| Today the pressure to succeed at school begins even | | | | back on the amount of meals and food is not a good |
| earlier than ever. Children in kindergarten and first | | | | choice. Instead, try to provide healthy snacks. That |
| grade are held to a standard of success that their | | | | should be your goal even if weight is not a concern. |
| parents never had to worry about. While in the past | | | | Sugary snacks and empty calories are not much more |
| those first few years of schooling were pressure free | | | | helpful than no food at all when it comes to helping a |
| and simply intended to introduce children to formal | | | | child keep focused and energized throughout the day. |
| education, today children are tested on their | | | | Fourth, make sure your child is appropriately dressed |
| knowledge and ability within the first weeks of | | | | for the day and their school environment. When the |
| kindergarten and that testing continues throughout the | | | | weather is hot make sure they are dressed in cool |
| rest of their public school education. This places an | | | | clothing, when the weather is cold make sure they are |
| enormous pressure on young children and yet many | | | | dressed in warm clothing. When the weather or school |
| parents are not doing everything they can to give their | | | | environment is changeable then provide layers so the |
| child the edge and help them succeed at school. Giving | | | | child can adjust accordingly. Also make sure the |
| your child the edge does not mean hiring a tutor, buying | | | | clothing is something the child can manage themselves. |
| an expensive educational program, or spending hours | | | | Many bathroom accidents occur among young children |
| every day drilling your child. There are several simple | | | | who have trouble with their clothing and the worry |
| steps every parent can take to give their child the | | | | about this can provide a further distraction. Fifth, |
| edge at school. First, make sure your child has enough | | | | project the right attitude toward school and your child's |
| sleep the night before. Many parents do not send their | | | | education. If you send the message that school is not |
| children to bed until they themselves go to bed. | | | | important, that the teacher is not worthy of respect, |
| Growing children need between 10-12 hours of sleep a | | | | and that your child's learning is not essential then your |
| night. While there are a few children who seem to | | | | child will receive that message loud and clear. As early |
| require less, the majority of children need at least this | | | | as kindergarten and first grade some children decide |
| much. If your child appears tired, is difficult to wake in | | | | to give up on school. Make sure that does not happen |
| the morning, or has circles under her eyes then you | | | | to your child by projecting a positive attitude toward |
| should move her bedtime up until you find the magic | | | | school and education. Sixth, get involved. Know your |
| number that gives her the rest she needs. If she is | | | | child's teachers and school administration. Be familiar |
| tired and lacking energy then it is much more difficult | | | | with their classroom, routine, special events, and |
| for her to learn and pay attention at school. Second, | | | | assignments. The more you know about your child's |
| make sure your child has a good breakfast and is | | | | school life then the more proactive you can be to |
| provided with a good lunch and snack. Growing | | | | head off potential problems and help them succeed in |
| children need to eat frequently. They should never be | | | | school. If you make sure your child has adequate |
| sent to school on any empty stomach and they should | | | | sleep, sufficient food, and appropriate clothing while you |
| not be expected to succeed at school for an entire | | | | project the right attitude and get involved in their |
| day without regular meals and snacks. If you are | | | | education then you have done everything you can to |
| concerned about your child's weight simply cutting | | | | give your child an edge on success. |