Since children cannot reasonably be expected to make any lifestyle choices until they’re teenagers, that’s what we’ll discuss here.
Teenagers are a strange breed – on one hand they’re incredibly sensitive and emotional and on the other, they can sometimes be impulsive and even cruel. Part of this lies in the fact that their brain development is not fully complete – notably, the prefrontal cortex which is the part of the brain that deals with rationality.
This portion of the brain is not fully developed until the age of around 25 either – so trusting teens to make any lifestyle choices is arguably quite a risky thing to do at all! However, we must offer teens some degree of independence and the freedom to begin making their own lifestyle choices or they won’t develop any sense of self, not to mention any life skills!
What sort of lifestyle choices can have a positive effect on teenagers’ education?
There are many good habits which teens can develop as they grow and which will help them not only achieve good grades in school but also to become a well-rounded, balanced individual in general. Here are a few of them:
Getting to bed at a decent time
No screen time after 8.00pm
Good personal hygiene
Healthy diet
Playing a variety of sports
Meditation
If you can encourage your teen into even one of the above, then there will be an immediate and positive affect on their education. Sleep, good food, exercise, and a calm state of mind are the very basics – if your teen can manage to stick to a good routine, then they’ll probably be far more capable during the school or college day.
Conversely, late nights, poor diet, lack of exercise all contribute to a cloudy mind and even low self-esteem. None of which are conducive to a happy young person! Help your teen by ensuring that you set strong guidelines for them. This private school in Rickmansworth sets clear boundaries and goals for pupils.
Discuss your own goals and expectations with your child so that they understand why these guidelines are in place. Rather than feeling as though they’re being restricted, they should feel as though they’re being helped.
