Hi there. In this education post, I talk about nutrition, sleep and learning.
This post is based on me seeing a student in the past who was not able to learn as he is always tired and sleepy.
Sleep is very important for kids, teenagers and adult learners. Not getting enough sleep affects energy levels and attention spans.
A routine is helpful to develop discipline and maintain consistency. If a child has school at 8:30 AM, waking up at 7:00 AM could be really good. One hour from 7 AM to 8AM to wake up, maybe exercise/stretch, have breakfast, brush teeth, get ready and go to school.
According the MedcineNet, kids at 7 years old require 10.5 hours of nighttime sleep. The hours decrease as the child gets older until age 18. Those aged 14 to 18 years require 8 to 9 hours of sleep.
Given the require sleep hours, bedtimes will be important. If a child requires 10 hours of sleep then bedtime at 9PM is needed. This would be from 9PM bedtime to 7AM wake-up time.
High school students (gr9 to gr12 aged 14 to 18) can have later bedtime to meet their 8 to 9 hours of recommended sleep. Bedtimes for high school could be at 10PM or 11PM if they have to wake up at 7AM. Later bedtimes help older students if they have a lot of homework, sports and/or hobbies that take up time.
The phrase "You are what you eat" does hold true in a lot of ways. There is a reason why parents want kids to eat their vegetables. It is good for you, helps kids grow and it helps their brains.
Good foods that help kids focus include:
Have kids avoid junk food and processed foods. In my experiences, if I have junk food I do get reduced focus. Those who do not eat healthy may have nutrient deficiencies which affects attention spans.
Being in a good learner is not limited to studying techniques. Trying to be in good physical and mental condition is important in digesting information and for retaining information and cognitive ability.
Thank you for reading.
