Parenting and Learning Issues

Each child learns differently. Here we offer resources on learning styles and the classroom models that support them, expert advice on how to improve learning, and tips on parental involvement.

View the most popular articles in Parenting and Learning Issues:

What Are Public Schools Doing to Fight Obesity and Is It Working?

Updated
|
What Are Public Schools Doing to Fight Obesity and Is It Working?
Childhood obesity rates continue to climb. While many public schools have implemented policies and programs to combat the problem, there is always more to be done. Keep reading to learn what schools are doing to prevent obesity and how you can help.

The times are always changing and what was considered normal a few decades ago may no longer be the case. While change is often a good thing, sometimes it isn’t – that is the case with the rising prevalence of obesity among children. Childhood obesity rates are ever-climbing, and it has become something of an epidemic in the United States.

While obesity may seem like nothing more than an aesthetic issue, body weight has a significant impact on health and wellness – especially for children. Children who are overweight or obese are much more likely to become obese adults and that puts them at right for a whole host of dangerous health problems that could negatively impact their lifespan and their quality of life. As a parent, it is your job to provide for your children and to keep them happy and healthy. If your child is overweight or obese, don’t play it off as a minor issue – step up and do something about it!

In this article, we’ll discuss the problem of childhood obesity and what public schools are doing to prevent it. We’ll also discuss some at-home tips you can implement to help your child achieve and maintain healthy body weight.

This video examines the issue of childhood obesity.

Identifying the Problem: Obesity in Children and Adolescents

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, over 78 million adults and

. . .read more

Tips for Parents of Public School Children with Food Allergies

Updated
|
Tips for Parents of Public School Children with Food Allergies
Food allergies are no laughing matter and it doesn't take long for them to become dangerous. Keep reading to learn how to keep your child safe at school if he has a food allergy.
As a parent, it is your job to worry about your child but worrying won’t protect him or her. When you send your child to school, you are giving up control and placing his care in the hands of his teachers and administrators. If your child suffers from a food allergy, going to school could put him at risk for accidental exposure to his allergen.

While you can’t enclose your child in a plastic bubble to protect him, there are simple steps you can take to keep him safe at school. Keep reading to learn more about food allergies in children and to receive tips for keeping your child safe when he is at school.

This video explains parents' concerns about sending their allergy-prone children to school.

How Common Are Food Allergies in Children?

According to the Food Allergy Research & Education Corporation, there are more than 170 foods that have been reported to cause allergic reactions. The eight primary food allergens are milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish. Current estimates suggest that roughly 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies, including nearly 6 million children under the age of 18.

A food allergy is more than just a sensitivity to a certain type of food – it is a medical condition triggered by exposure to an allergen that induces a harmful immune response in the body. Allergies can range in severity, but some of the

. . .read more

Trending: Meal Delivery Services for Student Lunches?

Updated
|
Trending: Meal Delivery Services for Student Lunches?
Meal delivery services are all the rage these days, but could they be the solution to the school lunch problem? Keep reading to find out!

America is one of the wealthiest nations in the world and, yet, every day millions of children go hungry. In fact, more than 13 million children live in “food insecure” homes meaning that their families don’t have enough food to eat on a regular basis.

To combat child hunger, there are a number of programs that provide free or low-cost lunches for students but even these lunches aren’t always healthy. Research shows time and again just how important a healthy lunch is not only for child growth and development but also for student performance.

In this article, we’ll explore the importance of a healthy lunch for public school students as well as some of the problems facing school lunches today. We’ll also talk about a topic that is currently trending – meal delivery services for student lunches.

This TED Talk discusses the impact of school meals.

How Does a Healthy Lunch Impact Student Performance?

If you’ve ever skipped breakfast before heading to work, you’re probably familiar with that mental fog that starts to set in around mid-morning. Without a healthy breakfast to jump-start your metabolism and to provide fuel for your body, it becomes difficult to concentrate on the task at hand. Now, imagine experiencing that on a daily basis as a child.

While there is no doubt that missing meals can have a detrimental effect on child growth and student performance, new research

. . .read more

10 Top Study Tips for High School Students Preparing for College

Updated
|
10 Top Study Tips for High School Students Preparing for College
Are you preparing to make the transition from high school to college? Many things are going to change for you in the coming years, so prepare for them academically by learning strong study skills now that you can apply during your college years.

