Tag: children

Helping Children
by Incredible Planet Staff

Six Ways Of Helping Children With Special Needs


Lifestyle

Do you wish to influence the lives of kids who have special needs? There are a variety of strategies to enhance their growth, health, and well-being.

From volunteering to educating yourself on the subject, there are many opportunities to help children with special needs. We’ll go through various methods in this article that you may contribute to changing these extraordinary kids’ lives.

1. Learn about their disability

It is essential to understand the disability of a child with special needs to provide the best possible care and support. The first step is to educate yourself on the specific disability the child is facing. Research online resources, connect with other families with similar experiences, and speak to doctors and professionals specializing in that particular disability.

Being informed will help you understand the child’s challenges so you can provide the most appropriate assistance.

Additionally, keep up-to-date with new treatments or therapies that could help them live more fulfilling lives. For example, Erb’s Palsy is a birth injury that can result from a difficult delivery. It is caused by damage to the brachial plexus, which controls arm and shoulder movement.

In the US, 17% of children aged 3-17 have developmental disabilities. Since Erb’s palsy affects 1 out of every 1,000 newborns, it is crucial to get support and help for the child and the family.

So, look for any available resources specific to the disability.

2. Be patient and persistent toward them

Being patient and persistent are critical when working with special needs kids because the road can be challenging and winding. Even though it can be difficult and frustrating, persistence and patience are essential for these kids to attain their full potential.

Being patient entails taking the time to comprehend each person’s requirements and acknowledging that every disability calls for a particular set of adjustments. You may make it simpler for kids with special needs by being aware of their condition and fostering an accepting and understanding atmosphere.

Helping kids with exceptional needs requires persistence, which is equally important. To ensure your child gets the best treatment possible, it needs follow-up with doctors, therapists, teachers, or other experts.

Ensure the necessary conditions are in place for the child’s success. Don’t give up when things are difficult; keep fighting for your child’s needs.

3. Encourage your kids to befriend disabled and non-disabled kids

You want to ensure that positive influences and experiences in life surround your child with special needs as a parent. Fostering friendships between children who are disabled and children who are not is one of the best things you can do for your special needs child.

Connecting with other children can help your child develop social skills, self-assurance, and a sense of acceptance and belonging. Your child may be able to explore interests, have fun, and partake in activities through friendships that they could not accomplish on their own.

If you are unaware of any other families with challenged children, contact regional disability advocacy groups for assistance in making connections. It can also be helpful to look into afterschool programs or summer camps for kids with disabilities so that your child can meet other children who may have similar challenges.

Encourage your child to discuss with strangers, sign up for clubs or sports teams, or participate in neighborhood events. Your child can develop lasting friendships and an extensive social network with the correct assistance.

4. Encourage independence and decision-making

One of the best ways to help children with special needs is to encourage their independence and decision-making. Giving them the freedom to make decisions might give them a sense of empowerment and control over their lives.

It can be easier for a child to accept more considerable responsibility when they feel encouraged and secure in their decision-making.

Start by allowing your kid to make simple choices, then progress. You can let them make food and clothing decisions if they are old enough. Encourage them to think through problems and come up with solutions on their own. Give them as much leeway to express themselves as you can.

Teaching your youngster how to make wise decisions is also crucial. You can instruct them to make smart decisions or discuss what to do in harmful situations. Teaching them problem-solving skills can also be beneficial, such as encouraging them to devise creative solutions to any issues they encounter.

One of the best presents you can give special needs children is to support their independence in the long run. You may assist children in creating abilities that will last a lifetime by being patient and encouraging.

5. Don’t pressure them

When helping a child with special needs, it’s important to remember not to put too much pressure on them. Children with special needs may need more time to understand new concepts or complete tasks. They may have limited abilities in certain areas and must work at their own pace.

Pressure can cause stress and anxiety and can lead to feelings of inadequacy. Instead of pressuring the child, try encouraging them and praising their efforts. Let them know you support them, no matter what they do. Reassure them that you will help them achieve their goals without expecting perfection.

