Nutrition and Education

Abstract

Research shows that children who eat breakfast regularly have better standardized test scores, better behavior and were less hyperactive than those who skip breakfast, yet a large percentage of children skip breakfast. Many children who do eat breakfast choose foods that are high in sugar, which leads to an increase in food intake during lunch.  This effect has led to an increase in obesity in our country.  Another concern with nutrition in our country is iron deficiency.  Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional problems of child in the United States.  Iron deficiency can lead to shortened attention span, irritability, fatigue and difficulty with concentration all of which affect the child’s ability to learn.  Children’s poor nutritional habits have such an enormous effect on their education and this is becoming an increasingly large concern in our country and the affects it is having on the education of our children is devastating.

Nutrition and Education

                Children of all socioeconomic levels are at-risk for poor nutrition for a variety of reasons.  This lack of nutrition has caused increasing concern for the affects it is having on our children.  Among other concerns, poor nutrition can cause an adverse affect on children’s education.  Education opportunity is an essential par t of what makes our country the great place to live that it is.  Children suffer from this lack of nutrition on a daily basis for a variety of reasons and still we as a country have not found a solution for this growing epidemic and it continues to grow.

Iron Deficiency and the Affects on Education

                Iron deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutritional problems of children in the United States.  Children who suffer from iron deficiency often experience from shortened attention span, irritability, fatigue, and difficulty with concentration.  All of the side effects of iron deficiency play a large part in the child’s ability to learn.  Children who suffer from shortened attention span or difficulty with concentration are also often misconceived as behavior problems as well, a legacy the follows the child from year to year at school and my not always be an accurate portrayal of the child.

The Importance of Breakfast

                The idea that breakfast is the most importance meal of the day is one that is not new to our society.  In fact, from the time we are in pre-school, this is drilled into our head.  Studies have shown, children who ate breakfast regularly had better standardized test scores, better behavior, and were less likely to show hyperactivity than those children who skipped breakfast.  Actually eating breakfast is only half of the story though.  Children who ate breakfasts high in sugar, such as cereals, pancakes with syrup, or chocolate chip muffins, still suffered from the same low test scores and behavioral issues as the children who did not eat breakfast at all.  Breakfasts high in protein, such as eggs were most beneficial for children and provided adequate nutrition to hold the children over until lunch time, increase concentration and cut down on the amount of food eaten during lunch.

The Message We Are Giving Children

                With the number of working parents on the rise, the need for convenience has become a overwhelming reality in our society.  With this trend also comes the growing demand for fast food establishments, and children eating more meals away from home than ever.  Some studies have shown that children obtain over half of their calories from outside the home.  So does the convenience out way the message we are sending to our children and the health concerns we are creating for generations to come?  Fast food tend to be high in fat content and put our future generations at risk of becoming obese and developing other chronic diseases as adults.  Studies have also shown that these foods are burnt up very quickly and cause children to experience hunger quickly after the meal, therefore, increase the child’s intake of foods.

Conclusion

                The lack of regard for nutrition and it’s affects on education is overwhelming in our country.  Our most prevalent nutritional problem is iron deficiency, something that is easily corrected.  Children lose focus early during the day at school because they consume breakfasts high in sugar or don’t eat breakfast at all.  The message we send our children is that convenience is more important than healthy eating habits.  All of these factors are very real in our country today and the effect they are having our future generation is becoming detrimental to their education and health.  If we want to see future generations succeed the issue of nutrition needs to be addressed today!

References

Troccoli, Karen B. (2009), Children’s Nutrition and Leaning, Retrieved November 22, 2010, from http://www.makewayforbaby.com/articles/childrensnutrition.htm

               

The Impact of Early Childhood Education

Abstract

Several studies have confirmed that children learn the most between ages birth and five years of age, yet very few state offer, much less mandate, that children receive early childhood education.  Only two states truly offer universal preschool and only fourteen states require that all children attend at least half-day kindergarten, leaving the other thirty-six states with no requirements on kindergarten attendance at all.  Although, majority of the children in our nation do attend kindergarten, most do not attend full-day programs and studies have indicated that children who attend full-day kindergarten programs excel academically and exhibit less behavioral disruptiveness over those who attend half day kindergarten. Another obstacle faced in correlation to early childhood education is that many of the children who are enrolled in a program are not enrolled in a high-quality program.

Impact of Early Childhood Education

Children learn the most in the first five years of their lives.  Providing high quality education programs before children turn five yields long term benefits for children academically.  Yet in our country the focus on early childhood education has been almost nonexistent and most of our children are not reaping the long term benefits children can receive.  Why, then, do so many children miss out on the opportunity to attend preschool and why are so few children enrolled in full-day kindergarten programs?

Preschool Enrollment and Income

                Enrollment in preschool varies from state to state and there is a direct correlation between preschool enrollment and the family’s income.  Many states offer funding to assist low income families with preschool cost, as well as the federally funded Head Start programs.  The children whose families bring home a gross income of just over the eligibly requirements to qualify for these funding sources often are less able to pay for a private preschool program.  Therefore, preschool enrollment among families with a higher income is more common.  Our current economic condition has also played a role in funding provided to low income families.  State budget cutbacks have reduces the number of children who are served in these programs.  More than half of the three and four year olds not enrolled in preschool come from low income families.

Preschool Enrollment and Quality

                Only two states offer universal preschool to all children, those are Georgia and Oklahoma.  Although participation is a great concern for preschoolers, children who are enrolled in programs are not enrolled in high-quality programs that focus on all aspects of development and provide the child with a solid foundation to build on for years to come.  Children who begin kindergarten behind academically are more likely to remain behind for the duration of their career as a student. Factors that are included in a high-quality program, focused on developmentally appropriate practice, are social, emotional, and healthy development for each child.  By providing children with this solid foundation to build on we are promoting children who are ready to excel in kindergarten and beyond and are less likely to experience behavioral issues in the classroom.

Full-Day Kindergarten vs. Half-Day Kindergarten

                Currently, only fourteen states require that children attend kindergarten of some sort and of those only nine require that full-day kindergarten be offered.  Of the nine states that require full-day kindergarten be offered only two, Louisiana and West Virginia, mandate that children attend full-day kindergarten.  This leaves thirty-six states with no mandates on kindergarten.  Kindergarten is the foundation for many children’s learning and there are no mandates on majority of the states.  It has been shown that children in full-day kindergarten show greater academic achievement than those enrolled in half-day kindergarten.  Full-day kindergarten is particularly beneficial for children from low income families because, as stated before, over half of these children miss out on the opportunity to attend preschool and much of the kindergarten school year is used to assist those who are behind gain the knowledge that others received in preschool.

Conclusion

                As you can see, the state of our current early childhood education programs is lacking in many areas.  Children miss out on opportunities to attend high-quality preschool program, due to income eligibility requirements and a lack of programs that provide high-quality education programs.  Children who are behind upon starting kindergarten tend to stay behind throughout the course of their education and are more likely to exhibit behavioral issues in the classroom, but the trend toward full-day kindergarten could help utilize that extra time and use it to bring those children up to speed.  Providing high-quality preschool programs and full-day kindergarten for all children will help provide children with a solid foundation for children to grow on and excel.

Rocha, Elena (2005). Education: The State We’re In.  Retrieved November 3, 2010, from http://www.americanprogress.org/kf/pre-k%20and%20kindergarten.pdf

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