AIS News

Do your children’s Monday morning moods seem to last till Friday morning? Well, you are not alone. The glazed over eyes, known as the “look,” and unemotional tone is not because your children are lazy. They are just tired. Early school times and lack of sleep cause children to be pretty grumpy in the morning.

Lack of sleep also makes children less interested in eating breakfast, which is said to be the most important meal of the day. Children would rather get a few extra minutes of sleep instead of waking up early to eat breakfast. The Scholastic website tells parents children need fuel for their brain, and that fuel is food. Food provides the energy necessary to have a productive day. Scholastic also provides a helpful list of breakfast foods to start your child’s day.

Help your children out by buying breakfast food they can eat on the go, or have something waiting for them when they come to the kitchen. Instead of giving them a bowl of cereal filled with sugar, try giving them a healthier option. Some quick, healthy breakfast options are yogurt with fresh fruit and wheat germ (a healthy substitute for granola), a whole-wheat bagel with peanut butter, or a bowl of oatmeal and a glass of fat-free skim milk.

Sleep for Kids, a service of the National Sleep Foundation, says children need 10-11 hours of sleep every night. The website also gives a good list of tips to help students get a healthy amount of sleep, such as removing TVs and computers from their bedrooms. Games, movies, and TV shows are addictive. When these items are not monitored, children may waste hours of much needed sleep on technology. Help remove the distractions, so your children will get a good night’s rest.

Mornings may not be the best time to have a deep conversation with your children because they are not fully awake, so don’t make matters worse by trying to force conversations on major topics and lots of questions. Dinner time and later in the evening is a better time for deep conversation.

Support your children’s education by teaching them time management. Give them set times to watch TV and play video games, or make sure all their homework is done before they spend time on these activities.

Your children’s education is very important-especially at a young age, so help them perform at their full potential. A simple good night’s rest, and a full belly in the morning will truly affect how a child performs in school.

There is a constant emphasis on getting students up to speed and helping students that are falling behind. But what if your child is already meeting state standards for his grade level? Sure, your child’s teacher can do a lot to challenge him, but there are also many things you can do at home.

• Talk to your child’s teacher or librarian about books that are appropriate for an above grade-level reader. Many times, books at higher reading levels contain content for older students so you will want to be selective when choosing challenging books. Hoagies’ Gifted Education reading list has a list of reading materials for above-level readers.
• If your child is in high school, many community colleges allow students to begin earning college credits early.
• For students excelling in math, allow your child to work ahead on concepts being taught in class. For example, if he is learning division, challenge him with remainders. Ask your child’s teacher if the school’s curriculum materials offer challenge books that your child can do at home.
• Many exceptional children do well and have fun with brain teasers. Check your local book store for some or find them online, like those found on National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Hoagies’ Gifted Education brain teasers.
• Take advantage of your community. Museums are learning warehouses. Find a topic your child is interested in, and search for a museum that caters to that interest.

One of the most important things to remember is that a child that needs to be challenged doesn’t simply need more work; he needs more challenging work or activities that are outside or an extension of what he is doing in the classroom. Communication with his teacher is key in order to bridge what you are doing at home with what your child is able to accomplish in the classroom.