As parents, we strive to give our kids the best tools possible for success. However, sometimes they struggle with their focus in school or their brains can’t seem to get on track. It’s easy to blame the teacher if you send your kids to public school, but we must look at our own actions first. Are you providing your child with the right foods that will help them stay focused throughout the day? Food is medicine for your body, and breakfast is essential to set up a good learning environment. Read below for some tips on how to get your kids focused with holistic brain-friendly foods.
Start With Breakfast
Getting your kids off to a great start begins with breakfast that fuels their minds, not distracts it. Sugary cereals, breads, and processed snacks should be avoided because they lead to an energy boost followed by a crash which can affect concentration levels when learning during the day. Instead of giving them these types of processed cereals for breakfast, feed them whole grains such as oats, millet, or quinoa and add in some nuts and fruits for extra nutrients. Also adding in healthy fats like almond butter can help provide lasting energy throughout the morning hours.
Incorporate Brain-Boosting Superfoods
Certain superfoods are known for their ability to improve brain health and functioning in children. Incorporating these into their diets can really help increase focus and concentration levels while also boosting memory recall and cognitive skills. Some examples include blueberries, salmon, chia or flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, walnuts and dark leafy greens like spinach or kale. These are all packed with vitamins and minerals that promote brain health while also providing long-lasting energy without any sugar crashes or spikes which can disrupt concentration levels throughout the day.
Find Healthy Alternatives To Snacks & Drinks
Snack time is inevitable but it doesn't have to be unhealthy! Swap out sugary drinks like soda or juice for water or herbal tea. Instead of candy bars opt for slightly sweetened granola bars or trail mix containing dried fruit pieces and nuts such as almonds or walnuts - both great sources of Omega 3 fatty acids which are essential for optimizing brain functioning in children. If you find your kids reaching for chips try substituting vegetable sticks like carrots, peppers, or celery served with hummus instead - this provides great nutrients AND flavor! And if all else fails chocolate covered nuts are always a great option too!
Feeding your children brain-friendly foods helps make sure they get off on the right foot each morning at school and is key in helping them stay focused throughout the day despite whatever distractions may occur around them! Start incorporating these holistic approaches into meal planning today so you can rest assured that when it's time to learn they have everything they need inside of themselves (and what's on their plate)to achieve success!
Have picky eaters? Grab this guide: 7 Strategies to Help Picky Eaters Eat!
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Looking for ways to set goals as a family? Whether it’s planning activities to do together or working on long-term projects, there are a few key steps you can employ to make goal setting fun and rewarding. Here’s how you can get started with family goal setting today.
Step One: Brainstorm Ideas Together
When it comes to brainstorming ideas, the focus should be on being creative and having fun. Try not to criticize any of the ideas that come up; even if they seem far-fetched, let everyone have their say! This is also a great opportunity to introduce new skills or hobbies that your family may not have tried before. Write down all of your ideas on a whiteboard or piece of paper so everyone can see them, then move on to Step Two.
Step Two: Prioritize Your Goals
After you have come up with some great ideas for things your family wants to accomplish this year, it’s time to prioritize those goals. Make sure everyone has a chance to voice their opinion about which goals are most important and why. This will help ensure that your plans align with everyone’s interests and expectations. Make sure that each goal is realistic and achievable within the timeframe you have planned for it.
Step Three: Break Down Your Goals Into Actionable Steps
Once you have prioritized your goals, break each one down into smaller actionable steps so that the tasks don't feel too daunting or overwhelming. For example, if one of your goals is to go camping together as a family this summer, break it down into manageable tasks such as researching campsites in the area and purchasing essential camping gear (tent, sleeping bags, etc.). This will help keep everyone on track and motivated as they work towards achieving their goal!
Family goal setting is an excellent way for families to bond while also staying focused on achieving their shared objectives. It’s important to remember that goal setting should be fun—not frustrating—so make sure everyone has an equal say in what goes onto the list of priorities for this year! With clear targets in mind and achievable action steps laid out ahead of time, you can ensure that your family accomplishes something great together this year!
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As a parent, you want your high schooler to succeed in all aspects of life—from the classroom to extracurricular activities. Helping your teen set realistic goals is one important way you can support them in their academic journey. Setting smart goals gives teens an opportunity to set measurable and achievable objectives while also providing a clear framework to strive towards success. Read on to learn how to help your teen set smart goals and get ahead in high school.
Defining SMART Goals
SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely. These five principles are the cornerstone of effective goal-setting and should be applied when helping your teen create their own objectives. Here’s what each principle means:
• Specific – Clear, detailed expectations that outline exactly what needs to be accomplished;
• Measurable – Objectives must have clear metrics so progress can be tracked;
• Achievable – Goals should be challenging but attainable;
• Relevant – Objectives should align with overall life goals;
• Timely – Deadlines provide focus and urgency for completing tasks.
When helping your teen define SMART goals, encourage them to think specifically about their desired outcome as well as the steps they need to take along the way. For example, if your teen wants to get an A in their Math class this semester, they could create a goal like “I will study for math every day at 5pm for 30 minutes and complete my homework by Saturday evening each week." This type of goal is specific, measurable (grade), achievable (with enough effort), relevant (to getting an A in Math), and timely (completed before Saturday night).
