Are Your Children Ready to Learn?

What is a key factor in enhancing a child's ability to learn?

If you answered a nutritious diet, you're right! Education doesn't start in the classroom. It starts at the breakfast table. A well-nourished child is a child who is ready to learn. Hungry children or children with nutrient deficiencies are not likely to reach their full learning potential. Furthermore, when children can't reach their learning potential day after day, they can get farther and farther behind. Studies show that iron deficiency can lead to difficulty concentrating and poor performance. Missing or skipping meals can have a negative effect on a child's performance too. Breakfast eaters tend to have higher school attendance and perform better in school. They concentrate better, solve problems more easily and have better muscle coordination. Breakfast skippers tend to be tardy or absent more times and are more likely to miss valuable class time due to visits to the school nurse. The reason? Hunger-related stomachaches.

What Can Teachers Do?

· Support adopting a breakfast program at your school. Many schools offer breakfast on "test" days, but why stop there? Making sure children are ready to learn every day can boost test scores even more. Working and low-income parents often appreciate the availability of a breakfast program too.

· Plan a mid-morning snack break for young children. Many teachers or child care providers encourage good eating habits and keep energy levels up by providing a time when children can enjoy a nutritious snack brought from home. Bravo for them! They're providing an opportunity for children to model and learn healthy eating habits.

· Advocate adequate lunch periods. Children should be allowed at least 20 minutes to eat lunch as some students require a longer eating time than others. Students who have an adequate opportunity to refuel are more likely to be attentive in the afternoon. Timing of lunch can also play a role, as found in a study conducted at a Rockford elementary school. Investigators found that young students left less food on their plates when recess was scheduled before lunch instead of after. No surprise here!

· Encourage children to choose a nutritious lunch. In many schools and child care centers, meals are subsidized by funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Food service staff in these sites follow USDA guidelines to ensure children receive meals that meet their nutrient and energy needs. An added benefit: meals are lower in fat and contain more fruits, vegetables and grains now. Studies show that children who eat school lunches, regardless of income level, generally have higher intakes of key nutrients.