Wellbeing

Family Matters: Train your child’s brain

By Janey Lee Grace

News and holistic views to keep your clan in tip-top health

Demanding eats

A new study has revealed that feeding your baby on demand, rather than at set meal times, is linked to a higher IQ. The researchers from Essex and Oxford University collected data from over 10,000 children and observed three types of mothers and babies – babies who were fed to a schedule, those whose mother tried but did not manage to feed to a schedule, and those who were fed whenever they wanted. The only downside of feeding on demand is that it can lead to erratic sleep patterns.

Did you know?

Before you name your child something ‘unique’ and quirky, you might want to take note of a recent survey by yourbabydomainname.com that found eight per cent of parents have baby name remorse!

A meeting of minds

Janey Lee Grace has met a kindred spirit and explains why it’s important for children to become aware

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Goldie Hawn on Radio 2. She positivel yglows with vitality and is committed to inspiring children with her charity The Hawn Foundation.

She has devised the ‘MindUp’ programme for schools which involves mindfulness. Goldie’s new book 10 Mindful Minutes (13.99, Piatkus) is a brilliant reminder that as parents we can develop our own mindful awareness.

Part of the scientifically-based MindUp programme teaches children about how their brains work. I loved Goldie’s simple yet effective explanation of the different parts of the brain,particularly the example she gave of the ‘amygdala’. It’s an almond-shaped structure that acts like a guard dog. The problem is that sometimes the dog barks when there’s no real danger. If it determines that stress is imminent, it will fire up and release stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol – perfect for running from sabre-toothed tigers, but when there aren’t any tigers, the ‘fight or flight’ response can get overworked and the stress hormones can create toxicity.I’ve been explaining this theory to my children and they’do obviously taken it on board because when I got stressed the other day, they said, “tell your Fido to calm down!”

Fact file

“Teen pregnancies in England and Wales are the lowest since 1969 and the figures also show the conception rate for women over 40 is rising the fastest.”

Daydreams forever

If your little darling’s always got her head in the clouds, try not to berate her too much as daydreaming is associated with a good memory, according to researchers at the University of Wisconsin. Kids who daydream have a better ‘working memory’,which means they can multi-task more effectively than others.

Brilliant babywear

Eczema in babies can be triggered by heat, chemicals in detergents and overly dry skin, so if your little one is suffering, try this Erica the Elephant Baby Grow, £36, from Silver Sense. It’ll keep baby snug and the high-quality, natural fabric is soothing on the skin too.

Article by

Janey Lee Grace

is a holistic lifestyle expert. She is the author of Look Great Naturally – Without Ditching the Lipstick (£8.99, Hay House)

Article by

Janey Lee Grace

is a holistic lifestyle expert. She is the author of Look Great Naturally – Without Ditching the Lipstick (£8.99, Hay House)