Help Your Kids Thrive at School

Help Your Kids Thrive at School The new school year brings opportunities for fun, learning, and personal growth—along with stress, infections, poor nutrition and a sedentary life from sitting at a desk! Please share my top tips to help your children thrive physically and emotionally with your entire family--they will thank you.  What you can do at home  ► Make each day function smoothly. Establish—and stick to—mealtimes, homework schedules, play or sports time, screentime, and bedtime.  ► Quality sleep helps kids focus and learn effectively. Move their summer head-to-bed and wake-up times by about 15 minutes every few days over one or two weeks until you reach the schedule that lets them get up refreshed and early enough to have un-rushed morning on their way out the door.  ► Provide a healthy breakfast that offers protein and healthy carbs and is free of sugary baked goods or beverages.  ► If you prepare a lunch, make sure it fuels sustained energy by supplying lean protein, such as sliced turkey, whole grains (100% whole grain bread), fresh fruit, and water. For more ideas, explore [A Healthy Back to School: Easy-to-Craft Lunch Recipes]( from iHerb.com, and get more tips from the USDA’s “[My Plate](   Add snacks that include sliced veggies (carrots, celery) and healthy crackers. For other great ideas, check out [Healthy Snack Ideas for School](.  For kids who need a boost to their nutrition, [specific supplements]( may be useful. To check on the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and Adequate Intake (AI) for kids ages 1 to 18 for vitamins A, C, E, K, and all the Bs, as well as important minerals, check out the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion’s chart, [here]( And explore, [5 Best Children’s Supplements: A Pediatrician’s Guide to Optimal Health + Development]( and [The 8 Best Kid’s Supplements for Overall Health](.  ►Get your kids an annual physical check-up. Go over vaccinations that are required. Also, having a vision and hearing test when they start school and then as often as your doctor recommends can help them learn and interact with others comfortably. What you can do at school  Many schools lack good outdoor play areas and cafeteria food can be loaded with unhealthy fats, salt and even sugar.  ► If you don’t prepare your child’s lunch, you can help your child learn to select the healthiest food options in the cafeteria. Checkout the info at [Tips to Get Kids to Eat Their Vegetables](  ► You should provide the opportunity for an hour of physical activity after school—maybe with school-related groups that exist or that you help organize.  Psst! Got teenagers?  The nation’s leading teen health organization, [HealthCorps]( provides great resources that support teen health in and outside of the classroom. Their free [Teen Zine]( connects your teen(s) with inspiring peers, provides access to nutrition tips and stress relievers, and helps them learn the importance of community engagement. In addition, you can work with your teen(s) to reduce time spent on social media and set boundaries for late-night digital activities. [Pixelhealth.io]( provides evidence-based resources and therapy to help your family and school use technology in ways that protect your kids’ mental health.  These tactics will give you straight As!    This newsletter is not a substitute for your physician’s advice and the claims have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Know someone who might be interested in this newsletter? Please share it with them! First time reading? [Sign up here.]( [   Copyright © 2024 ZoCo Productions LLC, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you signed up for a ZoCo Productions newsletter. Our mailing address is: ZoCo Productions LLC [555 W 57th St.]( [New York, NY 10019]( [Add us to your address book]( [Click here to unsubscribe](