We all want our kids to have happy, healthy days all year long. However, that wish goes double once the school year starts! If your little ones are going to get a quality education that serves them well, they need to be healthy, focused, and alert. But is a healthy diet and a good’s night sleep enough to keep your child well until summer comes along?

Keeping your kids healthy during the school year involves much more than feeding them healthy meals and imposing an early bedtime. After all, they go through a lot during the year — mental exercise, germs from other kids, not to mention the physical stress from their backpacks! As parents, we need to feed them the right healthy foods to help them thrive. These foods can include:

Bacopa

According to LiveStrong, the Indian herb bacopa helps enhance neurotransmitters that are integral to paying attention. This herb reportedly affects several neurotransmitters in the brain, including acetylcholine, serotonin and gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA). These neurotransmitters can help keep your child calm, focused, and happy in an all-natural way. In fact, there are some recent studies which suggest that bacopa could be an effective natural remedy for ADHD.

However, it is important to note that the science on less common herbs like bacopa is not conclusive. While it could be an effective way to help your child focus during the school year, it may not work for every child. Make sure you continue using methods that work (omega-3-rich diets, plenty of sleep, etc.), and don’t be afraid to try other safe herbal remedies, too.

 Cod Liver Oil

 If you take supplements yourself, you know how much they can change how you feel from day to day (mentally and physically). Many of the effects you notice in your own supplements can be effective for children too. Fermented cod liver oil liquid (FLCO), for example, can work wonders with a child’s ability to focus. Taking FCLO as a daily supplement could be incredibly useful in any child whose mind tends to wander.

Make sure you talk with your child’s doctor before you give him or her any sort of supplement, so that you administer the proper dose for the child’s growing body. And of course, monitor your child and stop using the supplement if you notice any adverse effects.

Omega-3s

Studies show that kids who get plenty of omega-3s in their formative years have a better time concentrating in school and an easier time remembering information. A wealth of omega-3s in our youth can even help improve memory and neural pathways as we age, which makes it one supplement you can never have too much of. Give your child a brain boost with this fatty acid!

A high-protein diet with lots of fatty fish will give your child all the omega-3s he or she needs to boost that brainpower. We recommend Rosita Extra Virgin Cod Liver Oil for kids to give them a good boost of Omega 3’s every day. However, if you have a particularly picky eater, there are many other foods that serve a healthy dose of omega-3s. If your kids won’t take cod liver oil because of the taste, then Walkabout Emu Oil is a better choice as it is mild in flavor and can be hidden in other food like smoothies or yogurt very easily. Additionally, tofu, spinach, even chia seeds are a great way to give your kids the essential nutrients for truly excellent concentration in the classroom.

Keeping Active

There’s a reason that most people utter the words “health and fitness” in the same breath. An active body is integral to a healthy, thriving mind. While most schools do their part by mandating physical education, it is also important that parents encourage their kids to keep those fitness levels up every day – be it through organized sports, family walks, or simply running around in the yard.

There’s even significant research on the effect exercise can have your child’s ability to focus. The brain’s dorsolateral prefrontal cortex helps eliminate distractions after 30 minutes of exercise, which can help a child succeed in memory and concentration. Regular exercise will help your little one improve test scores, retain information, and even finish his or her homework faster. Best of all, playing outside is the most natural thing in the world for a child to do!

Of course, not all these methods will work like magic. Your child may need to use these supplements for a while before you see results. However, you can be sure that none of these natural methods will be damaging, and in time your child will reap some incredible benefits from regular supplements, a healthy diet, and daily exercise.

While you’re picking up school supplies, and packing those lunches, remember to incorporate some of these natural supplements and methods. Not only will you watch your child’s grades improve, you’ll watch as he or she becomes a healthier child all around – and at the end of the day that’s what we all really want, isn’t it?

 

Author Bio – Alex G Forrester is a content marketing and SEO professional who enjoys the challenge of driving sales through blogging while creating awesome and useful content. In the beginning of 2016, Alex quit his day job and ditched his plan to head to law school all so that he could start his blog and launch his freelance career.  When Alex is not at work for clients or coaching business owners and solopreneurs on how to start a website and earn money online, he can be found on the beach with his black lab, Louie. Say “hi” to Alex on Twitter!