# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
At a glance

While there are downsides to playing video games, there are also surprising benefits.

Video games can help kids build skills and make social connections.

Kids who play video games are often very creative.

Here are six surprising benefits of playing video games.

Studies show that kids who play video games may get a small boost to their reading skills. This is true even for kids who struggle with reading, and even when playing action games.

Researchers think that this may happen because kids need to figure out text instructions to play. There's also a fun factor. Kids who are reluctant to open a traditional book may rush to read a website or internet forum to get the latest on their favorite game.

That doesn't mean video games should replace books, though.

Many games - like Minecraft - are set in 3D virtual worlds that kids have to navigate. And there's no GPS or smartphone map app to lead the way.

The result is that kids who play these games have the chance to practice their visual-spatial skills. This can lead to a better understanding of distance and space.

At the heart of every video game is a challenge. Some games can be mindless, like Space Invaders. But many others - from puzzles and mysteries, to managing virtual cities or empires - offer kids the chance to take on a problem and work to find a solution.

Some researchers say kids who play these video games improve in three areas: planning, organization, and flexible thinking. But don't get too excited about this. It's not clear that these gaming problem-solving skills carry over into daily life. And there's no evidence that so-called "train the brain" games can improve real-world skills.

Some kids have trouble fitting in and making friends in real life. Video games can be a refuge for them to find people to connect with in positive way. In our busy lives, games offer virtual playdates with real-life friends.

Video games also give kids something to talk about at school. These days, games are a mainstream topic of conversation for kids, just like sports and music. An interest in gaming can help kids who have trouble coming up with topics to discuss.

5. Imaginative play and creativity

When kids are young, there's a lot of space for imaginative play, from LEGOs to dolls to make-believe. But for tweens and teens, society sometimes frowns on that play. Video games give kids a chance to continue imaginative play.

There's also some evidence that games encourage creative thinking. In one study, 12-year-old gamers were asked to draw, tell stories, ask questions, and make predictions. All the kids showed high levels of creativity and curiosity.

The 16-year-old winner of the first Fortnite World Cup won $3 million. The other 99 solo finalists won anywhere from $50,000 to $1.8 million each.

Just as with professional sports, the chances of becoming a professional video gamer are very small. However, the video gaming industry is growing by leaps and bounds, much faster than traditional sports and entertainment.

There are lots of careers in this growing industry - careers like coding, marketing, or running events.

Key takeaways

Video games give older kids a chance to continue imaginative play.

Kids can get extra reading practice through video games.

The gaming industry is growing, and your child's interest could spark a career.

About the author

About the author

Gail Belsky is executive editor at Understood. She has written and edited for major media outlets, specializing in parenting, health, and career content.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Jodi Gold, MD is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist in private practice.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
While there are downsides to playing video games, there are also surprising benefits. Video games can help kids build skills and make social connections. Kids who play video games are often very creative. Here are six surprising benefits of playing video games.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Playing sports as a kid leads to several important benefits such as improved physical health, enhanced social skills, and better mental health. Signing a child up for team sports and sending them to one of the best boarding schools for athletes has advantages that far outweigh the cost for many years to come due to the many added benefits that extend well beyond childhood and into one's adulthood.

Team Work: Cooperation is a skill that your child will need throughout their entire lifetime. When they enter the workplace, participate in extracurricular activities such as volunteering or an academic club, or even when they are married, your child will need to know how to compromise, delegate, and take direction and even criticism from others. A child who previously played sports will have developed pertinent skills by working with their teammates to achieve a common goal as well as how to support others while working towards their own personal goals.

Healthy Competition: When your child participates in sports, it is likely that they will not win every competition or always be the best athlete on the team or even on the field. By experiencing loss and being exposed to other high level athletes who may be better than them, your child will develop a healthy attitude towards competition. As a parent, encourage your child to use his or her losses as motivation to improve and to view elite athletes who are at the same level as them as examples for where they can improve and how they can become better athletes themselves. These lessons translate into adulthood on many occasions, such as when your child is surpassed during a promotion review in favor of another employee or when they have a coworker who outperforms them.

