These three key daily living activities are vital to a balanced lifestyle and optimal performance (for children and for adults).
Good nutrition is a regular topic in the media, and an emotive area for parents – if they have a ‘picky’ eater or a child who ‘over-eats’. An excellent resource that was shared with me recently is “The well nourished lunchbox” by Georgia Harding – with inviting looking photos of whole-food recipes!
Moving is also essential – and I’m reading more about the body-brain connection and how being tuned into your body is a key to cognitive engagement with and understand of your world. Anat Baniel’s book “Kids beyond limits” is a fascinating look at what can be achieved (more about this next month)
Movement is also an important component in disciplining your child – easing the confrontation. Dan Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson’s books “The Whole Brain Child” and “No Drama Discipline” contanin strategies such as “Instead of command and demand…Move it or lose it”
Sleep – a good sleep is the key to best performance in all areas – a study by Professor K Anders Ericcson in 1993 found that and average 8 hours 36 minutes was the amount of sleep needed for adults – much more is needed for children to perform well
The Australian Sleep Helth Foundation is a great website to find resources to support sleep health:
www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au
Once these key three areas are in balance, then valued skills can be established and consolidated with sufficent focussed deliberate practice. OT can help with this!