Encourage them to take ownership of their accomplishments and celebrate small victories. For example, if the child is struggling to learn a new skill, like tying their shoelaces, it’s better to keep providing them support and advice rather than rushing them through it.

Take the time to explain the steps one at a time, and offer encouragement along the way. With patience and support, eventually, the child will be able to do it on their own!

6. Develop strength-based learning strategies

Strength-based learning strategies are essential to help children with special needs reach their full potential. These strategies emphasize the child’s unique abilities rather than focusing on what they can’t do. When creating a strength-based learning plan, it’s essential to consider the child’s needs and interests and their current capabilities.

One way to get started is to list strengths and weaknesses. It will give you an idea of what activities the child enjoys and where they need extra support. Once you have identified the child’s strengths and weaknesses, you can then focus on developing strategies that build on their strengths and provide them with extra support in areas of difficulty.

For example, if a child excels in math, you could provide them with additional practice problems or puzzles to work on. On the other hand, if the child is struggling with a particular subject, you could try introducing interactive lessons and activities that require more hands-on learning.

Conclusion

Knowing how to support a child with special needs as a parent, teacher, or family might be challenging. Thankfully, there are many methods to help these kids and make their lives simpler. There are numerous ways to improve their life. 

After reading this article, you must have learned new strategies to assist kids with special needs. These techniques will enable you to significantly improve the lives of children with special needs, from offering emotional support to fighting for access to the right resources.


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by Incredible Planet Staff

Children Love the New Improved Interactive Learning Process


People

A new expression has been thrown around a lot in the media that is the ‘New Normal’.  People are saying that the world in 2020 has changed rapidly and perpetually. Whatever we used to think as normal has changed overnight. A new set of rules has emerged. The education sector is no different and not excluded from these rules. Till now we have seen how the schooling system worked. Little children in kindergarten played with one another, they held hands freely, played on the sandbox; all that is about to change. Nowadays we can’t even imagine that children would play like that. We are all scared for the outbreak of the Coronavirus.  That is why the new normal in education is online schooling. There are various education portals which can teach you online. 

What these websites offer

The education websites offer exciting new lessons for children that are both fun and informative. They read the eBooks with great attention as the books are filled with delightful videos and games. There are reading and writing courses. One can read fiction and non-fiction books, interesting journals and do crossword puzzles too. The kids learn effortlessly because they discern that they are having fun while learning. Learning A-Z is one such website that offers multiple easy to comprehend courses for children. There are live webinars for children that they can attend. It is just like attending a class online. The students can voice out the questions that they have. All the webinars are hosted by skilled professional educators who have a better understanding of child-psychology, not to mention innate knowledge about the subject that they are instructing. 

Interesting books

Various education websites offer level based books. These books are divided based on the level of education and age. As one moves forward the level the comprehensive skills and vocabulary skills get improved. The books are written in such a captivating way that the children are bound to finish the exercises and would come for more. There are class textbooks available on these education websites as well. Those who are homeschooled can also take advantage of these outlets. The parents can access these websites to find out valuable ways they can tutor the children. There are ample amount of materials and books that one can use for one’s advantage. 

Different courses

These educational websites offer various courses. They also offer trail courses. There are different sectors devoted to various contents. You can access the whole range of subjects or you can take the assistance of a specific subject. Maybe your child is a bit weak in mathematics, so you purchase a course that will guide your child with math equations. You can be assured that skilled teachers will pay a great deal of attention to every kind of math needs. The same thing goes for different subjects as well. You can also let your kids learn foreign languages that might be helpful in future. Kids love to learn about different cultures and languages. Studies show that kids learn a foreign language faster than adults. 

