4 Ways to Keep Kids
Healthy & Bright

Summer isn’t over yet, but the new school year will start before you know it. “Summer is an ideal time to teach your child how to make healthy, wise choices that will serve their minds and their bodies for a lifetime,” says Dr. William Sears, one of America’s most respected pediatricians. Here he offers four tips for keeping your child’s brain healthy and stimulated in summer (no more “I’m bored!”) and ready to succeed come fall:

1. Create a play list.
“ A Canadian study found that kids who moved their bodies regularly improved their academic performance in languages, math and sciences. Come up with an activity list that can involve the whole family: include everything from walks through the neighborhood and roller-skating to pillow fights and hula hoop contests. Then play “King of the Week”: rotate who will be the Play Leader [who] plans the activities for the week.”

2. Screen time equals move time.
“ If your child is addicted to computer games (or watching TV), challenge him to spend no more of his day on screen time than he does on moving time. Moving equals walking, climbing, playing, etc. Point out that if he wants to play a lot of Game Boy, he’ll have to add more moving time to his day as well. The brain is affected, for better or worse, by nutrition more than any other part of the body. You put junk food into a child’s brain and you get back junk learning and behavior. It’s as simple as that.”

3. Teach your child brainy nutrition.
• “Dozens of research studies have proven without a doubt that children eating a high protein breakfast perform better in school.
• Grazing is good for the brain because it helps to steady blood sugar levels. I call it the rules of twos: Eat twice as often, half as much and chew twice as long.
• Eat fish (or the next best thing). Kids who eat plenty of Omega-3 fats and protein are almost guaranteed to have better school performance. Since it is almost impossible to get kids to eat enough fish to meet this demand, a high quality supplement is essential. Dr. Sears recommends Go Fish Children’s Omega-3 DHA supplements, and Go Fish Brainy Kidz Children’s Omega-3 DHA Fruit-Based Soft Chews.
• Choose smart carbs. The brain prefers carbs that are naturally packaged with protein and fiber. Something as simple as whole-wheat toast with peanut butter is an excellent choice, or serve whole grain cereal and organic yogurt.”

4. Give your child responsibilities.
“Children need jobs, especially during the summer when their primary job, that of student, is on hiatus. Giving children household duties helps them feel more valuable, as well as channeling their energy into desirable behavior and teaching them skills. By age seven, a child can be cooking at least one meal a week from start to finish. Teach him how to fix his favorite meal and let him learn how to pick out the ingredients at the market.”

Dr. Sears, or Dr. Bill as his “little patients” call him, is the father of eight children, three of whom are doctors (two pediatricians and one general practitioner) as well as the author of over 30 books on childcare, including The Baby Book. His newest book is The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood. For more tips from Dr. Sears, visit www.askdrsears.com.