Essentials of Quality Learning

Learning is a skill that can be developed. There’s at least 5 heavy hitters that you can control. Try one at a time and do it 2-4 weeks then add another goal. Each habit by itself can make a big difference

Take care of stressors as they come

Having your mind racing or ruminating makes it very hard to focus and learn anything. Ask your kid how the day went, ask for specifics on the good and bad. Instead of lecturing them on how they should live their life, ask them questions that help them see the situation more clearly and make sure they feel your confidence in them and your support. When they feel like they understand and can resolve the problems in their life the stress will be manageable.

Nutrition

Eating lots of simple carbs makes kids sleepy, moody, and jittery. Healthy proteins and fats provide long term energy and increase alertness. Veggies help the body deal with toxins and get the nutrients it needs to perform well. Regular intake of processed foods can throw their hormones off and lead to long term problems in addition to preventing effective learning. 

Sleep

Sleep is when the body moves what you learned that day and puts it into your long term memory. It is also when you process stressful experiences. Kids need at least 8 hours of sleep. Decreasing light in the 1-3 hours before sleep and going to sleep at a consistent time will improve sleep quality. Carbs make you more drowsy so having them later in the day can help you fall asleep. Avoid eating, especially big meals, 1-2 hours before bed.

Techniques

Do research on study techniques. Everyone learns and takes tests differently, and if you can help your kids figure themselves out they will not only learn faster and more effectively, but they’ll enjoy learning more. Get started in the links below.

Exercise

Kids need an hour of exercise per day. Exercise releases chemicals that stimulate the brain to develop (brain derived neurotropic growth factor). Whether you put your kid in sports, go on hikes as a family, or play at the park, regular exercise will have a huge positive impact on your child’s health. Exercise has also been shown to decrease depression.

Improve children’s quality of life by sharing this information with your friends!
 

Learn About Learning Styles Here

Learn about Study Techniques to Make Learning More Efficient
Don’t get caught up in the acronyms, some of these are systems for kids that do well with structure, others are principles. Any one is effective by itself and they all are skills that need to be refined individually, so pick one that you think looks fun and if it doesn't work after a month of trying then try a different technique. 
 

Learn About Test Taking Skills Here

Learn about exercise and depression here
 

Photo by Annie Spratt