Everyone wants their child to do well in school. Good grades impact a child’s self image and increase self-confidence. The ability to learn and study at an early age improves a person’s chances of success in life. Verbal fluency, problem solving skills, and mathematical proficiency will all effect your child’s future. These 5 Rules will improve grades and achievement tests for most children.

1) Read. Children who are read to frequently form a young age develop eye movement skills that allow them to process the printed word. Reading encourages a child to create mental images and develop abstract thinking. If reading is a pleasant habit, the reading necessary for education becomes an ingrained and enjoyable process.

2) Turn off the TV. The average American child watches 3 – 5 hours of TV a day. Studies show that avid TV watchers earn lower scores on achievement tests and suffer language deficits. Children learn through mulitsensory interaction. The passive behavior of TV watching inhibits brain development and the eye movement skills needed to understand printed material. Quickly shifting images create shorter attention spans leading to learning problems in school. The child who rarely watches TV rarely complains of boredom.

3) Exercise. The lack of exercise, fresh air and sunshine can lead to depression, anxiety and obesity. Free play outdoors encourages creativity, problems solving skills and develops a child’s sense of self-sufficiency. Running wild refreshes their minds and blows off steam so they are ready to learn.

4) Nutrition. Breakfast before school famously effects school performance. But it’s not just about eating, it’s also what’s for breakfast. Sugary foods leave a child hungry midday while protein and fiber keep their stomachs satisfied until lunch. Appropriate brain function depends on adequate nutrition. Studies show that lack of protein, minerals and vitamins effect achievement scores and behavior.

5) Sleep. Doctors recommend 11 hours of sleep for children aged 7 – 12. Lack of adequate sleep leads to obesity and interferes with the ability to concentrate and process information. A well rested child is alert, responsive and cheerful.

      So, before you run your child off to the doctor or turn report card day into a battle, follow these simple rules. You may hear complaints over life-style changes but in a few weeks you will see improvements in schoolwork, health and the general happiness of your child.

Recent studies have suggested that sleep apnea is more widespread in children than previously thought. Sleep apnea is a condition in which the sleeper momentarily stops breathing and subsequently wakes up, interrupting needed rest and deep sleep.

Sleep apnea is often caused by obesity and/or weak muscles in the neck and throat area. The loss of sleep due to sleep apnea can lead to fatigue and  the inability to concentrate.

If a child snores, he or she may have sleep apnea. Some doctors have performed tonsillectomies on such children as it was thought that tonsil swelling caused the problem. The children  who suffered sleep apnea and were given tonsillectomies experienced dramatic behavioral and mood changes. Children's behavior problems disappeared. Children with focus problems, mood problems, and poor achievement improved within weeks of the surgery.

In recent years, there has been an increase in ADD and related difficulties among school age children. Years ago, tonsillectomies were routinely performed. Some pediatricians suggest that the decrease of tonsillectomy procedure is related to the increase in childrens' behavior problems, mood problems, and attention problems and is illustrated by the recent spate of sleep apnea related tonsillectomy.

All which underscores the importance of a good night's sleep.