Jackson Hospital | Partners | Summer 2021

6 Jackson Hospital Food for Activities and snacks for an after-school pick-me-up Kids’ brains are worn out by the end of the school day. Seven hours of switching from subject to subject, solving problems, reading, absorbing new information and navigating social interactions is enough to exhaust anyone’s mind. What is the best way to energize your child and help everyone power through the rest of the day? Two basic needs: nutrition and activity. Regular physical activity has been shown to boost brain function. Kids sit during most of the school day. Taking time after school to move their bodies can help kids do better while completing homework, and it improves their memory retention. Physical activity is also a great mood booster and can help make every- one’s evening a little more pleasant. Themed family walks. Look for different shapes, use all your senses, find things for every color or have your kids choose a theme! Family activities. Play a family game of soccer, basketball or another favorite sport. Plant flowers together. Let your kids pick which flowers they want to plant. Go play, even on a wet or windy day. If there’s no lightning, have fun splashing in the rain or flying a kite! Have a home dance party to your favorite music. Or follow along with your favorite dance videos on social media. Exercise at home together. Try out instructional videos, like Cosmic Kids, which offers free yoga videos that are fun for all ages. 1 CHILDREN’S HEALTH