Send your child to school ready to learn  (Kidshealth.org)

The connection between home and school is key to helping kids do well academically and socially. Here are simple ways you can support your child to have the best day possible. 

• Sleep & Routine - Kids need the right amount of sleep to be alert and ready to learn all day. Most school-age kids need 10 to 12 hours of sleep at night. Lack of sleep can cause hyperactive behaviour and might make it hard for kids to pay attention in class. It’s important to have a consistent bedtime routine, especially on school nights. 

• A nutritious breakfast fuels up kids and gets them ready to learn! If your child is running late some mornings (it happens!), send along fresh fruit, nuts, yoghurt, or half a peanut butter and banana sandwich to eat in the car/before school. 

• Send a Healthy Brain Break! Every class has brain break in the morning during the 1st session. Ensure you send an extra piece of fruit or vegetable for brain break. 

• Pack a healthy lunch.  The basics of a healthy lunch is a sandwich, a piece of fruit (and an extra for brain break), vegetables, either yogurt or cheese, and you may like to pack a small special treat now and again). Click here for more ideas and information about packing a healthy lunch.  It is very important to limit the amount of packaged foods in your child’s lunch box as these usually have high amounts of sugar and preservatives.