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How to Have a Healthy Diet with a Busy Schedule : Importance of Fruits & Vegetables in Diets

Healthy Eating

How to Maintain Beautiful Nails?


Beautiful nails are as important as other accessories like clothing, jewelry, and shoes in the lives of women. Hands and nails are something that people always notice about the other person. So its necessary to maintain beautiful and neat nails. Life is busy; one has to fulfill a lot of other commitments other than just taking out time for nail maintenance. So the steps to maintain healthy nails ought to be quick and easy.



Nail Biting: The most damaging habit for your nails is nail biting. It brutally damages your nails and makes them look very unappealing and unattractive. Moreover it also slower downs their growth.

Trimming: Make a habit to trim and file your nails regularly. Remove the dead skin near cuticles. Also remove any dirt or dead skin beneath the nails.



Use Proper tools: Make sure that you use the special tools manufactured for manicure purpose. This practice will definitely give you best results prevent the breaking of nails and will put off infections or discomforts. Never try to pull out the dead skin or cuticles manually.

Care while use detergents: Whenever you dip your hands to any chemical or detergents or cleaning solutions, make a habit to use rubber gloves having soft cotton lining inside. The harsh chemicals in such solutions make your nails get dehydrated and dull.

Use of Moisturizer: Never forget to apply a mild skin moisturizer to your hands and nails after using cleaning solution or detergent. This will prevent your nails from drying up. Moreover dry nails are tending to cut and break; so applying a moisturizer will avert nail breakage.

Moisturizing before sleeping: Take out some time, and try to use moisturizer for your hands and nails before you slip to bed. After that wear gloves, this will help dissemination of the cream into the nail plate, thus giving you extra ordinary results.

Nail Polish Remover: Avoid using as much nail polish remover as you can. It would be better if you find out such brands as are free of acetone so that your nails don’t loose their shine and don’t get pale yellow.

Diet and nutrition: Vitamins A, B, D and calcium are the best food for your nails. Try to include as much of them in your diet. Go for natural sources of vitamins and calcium rather than supplements. A balanced diet will definitely give you a difference in both your nails and over all health as well.

More Tips For Healthy & Beautiful Nails

  • If your nails are too brittle and dry, you should increase the consumption of food that items rich in vitamin A (such as apricots, broccoli, carrot and cheese) and calcium (such as milk, yoghurt, cheese and almonds).
  • Every night, before you go off to sleep, wash your hands thoroughly, wipe them dry with a towel and apply a hand moisturizer. Thereafter, rub a small amount of petroleum jelly into the cuticle as well as the skin surrounding your nails.
  • Whenever you are indulging in any kind of housework, be it doing the dishes or scrubbing the bathroom, make sure to wear hand gloves. This will prevent unnecessary chipping and save your nails from the harsh cleaners as well.
  • Drink plenty of water and fresh fruit juices. It will help keep your body, and in turn your nails, well hydrated.
  • Carrot juice is rich in calcium and phosphorus and helps strengthen your nails. So, try to consume as much fresh carrot juice as is possible for you.
  • Never ever use an acetone-based or formaldehyde-based nail-polish remover. Rather, stick to a remover that has acetate in it.
  • Do not file you nails just after you have had a shower or have washed your hands. This is because wet nails tend to break easily.
  • While filing your nails, make sure to go in one direction only. Do not move the filer in a back-and-forth motion, as it makes your nails brittle.
  • If you want to keep your nails strong and shiny, resort to nail buffing. It augments the blood supply to the nail, in turn stimulating its growth.
  • Stay away from artificial nails as much as possible. Apart from destroying the underlying nail with their chemicals and glue, they might also lead to fungal infection of the fingernails.
  • If you are suffering from the problem of hangnails, it is advisable to eat food rich in protein, vitamin C and folic acid.
  • Ensure that half of your diet is made up of fresh fruits and raw vegetables. This will supple your nails with the required vitamins, minerals and enzymes.
  • Supplementing your diet with spirulina and kelp will help make your nails strong and healthy.
  • Deficiency of vitamin B 12 can lead to dryness, rounded and curved ends and darkening of nails. So, make sure to include enough of the vitamin in your diet.

