Hi everyone,

Well that’s the August bank holiday done, so that must mean our kids are heading back to school (cheers ring out from parents across SW London)! Apologies in advance to all the non-parents out there, but today’s email is all about getting the kids healthy in preparation for a successful school year.

To begin, it’s worth watching this short video by the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (RSA) on education to set the scene about the why of education in the first place. It argues education, organisations and communities need to be built on a model of diversity rather than conformity, so that every individual is able to discover and develop their unique talents and abilities.

Sleep

I’m sure we’ve all let the bedtime hour slip over the holiday period, but it’s time to wind back the clock and attempt an earlier to bed, earlier to rise routine. We’re going to talk about devices later, but first read this article about screen time before bed.

Mindfulness

Did you know that the Calm app is available free to all teachers? It’s an interesting initiative by Calm to help all our kids embrace mindfulness, which can enable them to develop a lifelong capacity for greater self-awareness, concentration, patience and resilience.

For parents, Calm also has a great kids’ section that might help your kids get to sleep easier, too.

Anxiety in kids

I also came across this useful summary about how to spot anxiety in kids, along with some tips to help manage any challenges.

Nutrition

It’s so easy when fuelling our kids to want to just get the calories in, given they burn them up sooo quickly. Here’s an insight into ways to keep our kids’ diets balanced and how we can help promote healthy habits.

Backpacks

Maybe it’s time to think about a new bag for school, but before you upgrade, read this article I wrote about what to look out for to support a growing spine.

Posture and devices

There is no doubt the posture of our children is on the decline. In fact did you see these articles by the BBC and New York Times about how modern life is changing our skeleton (with a focus on text neck)? Let’s try and control our kids’ screen time – I find the easiest way is to use the in-built timers that prevent access after a certain time.

There are also some easy exercises you can do with your kids to help them (and you!) strengthen their backs and necks. And it’s always a great idea to bring the whole family in for tune-ups before school starts to ensure they’re in the best alignment possible to cope with sedentary posture, heavy backpacks, device usage and general school stress.

Give back (no pun intended)

Lastly, education is a gift we sometimes take for granted, and for some who can’t afford a uniform, school is not an option. Check out this great story of a couple of kids who set up a company that donates school uniforms to children in India so they can continue their education. You can also choose to donate $10, which will fund a school uniform for a child in need.

Thanks all and have a great school year!

Craig