School – the mere mention of the word is enough to send some children (and their parents) into fits of anxiety and stress. For others, it’s a fairly neutral word not eliciting any strong emotion one way or another. And for some lucky ones, it’s an exciting, wonderful and nurturing environment, which yields very positive feelings and reactions. Regardless of how our children feel about school, it’s a place that they attend every day, five days a week for 10 months. Given that tremendous time commitment, it’s our job as parents, to try and set up the home environment in order to ensure our children are in the best possible shape for learning at school.
Wait……what? There’s a correlation between home environment and success at school? Absolutely! In order for children to be their best at school, both academically and socially, they must be in what’s known as the “Optimal Learning Zone.” What that means is our children need to go to school feeling relaxed, rested, nourished, strong and positive in order to be able to maximize their learning at school. I know for some, that’s easier said than done.
Here are some tips that parents can use at home to try and ensure children are in their “Optimal Learning Zone” as they head out the door each day. This is a first in a five part series. Today we will focus on the overall components needed to achieve an “Optimal Learning Zone” and then each month we will investigate one of the components in more detail.
Here is a simple guide to try and help your child be in their “Optimal Learning Zone”.
1. Sleep well –A great sleep routine which includes a consistent bed time routine ensures that children go to school alert and ready to take in information.
2. Eat well – Eating properly (and especially a great breakfast) and a healthy packed lunch, helps children be able to concentrate at school.
3. Exercise – Being active reduces stress and anxiety and keeps the brain sharp. It’s an essential element for children to be their best.
4. Positive mindset – Helping children focus on the positive aspects of their day rather than dwell on the things that are not going well is essential for optimal learning.
Doesn’t that sound so simple? Think of yourself at work. If you go to work exhausted, hungry, lazy and you have a bad attitude; chances are things are not going to go well that day. That’s the same for our children and school.
Try and think about how your family manages each of these four simple ideas. Pick one to try and work on and see if it makes a difference to the overall well-being as it relates to your child’s learning at school. Next month, the focus will be on sleep and we will discuss tips on establishing a positive sleep routine and how much sleep children actually need to be in their “Optimal Learning Zone”. If you would like to discuss further or need help managing any of these areas in your own home, feel free to send me an email at sharonreichstein@gmail.com.