For healthy nails, follow these simple tips:

    Consume foods containing calcium and zinc. Calcium effectively promotes nail growth. (You know those little white spots that show up on your nails in funny places sometimes? Those spots mean you aren't getting enough zinc in your diet.)

    Consume less sugar and less alcohol.

    Do not use your nails as tools. No picking, plucking, poking, prying�

    Don�t bite your nails. Try applying nail polish or painting a bitter-tasting liquid to the nails. Such products have been specially designed to help people quit their nail-biting habits.

    Don't remove hangnails by pulling at them. Gently clip them with manicure scissors to prevent damage to your skin and tissue.

    Eat fewer saturated fats.

    Ensure that you consume enough protein.

    Increase your intake of Vitamins A, B, C, D and E.

    Keep your nails short to prevent breakage.

    Leave your cuticles alone.

    Moisturize your nails often. When you apply lotion to your hands, legs or other areas, be sure to rub a little bit into your nails.

    Reduce the amount of dairy in your diet.

    Trim nails regularly, as needed. Use an emery board or nail file to smooth rough edges after trimming and when a nail breaks.

If you want to have beautiful healthy nails, it may not cost you a trip to the salon. Commit to a healthier diet, better habits and pick up some pretty nail polish for an at-home manicure. With a little time, discipline and dedication, you can enjoy healthy, strong and shiny nails with little effort.

Healthy Nails

Diet and Tips for Healthy Nails

Do you know that your fingernails and toenails can indicate potential problems in other parts of your body? Healthy nails should typically sport a pink hue, but sometimes they may change in tone and texture, signifying a deficiency in certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

If you keep your nails healthy and strong, you should notice changes in the composition and color of your nails. Keeping your nails healthy holds a twofold benefit i) gorgeous fingertips and tootsies and a helpful clue to learn if anything might be wrong

elsewhere in your body. And while we don't necessarily think of nails as gauges of our health in most cases, we sure do love getting dolled up and showing them off!

To begin your quest for healthy nails, first make a commitment to eating healthier foods. You can still enjoy the foods you love, but you should make a conscious effort to consume healthy fruits and vegetables, nuts, fish and eggs, among other nail-friendly foods.

Enjoy these great foods for healthy nails:

  • Apples
  • Asparagus
  • Brown rice
  • Cucumbers
  • Eggs
  • Garlic
  • Grapes
  • Liver
  • Nuts
  • Onions
  • Salmon
  • Seeds
  • Soy
  • Tuna
  • Whole grains

Basic Dental Care

What is basic dental care?

Basic dental care involves brushing and flossing your teeth regularly, seeing your dentist and/or dental hygienist for regular checkups and cleanings, and eating a mouth-healthy diet, which means foods high in whole grains, vegetables and fruits, and dairy products.

Why is basic dental care important?

Practicing basic dental care:

  • Prevents tooth decay.
  • Prevents gum (periodontal) disease, which can damage gum tissue and the bones that support teeth, and in the long term can lead to the loss of teeth.
  • Shortens time with the dentist and dental hygienist, and makes the trip more pleasant.
  • Saves money. By preventing tooth decay and gum disease, you can reduce the need for fillings and other costly procedures.
  • Helps prevent bad breath. Brushing and flossing rid your mouth of the bacteria that cause bad breath.
  • Helps keep teeth white by preventing staining from food, drinks, and tobacco.
  • Improves overall health.
  • Makes it possible for your teeth to last a lifetime.

Are there ways to avoid dental problems?

Keeping your teeth and gums healthy requires good nutrition and regular brushing and flossing.

