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Happy Brain, Happy Body For KIDS!
Learning early how to support a healthy mind and body is one of the greatest things you can do for your child’s health and happiness. The mind-body connection is something that is often over looked, yet they go hand in hand and are one of the most important factors in a child’s overall well being.
The benefits of being physically active go far beyond just the physical body. Movement and exercise not only improve your child’s physical health, they also improve their focus, school performance, sleep and energy levels, brain function and mood! It fundamentally changes the brain, both in the moment and over time.
In the same way that the body affects the mind, the mind is capable of immense effects on the body. There’s a clear connection between the way your brain thinks and the way your body feels.
To help your child develop and strengthen a healthy mind-body connection, here are 6 practices for a happy brain, happy body- for KIDS!
Incorporate movement into learning , like we do in the Montessori classroom! Maria Montessori observed that movement enhances learning. Movement helps release endorphins, which lower any stress children might be feeling. This helps to support learning, cognitive, social and emotional growth.
Make sure your child is getting enough sleep . Children who are sleep deficient may have problems getting along with others. They may feel angry and impulsive, have mood swings, feel sad or depressed, or lack motivation. They also may have problems paying attention and feel stressed. Quality sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life, and helps your brain work properly. While you’re sleeping, your brain is preparing for the next day. It’s forming new pathways to help you learn and remember information. Getting enough quality sleep can help protect both your mental health and physical health.
Quiet the mind through meditation and relaxation exercises. Children of all ages can benefit from meditation; it promotes happiness, minimizes anxiety, relieves stress, and calms the body and mind. Being ‘still’ can be hard sometimes, so if your kiddos are squirmy at first just keep practicing in short bursts until they become more used to it. Tip: When the meditation is over, do something fun with them! Give the child your full attention, have a quick conversation about about what they did, read a story, have a cuddle – whatever works for them, so they associate it with special, fun time.
Learn positive ways to help your child deal with stress. Try taking a walk, listening to music, doing a puzzle, crafting, or finding something funny to make you laugh. A quick calming strategy is deep breathing. The key to a good deep breath is to have their belly move, not their chest. Have them put one hand on their belly and one hand on their chest. When they breathe in, their stomach should be moving out. And when they breathe out, their stomach should move in. This is a great stress-reducing technique for children.
Mindful Smelling. Take a bunch of delicious smelling things from around home – candles, fresh herbs, flowers, fruit, vanilla, cinnamon, grass – anything – and invite them to breathe in the smell and to feel what happens in their body as they do that. Smells have a big effect on the mind and body and can impact on almost everything, from dreams and emotions to concentration and memory.
Practice Yoga. Children gain enormous benefits from yoga in many ways. Physically, it enhances their flexibility, coordination, strength, and body awareness. Mentally, their concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation improves. Kids who practice yoga connect more deeply with the inner self and in return that brings the marvelous inner light that all children have to the surface.
And remember, If your child is feeling down, simple activities like going for a walk in nature, petting a dog or cat or hugging a loved one can help those neurotransmitters do their job and raise your mood.
Here’s to happy kids- mind, body and soul!
Our staff believe that summer preschool in Eden Prairie is not just about fun and learning, but about how children explore and develop new skills. Our summer program supports the Montessori method of learning, meaning your preschooler will enjoy structured, multi-sensory materials for exploratory learning and development.
Contact Us Today to Schedule a Tour and Learn More About Our Summer Child Care Program in Eden Prairie
For over 20 years, our attentive staff has been creating fun, student-centered summer daycare learning experiences for Eden Prairie.
To learn more about our summer program, book a tour by contacting a member of our staff at 952-944-8466. We look forward to showing you a better type of summer camp.
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