Hierarchy of needs
Without realizing it, you may be very familiar with the relationship between health and academic performance. A child that feels under the weather can find it difficult to concentrate in class or focus on homework. As human beings, we are conditioned to prioritize our physiological needs. When you are ill, chances are you’ll put your need for achievement on the backburner. This is especially true when it comes to children.
As an influencer of academic performance, health does not only pertain to your child’s physical wellbeing, but also to his or her emotional contentment. When a child has suffered trauma or tragedy, it can have a severely negative influence on his or her schoolwork and conduct during the school day. It all boils down to the hierarchy of needs.
One benefit of quality education
During the later stages of a person’s life, the opposite also becomes true. Academic performance can lead to better health. This is simply because a person that reached higher levels of education typically earns a higher income and they can afford better healthcare. According to some behaviourists, people that reached higher levels of education are better informed and are, therefore, more likely to take care of their health. This means they are more likely to limit their refined sugar intake, exercise, and wear seatbelts. They are also less likely to smoke and drink excessively.
A child that grows up in a high-income household will also have access to better healthcare and nutrition. These kids typically have stronger immune systems and they seldom have difficulty with schoolwork.
The role of government in 2018
Should governments invest more in education or in healthcare? It depends. There are many variables at play here, but what one can be sure of is that there is a close interaction between well-being and academic performance. Healthcare and education as public services should function in close congruence with one another.
Most governments and NGO’s work very hard to ensure quality education and healthcare as these are two prominent contributors to a functional and sustainable society. If you are working in the public sector, or you spend your time thinking about these issues, it may be worth your while to look at these online MPA programs.
These public administration programs are aimed at providing students with the skill set and knowledge to address issues relating to education and healthcare. They also focus on issues such as accountability, public resources, and the management of public agencies. Public administration happens at every level of governance and can also be applied to the day-to-day activities of non-profit organizations.
Public administration value people over productivity. It is solely aimed at improving the wellbeing of the individual and, ultimately, society. In practice, public administration workers aim to provide quality education and healthcare by gathering information and statistics from their entire operational area. From this information, they identify potential problems or weaknesses. They quantify the influence of problem areas and then formulate remedial or precautionary public policies.
Quality education and healthcare provision can play a significant part in the wellbeing of a country. A person that is educated and healthy is typically also productive. These people generally also make decisions that have better outcomes. In this way, quality education and healthcare boost the production sector of an economy and in turn provide income to households.
Why this concerns you
What does all of this mean to you as a mom? As a parent, you directly control your own little economic actor – your household. Since your family’s health can have a ripple effect in other areas of their lives, it is important to make sure that your household maintains a healthy lifestyle. Limiting their sugar intake and encouraging participation in outdoor and physical activities can work wonders for your children’s mental and physical wellbeing. Keep an eye on your children’s sleep hygiene. Send them to bed early and make sure that they don’t spend quality sleeping time on the mobile phone.
Before enrolling your child in a learning institution, do a little bit of research. Does the school encourage healthy living? Make sure they have first-aiders available at all times and that they have support systems in place to cater for children that suffer from victimization or conditions like ADHD. Also, ask for a written eating plan to make sure it meets the requirements for a healthy and balanced diet.
Be involved. Communicate with the teachers and ask your children about their day. Go to parent-teacher conferences and ask specific questions that can give you an idea of your child’s concentration levels and mental well-being when he is in school.