  • Brush your teeth twice a day?in the morning and before bed?and floss once a day. This removes plaque, which can lead to damaged teeth, gums, and surrounding bone.
  • Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride, which helps prevent tooth decay and cavities. Ask your dentist if you need a mouthwash that contains fluoride or one with ingredients that fight plaque. Look for toothpastes that have been approved by the American Dental Association.
  • Avoid foods that contain a lot of sugar. Sugar helps plaque grow.
  • Avoid using tobacco products, which can cause gum disease and oral cancer. Exposure to tobacco smoke (secondhand smoke) also may cause gum disease, as well as other health problems.1
  • Practice tongue cleaning. You can use a tongue cleaner or a soft-bristle toothbrush, stroking in a back-to-front direction. Tongue cleaning is particularly important for people who smoke or whose tongues are coated or deeply grooved.
  • Schedule regular trips to the dentist based on how often you need exams and cleaning.

When should my child start seeing a dentist?

By the time your child is 6 months of age, your doctor should assess the likelihood of your child having future dental problems.2 If he or she thinks your child will have dental problems, be sure your child sees a dentist before his or her first birthday or 6 months after the first primary teeth appear, whichever comes first. After your first visit, schedule regular visits every 6 months or as your dentist recommends.

Experts recommend that your child's dental care start at 12 months of age.2 If your baby has dental problems caused by injury, disease, or a developmental problem, see your pediatric dentist right away.

Oral Health Guidelines for Pregnant Women

Important Oral Health Information for Expectant Mothers

By Shawn Watson

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAP) announced new oral health guidelines for pregnant women in 2009 tailored to assist them in maintaining healthy teeth and gums during their pregnancy and into the early stages of motherhood. Why is oral health care important during pregnancy? Mothers with gum diseases have a higher instance of preterm birth, a potentially serious pregnancy complication that may cause typically due to a low birth weight.

pregnancy gingivitis is a common form of gum disease known to develop in almost half of all pregnant women likely due to the change in hormones. When kept at-bay, pregnancy gingivitis generally ends shortly after the birth of the child, although it should be monitored by a dentist periodically during pregnancy in order to prevent this form of gingivitis from progressing into more seriousperiodontitis, an advanced and irreversible form of gum disease that has been linked with preterm birth. Pregnant mothers with periodontal disease are seven times more likely to go into preterm labor. Prostaglandin, a chemical found in oral bacteria, may induce labor. And high levels of prostaglandin has been found in the mouths of women with severe cases of periodontal disease.

The following guidelines were developed by the AAP in response to the growing concern surrounding oral health during pregnancy:

  • Oral Health Education - Counseling and early intervention by healthcare providers such as physicians, nurses, and dentists to provide expectant mothers with the tools and resources necessary to understand the importance of oral health care during pregnancy.
  • Oral Hygiene - Removing the bacterial plaque, which researchers have connected to preterm birth and low birth-weight babies, is essential. Using the correct brushing and flossing methods greatly increase the amount of plaque that is removed from the teeth and gums.
  • Fluoride - The American Dental Association recommends the use of toothpaste with flouride by persons over the age of six. Echoing their sentiment, the AAP oral health guidelines advise the continued use of fluoridated toothpaste during pregnancy, and recommends the use of an over-the-counter alcohol-free fluoride rinse to help reduce the amount of plaque in the mouth.
  • Nutrition - Educating expectant mothers about proper diet and nutrition during pregnancy will limit unnecessary sugar intake and in turn, prevent plaque build up.
  • Treating Existing Tooth Decay - Expectant mothers are encouraged to have existing tooth decay treated during their pregnancy, which experts believe is a completely safe practice during pregnancy. Restoring decayed teeth will help achieve oral health by removing the bacteria associated with tooth decay.
  • Transmission of Bacteria - Expectant mothers are discouraged from sharing food and utensils in order to prevent the transmission of the bacteria known to cause tooth decay.
  • Use of Xylitol Gum - Expectant mothers are encouraged to chew xylitol gum (four times a day) as research suggests that chewing this gum may decrease the rate of tooth decay in children.

