You must have already read many tips and tricks to help children with studying. I have also shared few of my secrets here. Do check it out.
Children often complain of drowsiness, tiredness and boredom while studying.
Is your child falling asleep while studying? Or is your child not alert enough?
Is your child just lazy? Might be not.
If your child is falling asleep while studying, you need to address this as soon as possible. Or else their brain will start associating studying with sleep and they will have hard time when they grow up. This is called brain conditioning or habit forming.
Your child may be facing all these because of
- Dehydration
- Exam stress
- Sitting in same place for long time
- Heavy food
- Constant small distance staring
- Medical conditions
- Lack of sleep
- Lack of interest
Lack of interest
I have listed ‘Lack of interest’ in the end on purpose. Most children desire to score high in the subjects even if they don’t like the subject. So they try to study their ‘best’.
But their ‘best’ might not be enough. Work with your child to make reading an enjoyable activity. If your child has trouble with memory, use memory techniques I mentioned in my previous blog post.
Dehydration and Heavy Food
You may be surprised, ‘dehydration’ is one of the important reasons for drowsiness. Next time when you feel drowsy in the office, drink a cup of water and check yourself.
Children busy in studying don’t notice that they are dehydrated. They might feel lazy to get up and fetch the water.
Watch for signs like dried lips and skin.
Keep a water bottle nearby. Give juicy fruits like watermelon and apple. Green vegetable soup will hydrate, keep children alert and is easy on stomach. Check this yummy soup recipe from www.ruchiruchiaduge.com.
Avoid greasy, fried foods. For extra boost, add healthy fats like virgin coconut oil to the food.
Sitting in same place for long time
Make sure your child moves at least once in an hour (preferably once in 30 min).
All body movements which involves moving opposite body parts(ex: right hand touching left knee) balance left and right brain and keep children alert.
Try aerobic exercises and yoga poses (ex: kati chakrasana).
Also discourage children from reading on bed. Let them have a study corner.
Constant small distance staring
This can happen if your child is studying for very long hours. Let your child move around and see distant objects. It would be great if your child can see plants and trees (green colour reduces stress). Or else just talk to the child so that child can look up and readjust the eyes.
Medical Conditions
If your child is feeling lethargic all the time, this might be hormonal or nutrition deficiency issue. Do consult a doctor.
Often many medicines cause drowsiness especially cold and cough syrups. Check with your doctor before giving any medicine.
Lack of sleep
Children need more sleep time than adults. Now a days children go to bed at the same time as parents(often very late) and they have to get up early for the school. This puts them on constant sleep deprivation.
To avoid children pulling late night study hours, prepare a study plan. Make notes and recordings for quick revision.
Eating easily digestible food compensates for one or two hours of reduced sleep. So make house free of all the junk food.
Here is the trick
Try this brain balancing exercise anytime your child feels drowsy. Just 15 rounds of this, will make your child alert and it takes hardly few seconds.
1.Make fist with both palms and hold them facing yourself.
2.Now point your left hand thumb and right hand little finger. No other finger should open.
3. Immediately alternate i.e point left hand little finger and right hand thumb.
4. Do it 15 to 20 times.
It works with children of all ages. To make it more fun, compete with your child. You will become alert too.
It improves memory, concentration and creativity.
Works well with children with ADHD, dyslexia and learning difficulties.
and it is super FUN!!!
All the best to you and your child.
Do let me know how well your child studied.
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