It is wise to check the free courses first to know what you are getting into. If your kids find the study materials fascinating you can purchase products and services from the sites. Another important tip would be, you must check the site’s credibility before allowing your kids to learn from the same. There are various portals that are unauthorized or might be not up to the mark when it comes to children’s education. You should only trust reputed websites and web portals for your children. 

by Incredible Planet Staff

7 Kick-Ass Tips For Hassle-Free Moving With Babies


Lifestyle

Planning for a move? But thinking about moving boxes and crying baby at the same time is giving you chills. Here is the good news, if you plan before and take simple steps like giving your baby special attention will help you to make your move stress-free and tantrum-free.

Here we have compiled a list of some tips to consider when moving with a baby:

Stick to Routine:

Babies are least bothered about what’s going on in their surroundings as long as their routine is undisturbed and they are comfortable. Babies love their routine make sure you don’t let the packing and moving get in the way of their usual routine. Do your packing in bits, when it’s your baby’s early bedtime or nap time. It is also advisable to inform your preferred movers in Maryland about the situation so that they can operate within your desired framework.

Strategize Your Packing Process:

Pack non-essentials first- Avoid wasting your time for searching those toys and pacifiers because your baby’s non-essential belongings need to be neatly packed. Non-essentials include clothes, extra toys, blankets and all those things that you will not require immediately after moving.

Pack baby essentials to carry with you- After you are done with packing your baby’s non-essentials, make a list of items that you will need during the moving process or you will take with you and keep those essentials in one or two separate bags or boxes.

To make your packing even easier, we have mentioned a list of essential belongings to consider when packing:

  • Disposable diapers, extra bags for messy diapers and dirty clothes
  • Baby toiletries such as powder, cotton balls, wipes and lotions
  • Bottles, sippy cups and extra pacifiers
  • Breastfeeding pillow and breast pump
  • Baby food, fruit juice, formula, water and a can opener
  • Keep the first-aid kit with a baby pain reliever, thermometer, and a small hot water bottle.
  • Security blanket and favourite cuddle toy
  • Pack handy paper towels and pre-moistened towelettes
  • A Few favourite toys, collapsible stroller and carrier if you are travelling with a toddler.
  • Make sure you carry lots of snacks and extra bottles. Keep your child as distracted as possible with activities, a new toy, extra boxes to play or whatever works.

Seek Professional Help:

Hiring professional moving company can minimise your stress and workload, so you can give more time to your children. Whether you need a short-term or long-term storage solution, always look for a company that provides storage and moving pods as they are the most durable and secure storage containers and the smart way to store your belongings. If you are worried about moving with POD costs, you do not have to worry as various moving companies provide affordable PODs moving and storage facilities.

Consult the Pediatrician:
Before moving don’t forget to consult your pediatrician. If you are travelling long distance, ask for tips to keep your baby happy on a long car ride or a plane. In case you want to find a new pediatrician, carry a copy of all of your child’s medical reports to provide to your new pediatrician. Ask your existing pediatrician for suggestions on how to find a new pediatrician nearby your new home.

Noteworthy suggestions:

  • After moving to your new home make sure you unpack the child’s bedroom first. Giving your child a consistent and peaceful room helps them to relax into their new surroundings.
  • Install safety gates to block staircase
  • Use child-resistant locks on drawer containing knives, lighters, matches and cleaning products.
  • Install window guards
  • Keep small objects like balloons, magnets, balls and marble away from children.
  • Install carbon monoxide alarms and smoke detectors
  • Don’t forget to cover electrical outlets with outlet covers.
  • Make sure all prescription and medicine cabinets are protected with child-proof locks.

Follow these tips for a safe and happy moving experience. Good Luck!

by Incredible Planet Staff

5 things you can do to help develop your child’s environmental conscience


People

Ensuring you do everything you can to live an environmentally sustainable life is a wonderful thing. However, if you have kids, it’s also important to inspire them to have a sense of responsibility for the environment. After all, they themselves are going to have to look after this planet one day! There’s a tonne of information out there to educate the younger generation about carbon footprints, greenhouse gases and climate change. However, making sure your kids grow into environmentally conscious adults with eco-friendly habits is a whole other story. Getting them to adopt these new behaviours doesn’t have to be a strenuous task, in fact it can be quite a straight forward – dare I say – enjoyable experience.