Talk to Your Dentist

If you are pregnant are considering pregnancy, discuss any concerns you may have with your dentist. Women who are thinking about becoming pregnant may want to consider their oral health before becoming pregnant as research suggests that treating existing gum disease in pregnant women does not reduce the instance of preterm birth. Despite this fact, experts insist that regular oral health care should continue throughout pregnancy.

Sources:

AAPD Releases New Perinatal and Infant Oral Health Guidelines. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Accessed: July 3, 2009.http://www.aapd.org/hottopics/news.asp?NEWS_ID=993


100 Life Saving Health Food Tips

Hair Loss and Its Causes

What is the normal cycle of hair growth and loss?

The normal cycle of hair growth lasts for 2 to 6 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter (less than half an inch) per month during this phase. About 90 percent of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. About 10 percent of the hair on your scalp, at any one time, is in a resting phase. After 2 to 3 months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place.

What causes excessive hair loss?

A number of things can cause excessive hair loss. For example, about 3 or 4 months after an illness or a major surgery, you may suddenly lose a large amount of hair. This hair loss is related to the stress of the illness and is temporary.

Hormonal problems may cause hair loss. If your thyroid gland is overactive or underactive, your hair may fall out. This hair loss usually can be helped by treatment thyroid disease. Hair loss may occur if male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens, are out of balance. Correcting the hormone imbalance may stop your hair loss.

Many women notice hair loss about 3 months after they've had a baby. This loss is also related to hormones. During pregnancy, high levels of certain hormones cause the body to keep hair that would normally fall out. When the hormones return to pre-pregnancy levels, that hair falls out and the normal cycle of growth and loss starts again.

Some medicines can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss improves when you stop taking the medicine. Medicines that can cause hair loss include blood thinners (also called anticoagulants), medicines used for gout, medicines used in chemotherapy to treat cancer, vitamin A (if too much is taken), birth control pills and antidepressants.

Certain infections can cause hair loss. Fungal infections of the scalp can cause hair loss in children. The infection is easily treated with antifungal medicines.
Finally, hair loss may occur as part of an underlying disease, such as lupus or diabetes. Since hair loss may be an early sign of a disease, it is important to find the cause so that it can be treated.

What is common baldness?

The term "common baldness" usually means male-pattern baldness, or permanent-pattern baldness. Male-pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Men who have this type of hair loss usually have inherited the trait. Men who start losing their hair at an early age tend to develop more extensive baldness. In male-pattern baldness, hair loss typically results in a receding hair line and baldness on the top of the head.

Women may develop female-pattern baldness. In this form of hair loss, the hair can become thin over the entire scalp.

Can my doctor do something to stop hair loss?

Perhaps. Your doctor will probably ask you some questions about your diet, any medicines you're taking, whether you've had a recent illness and how you take care of your hair. If you're a woman, your doctor may ask questions about your menstrual cycle, pregnancies and menopause. Your doctor may want to do a physical exam to look for other causes of hair loss. Finally, blood tests or a biopsy (taking a small sample of cells to examine under a microscope) of your scalp may be needed.

Is there any treatment for hair loss?

Depending on your type of hair loss, treatments are available. If a medicine is causing your hair loss, your doctor may be able to prescribe a different medicine. Recognizing and treating an infection may help stop the hair loss. Correcting a hormone imbalance may prevent further hair loss.

Medicines may also help slow or prevent the development of common baldness. One medicine, minoxidil (brand name: Rogaine), is available without a prescription. It is applied to the scalp. Both men and women can use it. Another medicine, finasteride (brand name: Propecia) is available with a prescription. It comes in pills and is only for men. It may take up to 6 months before you can tell if one of these medicines is working.

If adequate treatment is not available for your type of hair loss, you may consider trying different hairstyles or wigs, hairpieces, hair weaves or artificial hair replacement.

