It should come as no surprise that success or failure at school starts at home. Studies have linked poor academic performance to factors such as lack of sleep, poor nutrition, obesity and lack of parental support. Pay attention to sleep, activity and nutrition, the three pillars of the Army Performance Triad. School-aged children need more sleep than adults — about eight-and-a-half to 11 hours per night. Rather than recommending specific exercise regimens, children should accumulate at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Breakfast is the most important meal for children heading out to school. Breakfast will boost students' energy levels, thereby improving their cognitive performance and help them focus better on their lessons. To save time, prepare part or all of breakfast the night before and spend a few hours on the weekend preparing foods for weekly family meals. Also, get into the habit of reading labels on food products.
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