Back to School!!!!

Back to School

With August here, we had better get ready to go back to school! I know how hard it is to get back into the habit of studying, been there done that. Over the past few weeks, our children have been busy playing football, hide and seek, and maybe even Red Rover. Now they have to focus on math and science. For some kids this comes relatively easy, and other kids suffer from writer’s block and math frustration.

Summer ending is a sad time for a lot of people, especially active children. Some kids travel all over the country playing sports, while others just play outside in the yard. It is important that we keep our kids physically active during the school year. Your brain is a thinking organ that learns and grows by interacting with the world through perception and action. Mental stimulation improves brain function and actually protects against cognitive decline, as does physical exercise.

When you come home from school and go straight to homework, it might take 3 hours to get finished. If you are thinking about going outside, that distraction might actually slow down your study time. It might be worth trying an hour of outdoor activity to warm up your brain’s alertness. And then get back to the books! But remember: physical activity is not a substitute for mental stimulus in the learning process.

It is also important to eat healthy to promote maximum knowledge retention. Avoid sugary snacks and try to eat fresh fruits and vegetables instead. Processed foods may have flashy advertising, but that is because they are hiding behind it. They don’t want you to compare their nutrition with that of natural whole foods. A box of cereal may look great on the outside, but when you look at nutrition label it doesn’t look so good on the inside.

Last but not least, make sure to get 6-8 hours of sleep nightly! It is very important to start each day full of energy and not fall asleep in the classroom. You will never achieve your full potential if you are tired. Most of you have heard this information before, but now we need to apply it. Our students are falling behind, as a parent, you are also responsible. Let’s give our kids the best chance to excel.

Derek Stratton DC