Movement is an important element to a child’s development and with the weather warming, now is the perfect opportunity to get outside and get active. Engaging in outdoor activities like team sports, biking, or simply playing outside has been proven to help build physical strength, improve coordination, and boost cardiovascular health. Beyond the physical benefits, outdoor play also has shown a positive impact on mental well-being, reducing stress and anxiety while enhancing mood, focus, and cognitive function. These activities assist in promoting emotional resilience and support better concentration, helping kids perform well in school and everyday life.
In addition to staying active, eating a healthy diet can also play a key role in supporting brain health and overall development. Nutritious foods rich in healthy fats, proteins, and fruits provide the necessary nutrients for optimal brain function. A balanced diet has been proven to improve memory, creativity, and cognitive abilities while reducing the negative effects of ultra-processed foods, which can harm both physical and mental health. Together, regular physical activity and healthy eating are crucial for helping children thrive both mentally and physically.
Regular physical activity plays a vital role in a child's development, offering numerous benefits for both physical and mental health. Physically, it strengthens muscles and bones, improves cardiovascular health, and boosts immune function, all of which are crucial for growing children. Additionally, engaging in physical activity helps develop motor skills and enhances coordination. On the mental side, staying active reduces stress, anxiety, and depression in children while also promoting emotional stability through the release of endorphins. Outdoor activities, in particular, support cognitive development by improving focus and memory, further contributing to a child’s overall well-being and ability to learn effectively.
A balanced diet is essential for supporting brain growth, focus, and cognitive abilities in children. Healthy fats, fruits, and proteins provide the necessary nutrients for optimal brain function, which in turn enhances concentration, creativity, and learning abilities. Maintaining consistent energy levels throughout the day is also key for sustaining mental function.
On the other hand, ultra-processed foods—commonly high in sugar, unhealthy fats, and additives—can have a negative impact on brain health. These foods are not only addictive but can also disrupt brain signals, leading to a cycle of cravings that alters the brain’s reward system. Over time, this can contribute to mood swings, irritability, and mental fatigue, increasing the risk of long-term mental health issues such as anxiety and depression in children.
Parents play a crucial role in encouraging their children to stay active and eat healthy by leading by example and making these habits fun and accessible.
Start by setting aside time for family outdoor activities like hiking, biking, or playing sports together, making exercise an enjoyable and regular part of the day.
Involve kids in meal planning and preparation, allowing them to pick out healthy ingredients and help cook, which can make them more excited about nutritious meals.
Keep healthy snacks like fruits, nuts, and yogurt readily available, and limit the availability of ultra-processed foods at home.
Encouraging water over sugary drinks and offering balanced meals rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins will support both their physical and mental development.
By fostering a positive relationship with both physical activity and nutritious food, parents can help their children develop healthy habits that last a lifetime
At Brain Balance, we’ve developed a multimodal, integrative approach that strengthens brain connectivity across multiple domains. We identify developmental strengths and weaknesses to better understand how all aspects of development synchronize to support higher-level brain functions such as the ability to sustain attention, reduce hyperactivity and impulsivity, regulate mood, emotions and behaviors, and learn in the classroom. Reducing developmental gaps helps to reduce challenges in these areas.
Our program targets:
We also emphasize nutrition and lifestyle as critical factors in brain development. Dopamine production depends on nutrients like tyrosine, vitamin B6, magnesium, and omega-3s.⁵ If a child is a picky eater or has a restricted diet, they may not be getting the building blocks needed to produce and absorb dopamine effectively.
A tired, undernourished brain cannot perform optimally. That’s why our program includes educational resources on sleep, nutrition, and brain-healthy routines—so families can support long-term progress beyond the program itself.
To explore similar resources on getting active in the summertime, or learn about our research-backed approach, visit the Brain Balance Blog.