music specialist Meredith LeVande of MonkeyMonkeyMusic.com puts it this way: “Music simply stimulates parts of the brain that are related to reading, math, and emotional development.”

Long term effects of children using devices

With the progress of current innovation these days, electronic devices has become an essential part of our day to day living, whether for work or leisure. Without knowing, our kids has been presented to these devices, namely the smartphone and tablets, a very early stage of their life. (read pdf) Specialists have cautioned that parents who permit young children to use tablets for a long period each day could have impact on their development.

As great as science and technology has improved our lives, we have also become enslaved to it, with our constant need to be online and to have our devices at hand to check for messages, updates and other social media notifications. We can all identify with turning around halfway through a trip to get our mobile phone because we have left it at home.

When allowed, a child can sit and play on their device all day. In the long run this can lead to health issues such as obesity, depression and anxiety. In comparison to children of earlier generations, children these days are less likely to spend their time outdoors running and playing and chatting with friends. Technology has enabled them to talk and play from the comfort of their home without the need to even step outside of their room.

With children investing such an enormous amount of time and energy on different gadgets, parents will undoubtedly wonder about the impact of staring at small screen throughout the day. You realise that doing a lot of work on your PC or looking at your smartphone for long periods would leave your eyes dry and hazy. What are the consequences to a kids developing eyes? Will a lot of time on smartphones, iPads, tablets, or PC destroy your kid’s eyes? ABC Article

Impact Of Prolonged Use

Balance Is The Key

It is not all doom and gloom as it may seem. Technology has changed our lives, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worst. Children’s love for digital technology is obvious, and mirrors the devotion many adults have for their devices. Try to restrict an adult’s access to their mobile or tablet and see how they react!

At times these devices can be heaven sent as they can be used to provide parents with a much need break or just simply time to hop into a shower. However as most good things, too much can have an adverse affect too. The key ingredients is balance and guidance from you, the parent. Parents have to weigh the risk of their child growing addicted to their devices against living a technology free lifestyle and have them falling behind at school or with their peers.

Parents also need to model controlled uses of technology themselves. A parent who consistently tells a child to get off their device when they themselves are always on one will not go unnoticed by the child. Balance is important, and in our tech-base society, it is important for children and adults alike to maintain a healthy balance of activities in their life.

Some measures that can be taken include the following:

Limit the screen time on any device to a maximum of 30 minutes. Ensure that the total amount of screen time per day doesn’t exceed the age-group recommendations
Have a schedule for when the device can be used along with plans for some physical activities as well
Best not to have a TV or computer in their bedroom and refrain them from using their devices in their room
Have ‘device-free’ time such as during meals, homework, family time and bedtime
Teach your child early about the important of moderation. Be sure to offer praise when your child demonstrates restraint in the use of tech devices and follows the rules you’ve set
Monitor access by using the device together with your child. Take opportunity to communicate, interact and share family values.

How important is Maths to everyday living?

The world is evolving and only those who have what it takes will not be let out of the beauty we see every day.

There is no single technology today in the world we live in that does not have its foundation in the mother of all subjects – mathematics.

I used to think that everyone knew maths until a lawyer came to me and asked me to teach her maths, especially percentages. She didn’t take mathematics as a subject in senior high school because she struggled with it and it was not a compulsory subject. However, the realisation came when she had to sit logic test papers which involved maths, when she was applying for job positions.

Beyond her story, to be able to live successfully in this generation, we must have a sound understanding of mathematics. There is a way mathematics has been found to enlarge our mental reasoning capacity.

Mathematics skills that we teach children in primary stage is needed to progress successfully as they pass through further stages of education. From preschool to the end of primary school, children are setting the foundation for future life skills.

An educational study of 35,000 preschoolers by Duncan?? showed that the place of math skills training in early life cannot be over-emphasised. According to the research, students who start school with primary math skills have been found to excel more than students who had none.

Duncan stated:

We find the single most important factor in predicting later academic achievement is that children begin school with a mastery of early math and literacy concepts.

Although there are times when we see some exceptionally gifted children who have the capacity to take more complicated math no matter where they are coming from or what they have been exposed to.

Maths is all around us and in the first few years of a child’s life, he or she can use without knowing it even while playing games, sorting out crayons, trying to sort out the number of clothes he or she has, picking his or her candy sweets from the jar, trying to remember how many days a week has and the list goes on and on.

Elementary math skills helps in teaching logical and critical thinking, life skills, supporting continuing education and careers, etc. Having a good foundation in math has also been shown in making good healthy decisions because there is a way your math helps your mental capacity to reason things out. Primary math has also been found to help in strategic counting, magnitude comparison, solving simple word problems, number recognition, retrieval of basic arithmetical facts, etc.

Mathematics uses a universal language that is used all over the world.

The principles and basis does not change. It is always the same… evergreen. Children are said to be natural problem solvers. They tend to have this type of inquisitive mind that wants them to find answers even when we don’t help them. Take that step in giving your children the edge needed early in life. They will thank you later for it when they can successfully handle issues on their own.

Goal Setting with Your Child

The idea of setting goals is to provide them with the educational foundation to take flight in whichever direction their talents and desire take them, without pigeonholing them into the default career tracks of the aspirational upper middle class. We want to help them become the best possible versions of themselves—whatever that is.

For the last three years, as a family, we would sit down at the end of the year to talk about our achievements as a family and as an individual, then set new goals for the new year. That activity alone has created lots of motivation, enthusiasm, focus, direction and self-confidence for my children.

Why? Because they had activities, challenges and plans to look forward to during the year. Their accomplishments as well as ours, whether they were big or small, allowed for acknowledgements and celebrations.

It has taught my daughters the meaning and value of saving for expensive items, planning and managing their time and work, in order to complete and achieve certain tasks. It has allowed for the family to work together and encourage each other so we could achieve things together.

Be sure to set SMART goals.

S – Specific

M – Measurable

A – Action-oriented

R – Realistic

T – Time Bound

When helping your children set goals, whether it is to bring up a grade in math class, improving their basketball skills, or choosing a college, walk through the S.M.A.R.T. method with them.

Specific
Many times we make the mistake of generalising our goals. For example, instead of saying, “I want to improve in piano,” encourage your child to use the S.M.A.R.T. method to set a detailed goal:
“I want to improve my piano grade from a C to a B by the end of this term by practising an extra half an hour each day.”

Measurable
You will notice in that example the goal was to move from a C to a B, which shows the second part of the method. The goal needs to be measurable. General goals of “just wanting to improve” are not good enough. “Improving” can mean a lot of things and will make it easier to quit. Having a measurable goal helps them know when an improvement has been made. Then when a measurable goal has been met it can be celebrated and a new higher goal can be set.

Action-Oriented
When setting goals with your child make sure you think through and assign activities that will help him/her reach the goal. For example, if the goal is to improve a grade from a C to a B then an action-oriented goal could be to practise every day for at least an extra half an hour. Another action-oriented goal could be to always work on and complete homework before dinner (if possible). After you have helped your children set their goals, create the steps to attain them. Include checkpoints of progress, such as having them talk with their instructor or teacher.

Realistic
Goals also need to be both challenging and realistic. While goals will help instil motivation in your kids, setting unrealistic goals will only create frustration. Make sure their goals are attainable and beneficial — not only in the end result but in the process as well.

Time Bound
Finally, set a time schedule when the goal needs to be met. This puts a sense of urgency around the goal. Without this restraint, goals tend to go unmet.

Teaching your kids how to set effective goals will not only benefit them now but will prove to be a valuable skill when they are adults.

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