Parents as teachers means parents helping children learn

Parents as teachers means parents helping children learn. Busy parents and especially single parents raising children can easily incorporate these activities into the daily routine.

As a parent, you are your child's first and best teacher. Your child's attitude toward learning and school in general comes from you. So does his/her work ethic, and both are important to your child's success - in school and out.

Important issues of health and nutrition fall within your domain, issues which can be addressed only by you.

SLEEP

An alarming number of children are simply not getting enough sleep for their brains to function properly.

Lack of sleep may be responsible for most of the failure in schools today!

Most parents are not aware of the general sleep requirements of school-aged children. Many parents send their children off to bed thinking they are going to sleep when, in fact, they are texting or using the computer to communicate with friends or browse the internet. Parents are wising up and learning to ask children to leave cell phones and mp3 players charging in another room at night.

When deprived of sufficient sleep, the brain alternates periods of focus with periods of non-focus. The sleep-deprived child, then, is unable to focus or concentrate. The situation presents itself as ADD-ish behavior.

THE OVER-PROGRAMMED CHILD

Most parents as teachers want their children to be involved in as many activities as possible, and there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, we know that for younger children especially, the more experiences they have, the more dendrites their brains will grow.

However, multiple sports opportunities and extra-curricular activities may be preventing children from getting the rest they need as many of them must stay up late doing the obligatory homework assignments after returning home from these activities.

These sports and extra-curricular activities, though beneficial, may in large quantities be robbing out children of the sleep necessary for optimum brain function. It may also be preventing them from having the time to

play which is of critical importance to child development.

Moderation is the key, and parents as teachers must achieve some sort of balance.

BRAIN FUEL

Glucose is fuel for the brain, and a good breakfast really will help your child learn, especially if it includes orange juice not made from concentrate. Studies by Dr. Fritz Mengert, neuro-epistomologist and learning expert, indicate that 6 oz. of the juice delivered each morning may significantly improve performance of at-risk children.

He also recommends low-fat snacks such as animal crackers and low-salt pretzels to boost glucose amounts at mid morning and in the afternoon to provide a steady amount of fuel for learning. So sending snacks to school with your child is a good way for you to help in your role as teacher.

HYDRATION

The brain is 97% water and heats up during learning so water must be replaced to keep it functioning properly. Sending your child to school with a water bottle and encouraging him/her to drink water regularly at home is very important.

All liquids are not created equal!

There is no substitute for water!

Go to Focus Games from Parents as Teachers
Go to Memory Improvement Exercises from Parents as Teachers