Get their hands dirty

A sure-fire way to get your kids to respect and want to protect the environment is to get them outside! If you take them to the park, lake or beach as often as you can, a natural appreciation should grow from there. Gardening with your kids and growing food for the dinner table is also a great way to get them interested in both the environment and healthy eating, and it takes care of your child’s natural instinct to get their hands dirty!

Teach them daily water saving tricks

The things we do around the house every day to save water can be easily taught to your kids. Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or scrubbing your hands can become a general rule of thumb in your house for all family members, including the little ones. Putting a shower bucket and shower timer in the bathroom will add another level of water-efficiency, with these visual cues becoming a part of your child’s everyday life. Provide small incentives for saving water. Perhaps using the shower bucket to water the household plants or wash the dog could earn your child some extra TV time?

Let the outside in

A smart way to strengthen your child’s environmentally sustainable house-hold habits is to let outside influences support the behaviours. There’s amazing resources out there, like entertaining children’s books with eco-friendly messaging. You can find a great list of some of the best at Greener Ideal.  You can also further engage your kids with other resources and provide visual learning tools, like this activity sheet from hipages.

Make recycling a normal part of life

As your child reaches their later primary school years and you’re teaching them how to take out the rubbish, ensure that you’ve included recycling as an essential part of the chore. Teach your kids which items can be recycled and how, and make sure that they do it properly the first few times. From there, the behaviour should become a habit! In the same vein, make sure you avoid single-use plastics in the house. Replace all those little plastic bags for school lunches with Tupperware and take reusable bags with you when you go grocery shopping. If your child sees you making these efforts, it will instil a sense of commitment to being more environmentally sustainable.

Implement ‘powering down’ as part of the bedtime routine

Habits are best formed in conjunction with other habits. To link some eco-friendly behaviours with daily household actions, you can teach your kids to switch off all the lights and power points in the house before they go to bed. Make this ‘powering down’ tradition a staple nightly ritual in your home, and make sure everyone in the family is assigned one or two rooms as their sole responsibility to ‘switch off.’ You could make a fun game or competition out of it, with the first person back to the dining table after having switched off their rooms, getting an extra 10 minutes before lights out the next night!

by Incredible Planet Staff

How your Child Can Gain Confidence in a Cyber World


People

It is important to teach children the essence of self-confidence at a young age. Their awareness about the need to be confident will help them develop socially and mentally. Confident people find it easier to boldly make the decisions that will make them successful in their adult life. As parents, helping the children to accept themselves regardless of what the society thinks is a good way to inspire confidence. Parents should also avoid bullying the child or make comparisons that can hurt the child’s self-esteem.

In these times, children who have access to the internet encounter many situations that can hinder their confidence such as cyberbullying, and other unwanted solicitations.

Cyberbullying occurs on the internet. It involves the strong use of abusive language and derogatory sentences to offend and confuse other people. Over the years, cyberbullying has become a great concern in our societies; the following statistics have been discovered regarding this issue:

  • 25% of teenagers who are active online admit that they have experienced some form of cyberbullying.
  • Female internet users tend to be more actively involved in cyberbullying.
  • Parents hardly know their children are being bullied online because only 1 in 10 teenagers will inform their parents about their encounter with cyber bullies.

Cyberbullying is targeted at teenagers who are still trying to discover and understand their personalities.

Regarding online predators, they are a significant threat to young children who use the internet. Their targets include boys and girls. Due to the virtual nature of the internet, these predators can assume the identity of an innocent person to lure their victims. The statistics regarding online predators is as follows:

  • There are over 500,000 online predators actively using the internet daily;
  • 87% of these attacks are orchestrated in private chat rooms and via instant messaging platforms;
  • 56% of the children who have encountered predators online confirm that they were asked to send their pictures.

Sexting can be described as the use of explicit videos, pictures, and messages in a public or private online chat. The statistics regarding sexting are as follows:

  • 15% of teenagers admit that they have sent nude pictures of themselves to people they have never physically met.
  • 57% admit that they were encouraged to post sexually explicit pictures online.
  • 12% of girls are bullied into participating in sexting.

