As every year, this time too the transition between the big and long vacation and the return to the educational frameworks on September 1st is exciting but not easy.
The pressures are common and natural, and the way to deal with them is varied.
Along with the known solutions, there are also alternative solutions such as family practice and nutrition, which can help your children cope with the new beginnings.
One of the most discussed subjects in the homes of parents of children is the food that enters the body, and in particular the amount of sugar that the children consume per day.
When it comes to sitting for a long time in class and the information that has to be processed in the brain, emphasis should be given to the food we eat.
Shirley Weiss, ND naturopath and sports nutrition consultant, says that she recommends eating something within an hour of waking up to "activate the systems."
"This way, you don't arrive hungry for a meal at school and you also increase your concentration level even before you get to school. As for the first meal at the school, you should make a sandwich from wholemeal flour. In addition, you should fill the sandwich with a protein filling such as cheese, egg, tuna or hummus, since Sweet spreads like chocolate will cause a rapid increase in sugar and then a drop, followed by a drop in concentration. You can replace the chocolate spread with a peanut butter or natural almond spread, which is both more nutritious and sugar-free."
You should eat explosive sandwiches.
Children at school (illustration), photo: GettyImages
What sweet solution can be offered to children?
"Of course, fruit is the ideal solution, but not all children connect to fruit. You can provide them with sweets in other variations, such as date balls or banana muffins. You can also purchase natural energy snacks without preservatives, added sugar or food coloring."
What types of foods help maintain a high level of concentration and sharpness, and which foods are important to avoid while studying?
"The best are foods with a low glycemic index that do not raise the sugar level quickly, but those in which the entry of sugar into the blood is done slowly, and likewise the exit from the blood is gradual and not in the form of a fall. These foods are mainly proteins and healthy fats such as avocado, tahini, nuts and more. Carbohydrates are also very important, but the type of carbohydrate is very important, so you should always read the list of ingredients. You should save the chocolates and sugars for after school hours, and consume them in moderation as well."
growing together
Another way to ease the first days in the settings is to combine plants that benefit us, and this is a good time to get to know some medicinal plants that can help children deal with the stress, the load and other phenomena that the school year may bring with it.
The consulting and training team of Bara Hamel explains that "one of the plants that is useful for concentration is the Ginkgo biloba. It is a tree that originates in China and Japan, and some say that the shape of its leaves simulates the human brain. Studies in the last three decades have shown great potential of this plant in regards to concentration, The speed of response and attention to detail."
"You can use the Korean ginseng root if you need to memorize poems by poets, historical events, differential equations or chemical compounds," says Bara Ha'el.
"This is a plant with a long-standing reputation in traditional herbal medicine, with strengthening qualities that helps in situations that require sharp thinking, learning and memory, and will also be suitable for states of weakness and fatigue."
Sports activity can also help with concentration in studies.
Students at school (those photographed have no relation to the news), photo: Yehoshua Yosef
According to them, "triple sage, which has been known for years as a spice, has been named 'the plant of memory and learning' in various cultures, as it is considered to help improve mood, alertness and memory."
In addition, "we all know rosemary, but what is not known is that there are interesting results regarding its activity in the context of mathematical calculations. The Greeks and Romans in ancient times greatly cherished rosemary, which since time immemorial has been a symbol of scholarship and knowledge. Today, rosemary is also studied in modern scientific studies regarding its potential effect on the various cognitive functions".
Listen to your children
Returning to the educational framework can be a complex and difficult thing, and the very act of leaving it results in a change of habits in regards to a healthy lifestyle.
The holiday period is not a short period of time, so it is recommended to start and practice in advance and gradually the return to routine, and not wait for a sharp transition at the last minute.
This can be done by moving the body.
Omer Rosenberg, the owner of "Next Fitness", says that "every child reacts differently to physical activity. Some are drawn to intense activity while others prefer more relaxed activities, so it is important that the return to routine is also in a language that the child knows and connects with, from a morning run to practicing yoga or horse riding".
Listen to the children.
Students enter a school (archive, those photographed have no relation to the news), photo: Dodo Greenspan
The secret to this is to listen to the children and match them with the most suitable activity for them, while experimenting along the way.
"Some children will be attracted to intense activities, such as football, boxing or morning jogging," says Rosenberg, "they lead to increased sweating, an increase in heart rate and a 'hi' feeling due to the release of endorphins, which will help children start the day with a smile and focus."
According to Rosenberg, it is possible that activities such as yoga and pilates for teenagers are the ones that will lead to lowering pressures, improving concentration skills and increasing listening.
"Pay attention to what will make your children move, what will do them good, what they connect to and what will help them spend time sitting still during the time frame," he concluded.
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