Eye Safety Tips

If your children enjoy dressing up and wandering the streets for candy on Halloween, make sure they do it safely. Many eye injuries are reported every year as a result of Halloween activities. In addition, it's easy for kids to be less visible to drivers during evening hours. Follow these tips to keep your kids, and their little peepers, safe.

1. Avoid costumes that block vision

Masks, wigs and eye patches are fun Halloween accessories, but make sure they don't block visibility. Some masks are very dangerous for children because they block their side vision. A better, safer option is to decorate your child's face with face paint or make-up.

2. Use make-up safely

If you decide to disguise your child with make-up instead of a mask, use hypo-allergenic options and keep it away from the eyes. It's a good idea to carry a wet towel or washcloth in case the make-up begins to run while trick-or-treating. Running around in a costume makes some kids perspire, so a quick clean-up around the eye area may be necessary before the night is over.

3. Don't allow sharp objects to be used as props

Some costumes don't seem complete without swords or wands. Still, do not allow your child to carry sharp objects. Sharp, pointed props endanger your child eyes as well as the eyes of other children.

4. Follow guidelines for wearing decorative contact lenses

Older kids often complete their Halloween costumes with spooky cosmetic contact lenses. Remember that contact lenses are medical devices and require a valid prescription. Be on the safe side and have your eye doctor fit them on your child. If not used safely, contact lens use can lead to vision loss.

5. Carry a flashlight

Give your child a small flashlight to illuminate dark paths and walkways. If it is a dark night, your child will not be able to see holes in yards or missing porch steps. A flashlight will also make your child more visible to drivers.

6. Make sure costumes are reflective

If the costume your child chooses is not made of reflective material, sew on reflective fabric strips or use stick-on strips of reflective tape. You want your child to be seen, especially crossing streets in the dark. Place reflective material on the front, back and sides of your child's costume.

Healthy Eyes - Eating Right for the Eyes

Do you eat foods that promote healthy eyes? Did you know that certain vitamins and nutrients play an active role in some types of eye disease or chronic eye conditions?

1. Lutein


Recommended: 10 mg per day. Lutein is one of more than 600
known naturally occurring carotenoids.
Lutein was found to be present in a concentrated area of the macula, a small area of the retina
responsible for central vision. Lutein helps protect the eyes from oxidative stress and high-energy light.
This nutrient is found in dark, green, leafy vegetables such as spinach and collards, and also corn and eggs.

2. DHA/EPA

Recommended: 500 mg per day. EPA/DHA is an essential fatty acid which stands for docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. These polyunsaturated fats play a very important role in the function of our bodies, and seem to be necessary for healthy eye function. These essential fatty acids are found in flat seeds and fleshy fish such as tuna or salmon.

3. Vitamin C

Recommended: 500 mg per day. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for normal growth and development. Studies suggest that high levels of vitamin C can reduce the risk of cataracts and also play a role in delaying age-related macular degeneration. This vitamin is found in our favorite morning beverage - orange juice. Other citrus fruits are also a good source of Vitamin C.

4. Vitamin E

Recommended 400mg per day. Vitamin E is the collective name for a set of 8 fat-soluble vitamins with antioxidant properties. Some studies suggest that Vitamin E helps to prevent cataracts, and it might be another factor in delaying macular degeneration. Vitamin E is found in nuts, salads, peanut butter, cereals, sweet potatoes and margarine.

5. Copper

Recommended: 2 mg per day. Copper is a trace nutrient essential to all high plants and animals. It can act as an antioxidant, scavenging damaging particles in the body known as free radicals. Free radicals may contribute to the aging process as well as the development of a number of health conditions. Copper is found in mixed nuts, sunflower seeds, liver, beans and lentils.

6. Zinc

Recommended: 40-80 mg per day. Zinc is an essential mineral found in almost every cell in the body. Zinc is important for a healthy immune system, for healing cuts and wounds, and for maintaining the senses of taste and smell. Red meat and poultry contain a good level of zinc. Zinc can also be found
in oysters, fortified cereals, nuts and baked beans.