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iphone 410324 1920

Considering these cyber threats and the presence of online predators, it is important that parents know what their children are doing online. Parents can guide and protect their children from the imminent dangers of the online sphere by using parental control app to monitor their children’s browsing behavior. These apps give parents the following access:

  • monitor apps that offer instant messaging (Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat);
  • view browsing history;
  • access to messages in the inbox and outbox including deleted messages;
  • monitor incoming & outgoing calls made from their children’s mobile devices;
  • monitor the frequently used apps to identify potential threats which can be blocked;
  • track location through GPS and geo-fencing;

You can protect your children from cyber bullying and predators online by monitoring their online activities. Children who encounter these issues online content with depression and social isolation which can destroy their confidence. Parents should strive to help their children become confident in their abilities and features while protecting them from cyberbullying and online predators.

by Incredible Planet Staff

Crowdfunding for the safety of women and girls


People

India is one of the most unsafe countries for women that is not at war. We have a significantly skewed birth ratio due to female infanticide, dowry though outlawed is still a very common convention and child marriage and even witch burning is still practiced in the country. Not just that domestic abuse is rampant and rape is a tool of the state. Some groups of women are more prone to being raped, for example, Dalits, Adivaasis, Kashmiri Muslims, north eastern women, mentally disabled women etc.

Wait. Isn’t that a lot of women? Look, I am not claiming that other groups have it easier. Every ethnic group thinks that the honour of that group is embedded in the vagina of the women of that group. This leads to a lot of abuse. I know you will say why can’t women just be independent? But that is kind of difficult when you are being killed off in your mom’s womb.

No place is safe for a woman in India. Not even their mother’s womb. There, too, patriarchy will slither its way in and ruin the future of the girl child. It is kind of the only thing patriarchy does well – ruining lives. Anyway, my point being, given the situation of women in India and women everywhere in the world it is very important to equip people with the necessary tools to root out violence from their society. How do we begin this? Where do we start talking? How do we tell the uninitiated about patriarchy and how it harms everyone? We need to organize programmes in order to talk to the people. To organize these, we need money. Here is where crowdfunding India comes in. You can tell me that women can simply be armed or be equipped to fight. My objection is that it is not a long term solution and that it does not change mindsets. If women in India are to have a moment’s peace devoid of violence, then change in mentality must come first.

How do we change this mentality? We go for awareness workshops. To organize these takes time, energy and money. Crowdfunding India can help with that. NGO crowdfunding and medical crowdfunding are fairly common. If you are an NGO who wishes to hold awareness programmes you can crowdfund your venture. Impact Guru, a Harvard incubated online crowdfunding platform, will be more than glad to provide you with the necessary space. All you have to do is set up a fundraiser with us in our website. It is a very hassle free process where everything is done online. Much of the campaigning is done online by means of social media and email. Once your goal is met, the website releases your fund promptly. Crowdfunding India is a very low-risk, zero investment way to get started on your grand plans for this society. You should not miss out on making this society a better place simply out of financial aid. Remember all women and girls deserve to be safe.

by Incredible Planet Staff

How To Find The Best Resorts For Family Holidays


Places

Family holidays are the best way to spend quality time with your family. They make a great way to find respite from the humdrum of daily life and simply make memories with your loved ones. But one challenge you may encounter while planning such a holiday is to find family-friendly resorts. It is much easier to find romantic getaways but when it comes to family resorts, things are a little different. There are several things that you have to look for to make the stay comfortable and enjoyable for the entire family. Here are some tips to help you find the best resorts for family holidays:

Choose a location that works for everyone: The choice of your location depends on the family size and demographics. Those traveling with young children need to look for kid friendly resorts. There should be plenty of fun activities and games for young children. The older ones would love to vacation in a resort with disco and poolside parties. On the other hand, if you have senior citizens on board, ensure that the property has all the right amenities for them.

