Children’s health can have a
noticeable impact on their ability to learn.
Vision and hearing problems, in
particular, can impair 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 medical or dental problems, as well as 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 a positive impact on children’s learning.
Research has shown that
children who eat breakfast do better in school than those who do not.
Monitoring a child’s health,
and paying attention to nutrition and rest, are important ways that parents can
help children succeed in school.
