As a parent, you want your child to be happy and healthy. You also want them to do well in school and reach their full potential. Good nutrition is essential for all these things. Unfortunately, it can be hard to know what foods are best for your child’s cognitive and physical development. Also, let’s not forget the importance of exercise and the practice of gratitude.
Nutrition
Dedication and a great deal of hard work earned Willows Nursery & Pre-School the award of specialist accreditation by the Early Years Nutrition Partnership! This is a big achievement, and we are one of only two pre-schools in London to have received this accreditation.
The Early Years Nutrition Partnership is a leading organisation in early years nutrition, and they work with pre-schools to ensure that they are providing evidence-based, nutritious meals for children. We are delighted to have met their high standards, and we will continue to provide our children with healthy, tasty food that meets their nutritional needs.
Parents agree that it is essential to provide children with nutritious meals from an early age, as it sets them up for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.
Importantly, nutrition is only part of the story, we also must help children develop emotionally and mentally. However, it can be difficult to know how to best support your child.
Exercise
Willows also has a focus on children getting their heart rate raised through exercise. Exercise has countless benefits for physical health, but it can also have a positive impact on mood and cognitive function. One of the ways it does this is by increasing serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate mood, and it has been linked to feelings of happiness and well-being.
Exercise can also help to improve cognitive function by increasing blood flow to the brain and helping to protect against age-related decline. In addition, exercise has been shown to reduce stress levels and improve sleep quality, both of which are important for maintaining a good mood. If our children learn to love exercise it will have life-lasting benefits.
Gratitude
Finally, we teach your child the importance of gratitude. Gratitude is the quality of being thankful and willing to show appreciation for the good things in life. It’s an emotion that everyone experiences at different times and for different reasons. But did you know that gratitude has also been linked with increased happiness and satisfaction? For children, learning how to be grateful can be an important skill. After all, research has shown that gratitude can not only improve your mood but also boost your cognitive function and reduce stress levels.
At Willows Preschool, each day we spend a little time articulating what we are grateful for. Come and see for yourself – we have a gratitude tree! Parents, you can also help your child develop a sense of gratitude. One way is to simply model the behaviour yourself. Whenever something good happens, take a moment to express your thankfulness. By taking the time to teach your child about gratitude, you can help them develop a skill that will benefit them for years to come.
By focusing on nutrition, exercise, and gratitude, you can help your child become the best version of themselves.