Look for one that offers a wide choice in cuisine: Since your family members may have different culinary interests, it is always better to opt for a location that offers diversity. Find a resort with a multi-cuisine restaurant or one that has different restaurants offering different cuisines. This will ensure that the entire family indulges in their favorite food choices.

Be flexible: When you travel with family, being flexible is the key to having a worthwhile holiday. Each member will have different interests and tastes and you need to take care of them all. Going to an all-inclusive resort is a smart idea as you will have variant options all at one destination. Flexibility also means that you should give each member freedom to explore their interests rather than being stuck together throughout the trip.

Don’t confine yourself: The secret of having an enjoyable family holiday is to just let go and explore. Even if you have taken a posh accommodation, do not confine your family trip to your hotel room or resort property. Have your meals packed in a picnic basket and embark on local adventure every single day of the holiday. Explore local cuisine and culture, meet the locals and relish the local sightseeing. Not only will this give wings to your adventurous spirit, but also bring your family closer together. Even getting lost in a new city can be a big adventure if you are with your family.

Family holidays are a must to break the monotony of life and increase the family bonding. It is an opportunity to make up for the time that you lose because of being engrossed in everyday responsibilities. However, you must make your best efforts to ensure that the trip yields memories that you can cherish for a lifetime. Wherever you go with the family, just be together and whatever you do, just do it together.

by Incredible Planet Staff

An Early Start: 5 Simple Ways to Build Lifelong Healthy Eating Habits


Lifestyle

According to a study on NCBI, introducing a variety of tastes and food textures to kids at the right time plays a crucial role in helping parents have an easier time encouraging them to try new foods.

Once your baby is ready for solid foods, you can start helping him develop healthy eating habits that he can continue to practice as he grows older. You will also enable your child to increase his nutritional intake – something that is important for his healthy growth and development.

Help Your Child Develop Healthy Eating Habits

Even at an early age, kids can learn to have good eating habits which they can carry well into adulthood. Use the below tips from leading nutrition advisors to help your child develop these.

1.     Being a role model

Babies begin watching their parents’ faces and mimicking some of their gestures when they turn one month old. As such, your child will start imitating a lot of your actions while they are still very young.

 When you show your child how much you love eating a variety of healthy foods, he will learn to follow your lead. Make sure you also have frequent talks with your child on the benefits they can gain when they eat healthy foods, especially during mealtimes. These strategies are highly effective in getting your little one to start trying a variety of foods, like fruits and veggies.

2.     Making dinner and other mealtimes a time for family

Kids who eat meals with their families at home, or even out, usually have better quality diets and a higher intake of fruits and vegetables. When you serve a new dish, make sure everyone at the table gets a healthy portion and make a show of how they like it. Your child will find it hard not to follow the everyone’s example.

Also, allow your little one to make choices and decide how much he wants to eat since this will empower and give him confidence. By allowing your child to serve himself and seeing everyone enjoying the meal, he will know the importance of family meals and that trying new dishes is not something to be scared of – something that will help them avoid picking up the unhealthy habit of picky eating.

3.     Giving your child a variety of options

If your little one is already eating solid foods, do not limit his diet to only soft, mashed food.  With the pediatrician’s approval, nutrition advisors say you can also start offering your child foods with different textures – chunky, crunchy, and chewy ones.

Provide a variety of healthy food choices for your child and let him take the lead in what and how much he chooses to eat. However, make sure you don’t leave your child unattended when he is trying new foods and textures.

Regardless of your child’s age, keep in mind that you may have to place a particular food in front of your child multiple times before he develops a taste for it. The important thing is that you be consistent in offering this food and don’t force your child to try the dish.

If your little one tastes even just two or three spoonfuls, show your appreciation and praise him for trying the dish.

4.     Making healthy foods fun and interesting

When you are introducing a type of fruit or vegetable for the first time to your child, be creative. Use cookie cutters to create fun shapes out of fresh veggies or fruits. You can also make a fresh fruit bar and give your little one a child-friendly skewer so that he can make his own fruit kabobs. Serve a variety of dips as well so that he can experiment with different tastes.