Creating Action Plans
Once your teen has created their SMART goals, it’s time to establish an action plan! An action plan is simply a list of tasks or steps that need to be completed in order for your teen’s goals to be achieved. Encourage your teen to break down big projects into smaller tasks that are easier to manage—for example, “I will finish my math project by breaking it down into five separate parts that I can work on over five days." This type of action plan helps teens stay organized and on track while working towards their goals (and prevents procrastination). Furthermore, it allows them to measure their own progress throughout the process.
Setting smart goals is one important way you can help motivate and empower your teenage children during high school. By using the SMART methodology—specifically outlining objectives that are measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely—you can give teens an opportunity to reach their highest potential while also providing them with structure along the way. Encourage them by teaching them how action plans help break down big projects into manageable tasks so they can measure progress towards success!
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It’s never too early to start teaching your children about setting and achieving goals. For elementary students, goal-setting can be a fun and engaging way to learn how to set SMART—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely—goals. Read on for some tips on how to help your little ones get started.
Define the Goal with Your Child
The first step in setting a SMART goal is to work together with your child to define the goal. What do they want to achieve? Do they want to read more books in a month? Master a new skill? Start a hobby or club? Help them figure out what it is that they want to accomplish and make sure it’s something that’s both challenging yet achievable.
Break the Goal Down into Smaller Steps
Once you’ve agreed on what their goal should be, break it down into smaller steps. A daunting task like “read all of the Harry Potter books by next month” can be overwhelming for any child (or adult!). Instead, break it down into smaller tasks such as “read one chapter per day” or “read one book every week.” Breaking the goal down into smaller chunks makes it much easier for your child to stay focused and motivated.
Create an Action Plan
Creating an action plan is essential for keeping your little ones on track with their goals. Set aside some time each week or month where you can sit down together and map out their progress toward their goal. This will help them stay organized while also giving you a chance to celebrate their successes along the way!
Set up a Reward
Finally, don’t forget to reward your child when they reach a milestone! Celebrating small wins will keep everyone motivated and excited about achieving bigger goals in future! Whether it's a night out at the movies or a treat at home - celebrating success cultivates positive reinforcement which encourages further success!
Teaching children about setting SMART goals is an important life skill that will benefit them now and in the future. With these tips, you can ensure that your little ones are well-prepared for tackling any challenge that comes their way! By breaking down large tasks into manageable chunks, creating an action plan together, and rewarding them throughout the process - setting smart goals has never been easier or more fun! Happy goal-setting!
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The holidays are a time for family, friends, and fun. But they can also be a time of stress. There's the pressure to find the perfect gifts, make everything just right, and please everyone. Not to mention all the end-of-year deadlines at work. It's no wonder that so many people dread the holiday season!
But it doesn't have to be that way. With a little planning and some creativity, you can take the stress out of the holidays and make them joyful and fun for everyone. Here are some of the best family activities to make your holiday season merry and bright.
1. Get outside and get active. There's nothing like some good old-fashioned fresh air to clear your head and boost your mood. And when you're cooped up inside all day, it's easy to get cabin fever. So go for a hike, build a snowman, or just take a walk around the block. You'll come back feeling refreshed and ready to face whatever the holidays throw your way. We just went to the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary in Pacific Grove, CA. It was a beautiful day and was great to be outside observing those fascinating insects!
2. Make homemade presents. One of the best ways to save money and reduce stress during the holidays is to make your own gifts. Not only will you save money, but you'll also Avoid dealing with crowds at malls and stores. And your friends and family will appreciate the thoughtfulness of a handmade gift. Just be sure to start early so you don't end up rushing at the last minute!
3. Bake holiday treats together. What better way to spread holiday cheer than by making delicious treats? Get your kids involved in the kitchen by having them help you bake cookies, gingerbread houses (try to leave these up for a few days at least before eating them!), or other festive snacks. Not only will you create some great memories (and maybe even new traditions), but you'll also have something tasty to eat when you're done!
4. Give the 12 Days of Christmas to a family you know. For the 12 days leading up to Christmas, bring gifts secretly to a family. 1 gift the first day, 2 gifts the second day, up to 12 gifts on the 12th day. These don't need to be extravagant, they can be treats, small or homemade items. This is a great way to bring your family together as you hide, deliver, and dash away to not get caught, which gets more difficult the closer you get to Christmas! It really gets you in the spirit of Christmas and giving.
5. Give back to others in need. The holidays are about more than just receiving gifts—they're also about giving back to those less fortunate than us. Seeing firsthand how much we have to be thankful for can help put our own problems into perspective. And what better way to teach our children the true meaning of the season? There are many ways to give back, so find one that suits your family's interests and abilities. You could volunteer at a soup kitchen, help decorate a senior citizens' home, or collect toys for children in need. Whatever you do, spreading holiday cheer is sure to make everyone in your family feel good!
The holiday season should be a time for joy—not stress! By taking some simple steps and getting creative, you can make sure that your holidays are fun for everyone in your family. So get outside, make homemade presents, bake festive treats together, have a movie marathon night, and give back to those less fortunate. With these tips, you're sure to have a holiday season that's merry and bright!
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