6 Broadcaster Press August 8, 2017 www.broadcasteronline.com Wake Up! Strategies To Help Kids Focus On Their Schoolwork Treat Kids To Lunches That Meet All Needs Some youngsters experience difficulty when the time comes to focus on their schoolwork. Such difficulties may be linked Restrictions to a variety of factors, and parents can be Researchoverwhelmed as they attempt to identify the ers have root cause of their youngsters’ struggles in estimated the classroom. that food According to the Centers for Disease Conallergies trol and Prevention, roughly 6.4 million Ameriaffect one can children between the ages of four and 17 in every 13 have been diagnosed with attention deficit children under the age of 18 in the United hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. ADHD most States alone. That equates to two in every often occurs in children, and these children classroom. The group Food Allergy Research may have difficulty with concentrating, paying & Education says eight foods account for the attention, staying organized, and remembermajority of all reactions: peanuts, tree nuts, ing details. But not all children struggling to soy, milk, eggs, wheat, fish and shellfish. focus on their studies have ADHD. Parents Parents should be cognizant of common food who want to help their kids overcome their allergies and be considerate of other kids issues with regard to focusing can consider a in the classroom who may have allergies by host of approaches and strategies. limiting some of the most common allergy•Speak with a qualified healthcare associated foods in their children’s lunches. professional. Because ADHD is so common, Packaging parents should seek the opinion of a licensed The way foods are presented can improve healthcare professional to determine if their the dining experience. Just ask professional child has the disorder. According to the chefs who go to great lengths on creative National Resource Center on ADHD (www. “plating” in restaurants. Children who are help4adhd.org), psychiatrists, pediatricians, fussy about foods touching might enjoy one neurologists, psychologists, and certain of the economical (and eco-friendly) designs licensed counselors or therapists are qualiof reusable bento boxes, which separate fied to diagnose ADHD. Determining if a child foods into different sections. They also has ADHD is a great first step toward helping help parents pack perfect portion sizes for that youngster overcome his or her strughealthier eating habits. gles in the classroom. A qualified healthcare Snack and food containers now come professional can help develop a strategy to in colorful and clever designs that appeal improve focus, and that may include prescribto the toy-lover in most kids. Also, lunch ing medication to improve the child’s ability gear manufacturers are thinking outside the to concentrate. sandwich to offer pouches and baggies that •Speak with your child’s teacher. Students are leak-proof so that smoothies, soups and who don’t have ADHD can still have trouble yogurts can be enjoyed during lunch, too. focusing on their schoolwork, and parents School lunch may seem like a relatively easy concept for parents to master. However, day in and day out, enterprising moms and dads grow anxious over what to put into kids’ lunch boxes or bags. Parents have foods they want their kids to eat, and then there are foods their grade-schoolers will actually consider. Schools may also place limitations on what kids can bring to school due to allergies or school rules on sweets versus healthy foods. Then there’s the packaging itself. Parents may weigh the benefits of everything from clever accessories to ecofriendly materials. Removing school lunch stress is easy. Once these steps are conquered, sending children off to school with acceptable meals becomes that much easier. Foods Keep a running list of must-have foods to stock the pantry. This will make it easier when it’s time to go shopping. Picky eaters may return again and again to familiar comfort foods. As long as the child is getting enough vitamins and growing, there should be little issue in letting him and her eat the same foods day in and day out. Because parents cannot police what their children eat at school, it’s better to devote time to introducing new foods during breakfast or dinner. Involve kids in some of the food decisions, especially since they are the ones eating the lunch at school. Certain foods may not keep well or become less appealing after sitting in backpacks until lunchtime. Respect kids’ input and try to make some changes accordingly. of such students may want to speak to their children’s teachers to solve the problem. Educators have significant experience dealing with students who have trouble focusing, and they may be able to make certain suggestions to help kids focus on their work. •Minimize distractions at home. Some kids may do well in class but find it hard to focus once they arrive home. That’s because home often has far more distractions than the classroom. Once the time comes for your child to do his or her homework, minimize distractions that can compromise his or her ability to focus. Turn off the television and take kids’ phones away if they have their own phones. During homework time, only allow them to use their computers for their lessons and not to connect with friends via social media. Parents also should make sure they aren’t the distraction. Let kids do their work in peace and quiet, offering to help if need be, but steering clear of kids work areas so they are encouraged to focus and not strike up conversations with mom or dad. •Make lists. Some kids focus better when they know exactly what they have to do. Encourage such youngsters to make lists of their assignments and check items off as they are completed. Checking items off can give kids a sense of accomplishment, which can motivate them to stay focused on their schoolwork going forward. • Encourage breaks. A breather every so often can help kids avoid growing tired. Make sure kids don’t take up another task, such as playing video games or watching television, during their breaks. But keep in mind that standing up every so often to walk around or get a glass of water can help them stay sharp and energized over the long haul. ALL NEW LINE OF RESTONIC MATTRESSES! restonic.com BACK TO SCHOOL le MATTRESS Sa ts Cameo Se 299 $ 349 ................ Full Set.... $ 399 ............... ueen Set $ Q es BarkslheoyFSm t r ir Plu 799 $ 49 5 ........ NOW .... Twin Set ...... $ 49 7 ...... NOW ...... Full Set........ $ ,199 1 ......... NOW ing Set .. ......... 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