By following this tip, you will help your child be more open to tasting new and healthy foods. He will even learn to love them as long as you are consistent in serving foods in interesting and yummy ways.

5.     Serving familiar foods in new ways

Lastly, let your child know that the same foods can be cooked and served different ways and they will still taste good. For instance, show your child the various ways you can cook an egg: sunny side up, scrambled, poached, soft or hard-boiled, etc.

If possible, allow your child to help you or, at the very least, watch you while you are cooking so that he gets to know about these different prep and cooking techniques. By mixing things up, you help your child develop a wider range of tastes and more adaptability to new foods and situations.

Good eating habits start from childhood. When you help your child learn healthy eating habits at an early age, he will have a higher chance of continuing those habits as he gets older and begins to make more eating decisions on his own.

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by Incredible Planet Staff

10 Benefits of Proper Nutrition for Growing Children


People

Proper nutrition is vital and, as parents, we care deeply about providing our children with the best possible start in life. We all want them to grow strong, be happy, and be in good physical and mental health.

A varied, balanced diet that includes starchy carbohydrates, lean proteins, a variety of plentiful fruit and vegetables, and some dairy should provide your child with everything they need. With a diet sufficient in the right food groups for children, they will receive abundant quantities of the many vitamins and minerals needed, as well as sufficient fuel for their everyday lives.

Here are 10 benefits of proper nutrition for your growing child:

1.     Healthy growth

We all want our children to reach their physical potential, and providing proper nutrition is essential in order for them to grow and develop physically. Adequate carbohydrates, proteins and limited fats fuel growth, and calcium is required for healthy bone development.

2.     Healthy brain development

Nutrition doesn’t just impact physical development, but it also has a direct impact on the developing brain. Children need adequate levels of many vitamins and minerals, including fatty acid DHA, iron and iodine, for proper brain development. This can be achieved by providing a healthy diet.

3.     Better physical health

Children who eat well and receive adequate vitamins are better equipped to fight off common illnesses like coughs and colds. However, the health benefits from a good childhood diet may reach into their adult lives, too: serious health problems and diseases such as diabetes and some cancers have been linked to poor nutrition in childhood.

4.     Better oral health

A healthy diet low in sugars is beneficial for oral health, too, and children who eat such a diet are far less likely to deal with cavities and other dental problems.

5.     Better concentration

Children who have had a nutritious breakfast and are provided a healthy lunch do not need to worry about the distractions of hunger pangs or the blood sugar highs and lows caused by unhealthy foods. This enables them to give their best to their school work.

6.     Better moods

Similarly, fluctuating blood sugar levels and poor nutrition can cause mood levels to dip, particularly in young children, leading to tantrums and bad mood episodes. Regular, healthy snacks and three main meals per day ensure that hunger doesn’t contribute to poor behavior.

7.     More energy

Those who consume the correct amount of calories from healthy sources will have abundant energy, not just for school, but also to take part in hobbies, interests and sports. This, in turn, has a huge benefit for their physical and mental health.

8.     A healthy weight

Children who eat a varied, balanced diet and are not given excessive unhealthy treat foods are unlikely to develop weight problems, either from being under or overweight, and will likely be within an appropriate height and weight percentile for their age group. Aside from the benefits to their health, this means they are more likely to enjoy participating in everyday life.

9.     Lifelong good habits

A benefit of introducing children to the ideas behind good nutrition from an early age is that it becomes ingrained and sets them up for life, long after they have left the family home. Even very young children can learn that a healthy balanced meal should include some protein and carbohydrate, and plenty of vegetables. When they need to look after themselves, they should find this easy to replicate.

10. Healthy eating for the whole family

With busy adult lives, it is easy to fall into the trap of convenience food and unhealthy snacks. However, when you understand the need for children to eat nutritious food and you provide healthy family meals for them every day, you also improve your own diet at the same time.