Developing Good Sleeping Habits


Developing good habits to sleep is crucial to a baby's health. This is most often overlooked by the first time parents. Make sure that your child knows that it is time to sleep. Toddlers and babies can develop an instinct to sleep if you start putting them on bed at a fixed time and than turn on the lights.

Best time to sleep

So what is the best time for them to go to sleep? Well it depends upon your sleeping time. If you sleep early than make sure your baby goes to bed at least an hour early. The one hour time frame is to nurse, coax and sooth the children. Now, if you go to sleep late at night, it might be better to resist the temptation of waking up and start sleeping with the baby. If you are a working mother, this habit will help you after the maternity leave is over. Just think about it! You as a mother will need your child to sleep, when you want to take care of the last minute household chores, before another day in the office. If sleeping pattern is not developed during maternity months then it will be difficult to cop once you start working.

Schedule your day

It is also very practical to schedule a play time, bath time, feeding time and nap time during the day. Little kids love to learn what is expected of them and they are indeed the quickest learners. Depending on the child's age, do a bedtime routine that can include telling a bed time story, lullaby or a warm bath. Such activity before bedtime lets the baby know that it is time to sleep. Also make sure that the sleep routines can be practiced anywhere the baby goes. For example, if you are using a large toy than it should be portable and not disturb others. Just remember to take the baby sleeping aid with you.

Baby Sleeping Habits

One can make the baby learn about the right sleeping habits. Sleeping habits is one of the major factors that affect the health of the baby if the baby is not sleeping.

The sleeping habits depend on the age. If the baby is of three or four months then they sleep about 14 to 15 hours in a day or 9 to 10 hours at night. So, one can know whether the baby is establishing the good sleeping habits or not and they are: -

Establish set bed-and naptimes – One should set the bed for the baby when he sees the signs of sleepiness such as ear pulling and eye rubbing etc. A specific time is set for the baby to sleep and changing of their naptimes so that they can sleep comfortably.

Wake the baby in the morning to set daily clock – One can wake the baby in the morning according to his daily clock. This will help the baby set the time when they will sleep and wake up and also set the target for changing the naps.

Begin to develop a bedtime routine – One can develop a good bedtime routine for the baby by following some rules:- giving the baby a bath everyday, getting the baby changed for bed, singing a lullaby every night. If the same routine is followed every night then a consistency is maintained and this will help the baby to sleep well.

Potential pitfalls – One should make the baby to sleep independently so that if the baby awakes at night they can sleep on their own instead of anyone’s assistance like sleeping by one’s arms, by breast feeding or by putting a bottle in their mouth.

If the baby is of six to nine months old, then they requires about 14 to 15 hours sleep per day and changing of naps requires at least a half to two hour naps per day. The consistent bed routines and changing of naps will help one to determine their sleeping patterns.

One can develop a good sleeping habits for them also like:-

Develop and follow a bedtime routine – Before setting the bed for the baby some schedules should be followed like bathing, playing and many more and then set the baby to sleep.

Make sure the baby has plenty of opportunities to fall asleep on his own - One should try to teach the baby to sleep by itself. They should not depend on anyone. If they cry at night then wait for sometime to set them themselves.

Potential pitfalls – At this age, the baby feels asleep due to separation anxiety and cognitive and motor development. They try to crawl, sit and even learn to walk but do not sleep at night. One should make efforts to make them sleep.

There are few things one can do to make their baby sleep. They are: -

  • A super cute lovie should be given to them so that they can snuggle them while sleeping.
  • Babies should be kept on their backs so that they can sleep quickly and easily. Sleep position pillows can also be kept around them.

So, one should make the baby develop good sleeping habits.

