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Importance of Healthy Lifestyle in Mental Growth of Children

18. May 2022 Administrator Blog (0)
The early childhood years are highly crucial for mental, physical, intellectual & socio-emotional development. Multiple factors contribute to enhance the mental growth in children; one such important factor is maintaining healthy lifestyle. It significantly improves the mental caliber including cognitive potential and neural mechanism of learning. 

Here is an insight into how healthy lifestyle helps in mental growth of children:

  • Rich Nutrition - Encourage your children to consume food which provides high nutritional value. Nutrient-dense foods offer all the vital vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, etc. which are important for optimal functioning of the body and mind. It helps build high energy levels, strengthen the immune system and promote brain & neurocognitive development. Also, make sure children drink adequate amount of water per day.
  • Exercise - Indulging in exercise or some physical activity promotes physical as well as mental growth. Outdoor or extra-curricular activities, dance, sports, etc. are recreational ways to elevate the psychological health, memory & retention power, confidence, positive integration of thoughts and cognitive skills in children. 
  • Sound Sleep - Sound sleep is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. During sleep, our body relaxes and functions in a way which may help to stimulate motor skills, concentration, emotional regulation and overall mental health of children. Therefore, sleeping for approximately 9-10 hours is quite necessary for children. 
Founded in 1964, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas is an organization that has been curating clubs & programs to help young people enhance their social, physical and academic proficiency. Our programs are packed with activities which promote positive behaviors, good character & citizenship, healthy lifestyle, academia and help children grow into well rounded personalities. 

Healthy Lifestyle Programs For Children:

All Stars (Age 6-18): An organized league sport and fitness program for flag football, basketball and dance teams for youth

SMART Girls (Age 8-18): Helps girls to develop healthy attitudes & positive relationships with peers and adults; conducts dynamic sessions, participatory activities, field trips and many more

Triple Play (Age 6-18): A comprehensive health and wellness program which stresses upon the significance of physical activity and proper nutrition.

These are some Healthy Lifestyle Programs which provide a healthy atmosphere for youth to nourish their mental & physical wellbeing. To know more about healthy lifestyle programs for kids, visit www.bgctx.org  

You can also visit us at 703 N 8th St. Killeen, TX – 76541 or call at (254) 699 - 5808 for further queries.

Reasons To Promote Healthy Lifestyle At Early Age

27. January 2021 Administrator Blog (0)
Things learnt at an early age tend to stick with us for a life time; thus the emphasis on incorporating healthy lifestyle habits at a young age. Children are highly receptive to the messages they get from adults in their lives. Over time, habits and actions take a seat in the subconscious minds, making them hard to break. So, the implications of lessons regarding healthy lifestyle should be implemented at an early age.

Healthy lifestyle habits should be promoted at an early age due to the following reasons:

  • Solid Foundation For Life: Beginning early lays the foundation for life-long habits that are easier to sustain. Children, who are physically active, eat healthy food and snacks and are well-rested keep up with the same habits as adults and find it easier to adopt them under all circumstances.
  • Prevents Obesity: Making kids conscious of how different eating and lifestyle patterns impact their lives, carves a path for a life free of weight issues. If these habits can be made second-nature, they will never have to struggle with being overweight and dealing with the health implications thereof.
  • Prevents Illnesses: Lifestyle diseases like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart ailments, diabetes and the like can be kept at bay during adulthood if healthy lifestyle habits are inculcated early in life. Being conscious of food and activity choices as a child forms the perfect base for a healthy body as an adult.
  • Increases Confidence: A child who eats well, is physically active and sleeps well has higher chances of growing into a confident individual. The child enjoys high self-esteem, performs well academically, socially and emotionally. Such kids have a lower tendency of seeking attention and validation from others as they are sure of themselves and their decisions.
  • Healthy Choices: Steering your child’s preferences for food towards the healthier side teaches them an important skill of making the right choice when it comes to what they ingest. At a very young age, a child learns the value of making healthy eating choices and the negative effects of junk food; this prevents cravings for junk food as he grows.
  • Academic Success: Kids who are physically active are more likely to attend school regularly and perform better in studies. They also have superior motor coordination as compared to their sedentary peers. They have higher concentration levels, better memory, faster grasping power and more. Such kids are also less prone to mental health issues such as depression and anxiety as they grow.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas offer healthy lifestyle programs for kids in Killeen, TX.  To know more about reasons to promote healthy lifestyle at an early age, visit 703 N. 8th Street, Killeen, TX - 76541. You can also call at (254) 699 – 5808.

