Radio Commentary
Children’s health can have a
noticeable impact on their ability to learn.
Vision and hearing problems, in particular, can affect a
child’s ability to keep up in school.
That’s because an inability to see the blackboard
or hear the teacher can keep a student from understanding what is being taught.
Distractions can also be caused by dental problems or
learning disabilities.
In
Santa Barbara County, children are screened for hearing, vision, and dental
problems in kindergarten or first grade, and again in second, fifth, eighth,
and tenth grade.
In
order to identify potential health problems — including possible lead
poisoning, the state requires preventative physicals for all first-graders.
If
a teacher or school nurse notices a child is having a problem, a referral is
made to the home.
In addition, tips from teachers can help school
psychologists identify behavioral or learning problems, such as attention
deficit disorder.
Nutrition and rest can also have an impact on children’s
learning.
Research has shown that children who eat breakfast do
better in school than those who do not.
Looking
out for a child’s health, and paying attention to nutrition and rest, are
important ways parents can help children succeed in school.
