Try these easy and powerful ways to keep this school year going strong: |
1. | START THE DAY RIGHT. Nutritious breakfasts can get lost in the morning rush. Untraditional fare (say, a whole-wheat tortilla with cheese, refried beans and leftover veggies) can be a satisfying, portable breakfast, says Marilyn Swanson of the USDA’s Children’s Nutrition Research Center in Houston. In a pinch, grab 100% fruit juice and leftovers from the fridge. “Something is better than nothing,” she says. Please remember that a delicious breakfast is served daily in the cafeteria at East as well. ALL food should be eaten in the cafeteria area while at school. |
2. | BOOKMARK THE SCHOOL WEBSITE. Keep up with school news online and with your kids’ teachers via e-mail. “Students with engaged parents tend to succeed,” says Jan Harp Domene, national PTA president. |
3. | WORK OUT DURING HOMEWORK. Research shows that physical activity helps a child academically. So toss a tennis ball during vocabulary drills or kick a soccer ball while reciting times tables, says Michelle May of the American Academy of Family Physicians. |
4. | PUT”ZZZ’S” ON THE A-LIST. Insufficient sleep can hurt children academically the next day. Try to get plenty of sleep each night. |
Source: ParentSmart by Ann Pleshette Murphy, ThinkSmart, USA Weekend Magazine, Aug 29-31, 2008 |