How To Teach Healthy Habits To Kids?

18. June 2020 Administrator Blog (0)
Home is a child’s first school where some of the most important life lessons are taught; one of them being healthy habits. Teaching a child about healthy habits helps in building a strong foundation for his healthy life. These habits positively impact a child’s physical, emotional, and mental health.

Some ways to teach healthy habits to children are:

  • Teaching Good Manners: Kids should be taught the importance of good manners when dealing with family members, peers, and even strangers. Examples of good manners for children are saying please, thank you, apologizing, expressing other meaningful gestures, etc.
  • Limit Screen Time: By limiting screen time, children get more time for other activities that may be beneficial for their health. They also interact more with those around them (family members, neighbors, and other children) and pay adequate attention to hobbies.
  • Smart Snacking: Introduce the child to the concept of smart-snacking early in life. It will help him develop a positive relationship with food. Smart foods can be introduced to a child by involving him in the process of listing down healthy snack options while making grocery list.
  • Good Eating Habits: Teach the child about the basics of eating like chewing the food properly. Also emphasize on the importance of breakfast, drinking enough water, and looking at labels before purchasing packaged food.
  • Physical Activities: Children are more encouraged to stay physically active if the elders in their house practice the same. Some activities that a child can practice for healthy living are swimming, hiking, running, cycling, or simply walking in a nearby park.
  • Read Daily: Teaching kids to read from an early age exposes them to a variety of benefits such as enhanced vocabulary, better language development, concentration, exposure to a wide range of information, etc. Reading broadens a child’s mental horizons and encourages him to perceive the world from different perspectives.
  • Spend Time With Friends: Children, who spend more time with friends, grow into confident and happier individuals. Encourage the child to socialize with other kids in parks, after-school clubs, libraries, etc. This will instill valuable and healthy social skills like cooperation, problem-solving, and communication.
  • Power Of Positivity: Teaching kids about the art of staying positive under all circumstances makes him resilient in the face of challenges at school, out of school, and at the workplace as adults. Some things you can teach your child to foster positivity are the use of positive affirmations, kindness meditation, helping others, writing a gratitude journal, etc.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas offer various clubs and programs to teach healthy habits to kids. The clubs organize various activities that develop healthy habits in children. For more details on ways to teach healthy habits to kids, visit 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541. You can also call at (254) 699 – 5808.

Healthy Habits For Mental Growth

29. March 2019 Administrator Blog (0)
Mental growth is an integral part of a child’s development. The daily habits of a kid greatly influence the mental growth; so adopting habits like exercising, socializing, learning new things, etc. can help him in following the normal graph of growth. It is important to inculcate these habits in children at an early age for their proper growth and development.

Following are some healthy habits that have shown to benefit a kid’s mental growth:

  • Exercising: It is recommended that kids should exercise for 30 to 60 minutes daily for unaltered mental growth. Exercise reduces stress levels, improves the quality of sleep and elevates mood which positively impacts the health of brain which governs mental growth. Also, exercise improves brain tissue health by increasing blood flow to it, decreasing blood pressure and reducing the chances of mental injury caused by cholesterol build up.  
  • A Healthy Diet: A healthy diet prevents cognitive decline. So, include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein from legumes & healthy unsaturated fats in the diet of your kids while avoiding sugar and simple carbs. It is also advised that children should drink ample amount of water daily for better memory, concentration and mental agility.
  • Self-Care And Stress Management: Stress is associated with increased level of a hormone called cortisol. In the long run, high cortisol levels may result in memory problems. So, it is important for children to keep a check on stress by getting appropriate hours of sleep and engaging in stress management activities like meditation or yoga. Going for a stroll with a pet, reading a book or magazine, deep breathing exercises, etc. can also help.
  • Learning: Learning new skills, language or art stimulate the mind which improves the thinking skills. Such classes or clubs are also a good platform for socializing and building interactions. It helps children in forming an emotional bond with their peers as they help each other in the process of learning. Socializing and companionship establish emotional well-being among kids which is pivotal for the mental growth.
  • Play Challenging Games: Motivate children to play games such as Sudoku, chess, scrabble, crosswords, puzzles and video games that boost mental health significantly. Research shows that kids who play mentally stimulating games regularly show signs of higher memory retention. These games improve concentration, adaptation to new situations and task-switching abilities.
We, at Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Texas, offer a wide range of programs to promote healthy lifestyle among kids aged between 6-18 years. To enroll your child at the club, call at (254) 699 –5808 or visit 304 W Ave B, Killeen, TX – 76541.