Preparing for college can be nerve-wracking for a high school student, even if you’ve already been accepted by a school. During that final year of high school, it may be difficult to concentrate on academics, but you want to show your college that you aren’t slacking off just because you’ve already been accepted. It is always important to do your best.

This video offers a step-by-step plan to help you organize your week.

As you prepare for college, not only should you be keeping up with your schoolwork, but you should take some time to evaluate your study habits to see if you are properly prepared for college. In this article, you’ll receive the top ten study tips to get you ready for the transition into college.

How Much Studying Do College Students Do?

According to a national study, the average full-time college student spends about 15 hours per week studying. Of course, the number of hours a student spends studying doesn’t necessarily correlate with their level of academic success. For example, students who studied an average of 20 hours per week or more were not always fully prepared for class, according to the results of a campus-wide student engagement survey. The amount of time students spend studying may also depend on their major and their class load. For example, senior engineering students reported 19 hours of study per week while students in the

. . .read more

Gap Year: Points to Consider and How to Do It Right

Updated
|
Gap Year: Points to Consider and How to Do It Right
Though many students move straight into college after high school, there is some benefit to taking a "gap year". Keep reading to learn what a gap year is and how it might benefit you.

Every year, millions of high school students graduate and move on to attend college or university. So many students follow this path that it has almost become an expectation for high schoolers to move immediately on to college after graduation. Of those millions upon millions of high school graduates, however, some don’t follow tradition – some take a year off between high school and college. This is called a gap year.

What exactly is a gap year, and what are the potential benefits? In this article, you’ll receive an overview of what a gap year is and the associated pros and cons. You’ll also receive tips for making the most of your gap year, should you choose to take one.

This TED Talk explains the benefit of taking a gap year.

What is a Gap Year?

Though many high school graduates move immediately to college in the fall after graduation, many students do not. The term “gap year” refers to the year off some students take between graduating high school and college. There are many reasons why a student might take a gap year. For many, a gap year is a time to work and save money to pay for tuition, lodging, and supplies while attending college. For others, it is something unexpected – an unplanned setback caused by an injury or significant life event.

Gap years first became standard practice in the United

. . .read more

Recent Articles

Texas Schools: The Voucher/School Choice Debate
Texas Schools: The Voucher/School Choice Debate
The issue of school choice and a voucher system is currently being revisited in Houston and across the state of Texas, with strong opinions on both sides of the debate.
Fuel Up to Play 60 Focuses on Integrating Fitness and Wellness into the School Day
Fuel Up to Play 60 Focuses on Integrating Fitness and Wellness into the School Day
What if NFL players came to your school? With the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the NFL, nutrition and exercise are promoted during the school day. NFL players participate in the program by coming to schools and talking to students about fitness. Learn more about the program and some of the schools that are implementing it.
What Parents Need to Know About Lunch Shaming
What Parents Need to Know About Lunch Shaming
Students all over the nation go hungry every day not because their schools don’t offer lunch, but because they refuse them to children with outstanding debts. Read on to learn about the horror that is lunch shaming and what can be done about it.

Parenting and Learning Issues

IMPROVING LEARNING
A comprehensive look at the latest trends, expert advice and recent studies into improving student learning. Explore the latest studies into links between student performance, sleep and music. See why schools are opting for later start times and year round schedules.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT FROM K-12
Learn how direct involvement in your child’s education can impact school performance. Get expert advice on how to get involved, learn why and when you need to talk to a teacher and ways to make changes on campus.
BULLYING
An overview of bullying in schools, laws to protect students, and the impact on education. This section provides great tips on protecting your child from being bullied or becoming a bully. Learn about the latest anti-bullying laws and see how cyber-bullying effects your child’s school performance.
TYPES OF LEARNING
What type of learner is your child? Be in the know about different types of learning and which classrooms are best suited for each type. What is project-based learning? Cooperative Learning? Would your child benefit from a blended learning experience? Explore these teaching techniques and learn how they could improve your child’s performance.
KINDERGARTEN AND ELEMENTARY ISSUES
Weigh the pros and cons of preschool, full day kindergarten and other issues affecting our youngest learners. Learn what can be done to help your child prepare to enter school, boost confidence, and encourage reading at the grade school level.
HIGH SCHOOL ISSUES
Learn more about issues specific to high school students. Get an overview of high school graduation rates, college readiness, career choice and social issues impacting teenagers in public schools.