All these are possible when you and your child understand and use principles of brainfitness to maximise mental focus when needed.

Modern discoveries about how human brains develop prove that:

• physical and emotional environment (from the beginning of life) contribute strongly to mental development and ability to learn.
• the earlier you start using brainfriendly tactics, the better.
• but its never to late to start.
• you can begin today to help yourself and your child overcome the enemies of brainfitness.

Go to STRATEGIES FOR STUDENTS for enemies of brainfitness

- There are many ways to instantly improve ability to think/work/learn, whatever the age of the person.

Go to STRATEGIES FOR STUDENTS for instant brainfitness strategies

- you can start today to help your child be more efficient at working and learning by using the brainfitness ideas below.

(or tactics for easy natural thinking and learning whenever you need it for you and your child.)

The following list is written as messages to you (parent) as the first requirement for your child's brainfitness is that you are that way yourself. Brainfit parents easily help their children to be that way by being good models of the benefits. So practice what you would preach. Become brainfit yourself by using the ideas below - then make it possible for your child also.

1. Get a good foundation for work/study at home/school by having a BRAINFOOD BREAKFAST which digests slowly to release steady energy through the day so your body keeps calm and your brain keeps active for many hours.

   The best brainfood breakfast has a good balance of grains, protein food (dairy, eggs, meat, chicken, fish, soy or other beans) and fruit/vegetables. It's better for your brain (and body) if these are as natural (unprocessed) as possible, contain no refined sugar, and some of the food (fruit, nuts, seeds, yoghurt, milk) is uncooked/raw.

   Quick and easy: First a drink of water, followed by two or three handfuls of grain food (such as oats, wheat products, rice), a handful of fruit/nuts/seeds and a cup of yoghurt or soymilk or other milk (protein). When the hand (full) is yours, the size of the serving should be about right for you. Children's amounts are smaller handfuls of course. Avoid sugary food and drinks as these give instant energy which quickly fades. Its better to eat the raw fruit than drink fruit juice.

   Have no 'useless so-called food' in your home, then you and your child will quickly begin eating the good plain brainfood which is on hand. Occasional 'lapses' for special events are manageable but these need to be kept 'occasional/special' to avoid small children becoming addicted to sugary/fatty tastes and effects.

2. Carry some WONDERFUL WATER for rehydrating regularly through the day.


3. Get as much FRESH AIR as possible, frequently EXHALE THOROUGHLY, and have plenty of smooth steady EXERCISE so your brain keeps well oxygenated.


4. Have REGULAR SLEEP patterns so your brain can sort and store your previous experiences and be ready to face the challenges of the new day sensibly and effectively.


5. Use SLOW-BEAT INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC to keep your body calm and your brain active for efficient memory storage and retrieval. Good 'thinking' music has a definite slow beat (about 1 beat per second) and interesting complex melodies. Music for best learning and thinking has no words/lyrics. Have this music as background to your work - do not actively listen to it. Or play some while you do a relaxation routine before you start work.


6. Use CROSS-OVER MOVEMENTS which help to relax and co-ordinate your body/brain. The best movements are smooth and rhythmic (use slow-beat instrumental music for the helpful rhythm and extra benefits). Use movements which gently lengthen (relax) your muscles and which use your hands and feet to cross over the midline of your body. Your eyes need cross-over movements too. Put your hand out in front of your nose and watch it as it moves slowly from side to side while you keep your head still. This movement is helpful to overcome mental blockages caused when your eyes lock onto a small area (computer screens for example).
   

   For more information about helpful movements/exercises for your brain check out the BrainGym website for useful books, and BrainGym Australia for general information.

7. Use working and learning methods which suit your YOUR PERSONAL STYLE. Your mental pathways are unique. They work better when they recieve information in ways/situations which match your own inbuilt preferences.
   

   For more information about personal working and learning styles, check out learning-styles-online.

8. Think about your PERSONAL REASONS for what you are doing. Your brain works much better when you want to do something for your own good reasons and to achieve your own goals. You have a better mixture of helpful neuro-transmitters when you feel you have made your own choices about what you are doing and the methods you are using. Feeling pressured generates unhelpful stress chemicals which prevent easy learning.


9. Make POSITIVE PLANS about what you want to achieve. The best way to do this is to be relaxed and smiling as you think about the benefits which will come from your work. Mentally 'feel' or 'picture' - what it will be like when you have finished. This conscious preparation creates mental pathways which guide you non-consciously towards your goals in a relaxed and positive way.

The Parents' Homework Handbook by Christine Ward has a thousand and one practical tactics which expand on the points above.

Go to Books to view some pages of this helpful book.

Go to Brainfriendly to find more about creating helpful environments.

Go to Order to buy helpful books about improving your child's success.