We all know that exam time can be stressful for both parents and students, but there are ways to help make it easier. Kellogg’s Breakfasts for Better Days dietitian Cheryl Meyer shares her tips on simple lifestyles changes that can give your child the edge they need to achieve their best.
The best way to think smarter is to eat smarter, says Meyer. Making the time for healthy pre-exam foods can give your child the added edge they need for successful results. By making sure your child has a healthy breakfast, stays hydrated and gets enough sleep you can help boost their concentration levels and alertness, which they’ll need in order to focus.
‘Breakfast is associated with improved memory and helps children to retain what they learn in the classroom. It is key to maximising exam performance,’ says Meyer.
Here are Meyer’s top tips:
Make sure your child makes time for breakfast
By skipping breakfast your child will not only become lethargic and irritable but will also miss out on the essential vitamins they need now more than ever. These vital vitamins include B vitamins, the ‘antistress’ vitamins that play an important role in keeping your child’s mind calm and helping them to think clearly. Nutrients from a healthy breakfast will improve their concentration, which may also translate into better understanding of exam questions and overall results.
Make wise food choices
A quick cold drink and sweets just won’t cut it for breakfast. Over and above ensuring your child has time for food, the nature of their choices should be equally considered. A breakfast that contains high-fibre carbohydrates and protein, like cereal and milk, will ensure they have sustained energy for their day.
Help them stay hydrated
Although your child may be a big fizzy-drink fan, sugary drinks can give huge sugar crashes midway through exams or revision. Try to ensure they avoid a sugary-drink binge and be wary of caffeine, as this can increase their nervousness. Water is still the best choice for hydration, so make sure they pack a water bottle.
They should snack where possible
Fruits and vegetables rank high among the best foods for your child’s brain. Aim to feed them fresh produce in a range of colours every day to give them the different nutrients they need for good health. Snacking this way will ensure they receive the natural sugars and fibre their bodies need for sustained energy – as opposed to them eating sweets and experiencing the sugar crash that follows.
Make sure they sleep well
While it’s easy for them to get into the habit of late-night revision cramming, getting enough sleep is vital for your child during this stressful time. On the night before an exam, they should stop studying early in the evening and prepare their clothes and bag for the morning. To function best on exam day, it’s important that they not only choose healthy food and drink options, but also that they minimise stress on the day by being prepared the night before.
With a balanced breakfast filled with the correct nutrients, plenty of water and a restful sleep, children can fuel both their bodies and their minds, giving them the energy and the concentration they need to achieve the best they can during the upcoming exam period.
Photo: iStock/rez-art
ALSO READ:
Could you pass the entrance exam for Oxford University?
5 fun ways to stimulate your preschool child’s development
Your teen wants you to stop doing these 7 things on social media
The post Help your child succeed this exam season appeared first on Good Housekeeping.
from Good Housekeeping http://ift.tt/2yl3DcZ
via IFTTT
