What Every Child Needs
06 July 2011
It is important to know what every child needs, it may sound obvious but some parents don't realise that children need food and drink, rest and amusing on a regular basis. Here are some tips to help you understand what every child needs.
Children need breakfast
But don't offer them 6 different kinds. Make it a habit that you have an egg or toast and vegemite or even grilled cheese so that your child goes off to school with protein and carbohydrate to help them concentrate and help their brain and body grow. Research has shown that children without breakfast don’t do well at school.
Children need lots of drinks
Not fizzy, fruit juices or milk, but good old cold water. So always carry a bottle in the car. Most often when a child grizzles it's because they are hungry, thirsty or tired.
Children need lots of snacks
Yes, you might have been told not to snack between meals, but children need to. So carry packets of raisins, some muesli bars or a packet of ginger-nuts (no crumbs!) so children can have a quick bite to tide them over to their next meal. Hungry children don’t cope, and can’t concentrate.
Children need 9 hours of sleep
Seriously, they do. There is a reason why TV used to have “Good Night Kiwi” for children to remind parents that viewing time for children was over and actually they should be in bed! If your children struggle to go to bed before 7.30pm then establish a routine of bath, short book or a talk about their day and then lights out. It's important if you want your child to grow physically, and their brain to develop, while all research shows that kids who get enough sleep don't usually grow up to be overweight! Children who’re short of sleep often end up overweight.
Children need amusing
So carry a small book or even a pad and pen. How often have you watched parents struggling with what looks like a difficult child when all the child needs is something to do. Bored children unwittingly make trouble. Smart parents go places prepared. Adults have difficulty not fidgeting during boring times, so imagine how difficult it is for a two year old. Make it easy on yourself and save up for something special like a colouring- in book and coloured pens for those times like waiting in a surgery or sitting in a church.
Children need – lots of cuddling and lots of talking
Cuddling and talking makes them feel loved and secure. Both activities develop emotional intelligence and help a child grow into a stable intelligent adult.
Children need boundaries
Some conscientious parents think they’re controlling their children by making sure they eat or sleep or say thank you and so on. What they are doing is responsible parenting – making decisions when children are too young to make them for themselves and teaching them good habits.
Children need to know..
that when you say no you mean it, and when you say yes, you do too. Which means keeping your word.
Children also need to know what is acceptable behaviour and what isn’t, to respect their own and other people’s boundaries. This is not control, it’s teaching children how to get on with other people. Which is why children benefit from good pre-school education.