Expert tips for surviving winter evenings

12 January 2007

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Dr Amanda Kirby, Dyscovery Centre, University of Wales, Newport gives her four top tips to keep kids entertained at home when they can’t play outside and keeping them healthy throughout the winter months.

Involve your children in deciding the evening meal and get from the cupboards, reading out recipes and stirring sauces Stock up on ‘healthy toys’ – toys such as Happy Families and can keep your children entertained for hours, whilst also teaching them valuable lessons in turn taking and winning and losing Your children’s diet is really important at this time of year, avoid drinks with caffeine (such as Cola drinks) and added sugar as this will give them far too much energy when you want them to be more relaxed Include at least two portions of oily fish in your children’s diet each week, this will provide them with essential Omega 3 fatty acids, which can help improve your children’s concentration – if they don’t like the taste of oily fish thetry a fruit flavoured supplement that can give your children a guaranteed daily dose of Omega 3 fish oil (DHA/EPA)

Expert’s quote
Behaviour expert, Dr Amanda Kirby, Dyscovery Centre, University of Wales, Newport, explains, “The winter months with their dark evenings can be a difficult time for parents, children want to be outside playing but often due to weather and safety they have to be inside, so getting them to concentrate on an indoor activity can make things easier. Being prepared is the key, have ‘healthy games’ available for them to play with so that they don’t just revert to sitting in front of the TV or playing on their computer games.

Diet is also very important. 30 years ago mums were giving their children Omega-3 by the spoonful even though they probably didn’t realise it. 30 years on, Omega-3 remains just as important and fortunately there are now far tastier ways of giving your children Omega 3.Chose an Omega 3 fish oil supplement with a great taste to ensure that kids get a healthy dose of the right type of Omega 3 (DHA/EPA) which can aid children’s concentration, this will mean that activities that you encourage your children to try will be given far more of their attention and hopefully last longer!”

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