Bad Reading Habits and How to Break Them

Bad Reading Habits and How to Break Them back

The University of Alabama
Center for Teaching and Learning
124 Osband
348-5175

To really get rid of a bad habit, you should replace it with a good one. You have to want to get rid of the bad habits, and you must practice and work at it in order to change. The following are some of the bad habits which tend to cause people to read slowly. Ask yourself whether you are guilty of any of the following:

A. Moving your lips when you read
Moving your lips slows you to a fast talking rate, about 150 words per minute. Put your fingers on your lips to stop the motion.

B. Vocalizing
Vocalizing means that you are pronouncing words in the voice box of the throat without making sounds. This also slows your reading rate to that of speaking. To check, rest your fingertips lightly against the vocal cord area of your throat. If you feel a vibration, or if you find that your tongue is moving, you are vocalizing.

C. Reading everything at the same speed
When reading, set your rate according to your purpose for reading and the difficulty level of the material. Practice adjusting your rate to suit your material. The more difficult the material, the slower the rate.

D. Regressing out of habit
Regressing means rereading a word, phrase, or sentence out of habit and not because of need. Sometimes, it is necessary to reread something, especially in a difficult passage. But habitual, unnecessary regressing really slows you down. Use a card or paper to cover the text after you read it to prevent regressing.

E. Reading one word at a time
Do you think one word at a time, or in phrases? Slow readers tend to see only one word at a time. Good readers will see several words at a time and their eyes will stop only three or four times as they move across a page. Reading in idea-phrases speeds your reading and improves your understanding of what you have read. Mark the phrases in the sentences of a passage, then practice seeing more than one word at a time.

The best way to read faster is to practice reading just a little faster than is comfortable. Changing reading habits is not easy, after all you have been reading that way for many years. It takes several weeks of conscious effort in order to change bad reading habits. For more information on increasing reading speed, contact the Center for Teaching and Learning.

Nine Good Reading Habits


by Jonathan Mooney

Like all travels in this glamorous and lucrative world of study skills, we have come to the section where I contradict everything I have said up to this point. While I truly believe that each student needs to individualize his approach to school, there is a time and place for good old uniformity and standardization. There are some good habits, which, if your child chooses to use, will increase his retention and comprehension. They are based on a concept called active reading. This idea is simple: The more of your child's brain is engaged in the act of reading, the more he learns. The following strategies are good active reading habits that will help any reader:

  • Use the cover up: For many students, the words on the page run and blur together -- especially if you are hard wired like myself. To mitigate this, use a three by five index card to cover everything except the sentence that your child is reading. When they finish a line, they move the card down and repeat the process.

  • Give the text the finger: Along with the card, have your child follow their reading with their finger, engaging a tactical learning style.

  • Read out loud or mouth the words: Again, another way to engage verbal processing. Many students don't need to literally talk out load -- mouthing the words serves the same end.

  • Keep moving: As always, fidgeting is good for the brain. Keep them moving, to keep them on target.

  • Use three-color highlighting: Highlights are a cheap and easy way to integrate visual memory into the reading process. Buy your child three colors and have them assign a different color to the main points, supporting details, and terms of the reading.

  • Use bookmarks/flagging: Buy your child some type of "red" flag that they can use to mark important ideas or passages. The coolest ones are made by 3M and are literally plastic flaps that come in all different colors and stick directly on to the pages. Also, have your child record in a notebook the page numbers and any thoughts they had on why they flagged that page.

  • Take margin notes: Despite what crotchety old librarians say, books are supposed to be written on -- have your child write notes, questions, comments, snide remarks, or draw pictures in the margins.

  • Write or talk out summaries: Having your child take a few minutes to either write up a reading summary or talk it out will help him retain the readings and ultimately help him recall it come test or essay time.

  • Consider reading notes: I include this one with some hesitation -- reading notes are great for some kids, horrible for others. The problem with reading notes is that for some kids, if they take notes, they'll never finish the reading. The upside of reading notes is that they can obviously help with retention and retrieval of information come test time. So if you decide to work with your child on taking reading notes, make sure you limit them to writing at most one sentence about every other paragraph and summaries at the end of sections or chapters depending on the lengths of the assignments.