Social Skills: By playing sports, your child will meet a wide variety of personality types that they may not have otherwise encountered. These skills are especially important in today's culture where technology impacts screen time and even discourages in-person interactions more than ever before. Kids who play sports will learn how to get along with other personalities and adapt to others in order to resolve conflict, achieve common goals, and communicate effectively.

Self-Confidence: A child who participates in sports will set goals for themselves and experience a sense of reward and accomplishment when achieving their goals. They will also experience victories, achieve personal bests, and receive praise from their coaches, teammates, and you as a parent when they perform well. All of these moments help to build self-confidence and show your child that, when they set their mind on a goal, they can achieve great success. This confidence also stays with them into adulthood as they set goals in the workplace or in their personal lives.

Responsibility: Participating in sports teaches kids the value of responsibility. If they skip a practice or put in minimal effort, they will see how this impacts their personal outcome and possibly even their team's performance. If your child's participation in their sport is dependent on their grades, they will learn how neglecting their homework and studies may eventually affect more than just themselves when they're restricted from participating in sports due to poor grades. Your child will also learn to be responsible for the items that correlate to participation in their sport, from making sure their uniforms are clean to ensuring their equipment is in pristine condition. All of these items translate beyond their childhood and into the workplace when their performance impacts their coworkers (and even their paycheck!) or when neglecting tasks at home.

Leadership: Playing sports provides kids with the opportunity to take on leadership roles. Whether it's being a team captain or simply taking the initiative to make a big decision in the heat of the moment, kids learn quick thinking, delegating, and respectful interaction with their peers, coaches, and officials through sports.

Healthy Habits: Kids who play sports understand proper nutrition, rest, and other positive health habits that impact their athletic performance. When a child learns from a young age that there's a direct correlation between how they treat their bodies and how they feel and perform, they develop an appreciation for practicing good health. These habits, developed at a young age, can be carried into adulthood even if your child doesn't continue to be as active when they're older. Individuals who played sports as children may also be less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol as adults because, as kids, they didn't want to impact their athletic performance by using harmful substances.

By signing your child up for youth sports or sending them to one of the best boarding schools for athletes, such as IMG Academy, you won't just be setting them up for more immediate athletic benefits, but you'll also be preparing them for a successful adulthood. Involving your child in sports could even benefit you, their parent, by inspiring you to become more active and to pursue a healthier lifestyle yourself.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Playing Sports Prepares Kids for the "Real World"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Playing sports as a kid leads to several important benefits such as improved physical health, enhanced social skills, and better mental health. Signing a child up for team sports and sending them to one of the best boarding schools for athletes has advantages that far outweigh the cost for many years to come due to the many added benefits that extend well beyond childhood and ...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Unexpected Benefits of Having a Dog | Purina

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dogs enrich our lives, but did you know that there are actually numerous social and health benefits to having a dog? Read on to find out more.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.theclassroom.com/four-day-school-week-6153762.html

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
The Classroom | Empowering Students in Their College Journey

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Dr. Kelly S. Meier - Updated May 03, 2019

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There are several facts about a four-day school week to review. Four-day school week test scores show minor differences in comparison to a five-day schedule. Originally created as a budgetary solution, schools report only a .4 to 2.5 percent savings. More four-day school week research is needed.

# data[].attributes.body
https://kids.lovetoknow.com/child-behavior-development-parenting/when-should-kids-get-cell-phones

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
9 Easy April Fools’ Pranks for Kids That’ll Get Everyone Laughing by Kate Miller-Wilson

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Gym class is invariably portrayed on the silver screen as a time of awkwardness and embarrassment when kids have to climb ropes and do a certain number of push-ups in a minute's time. However, gym class is much different now, and it is not surprising that today's students and parents are questioning why it's even a mandatory part of the day. After all, according to an MSNBC investigation, researchers have found that the average high school gym class only keeps students physically active for an average of 16 minutes! In a class period that is about 45 minutes long, that isn't a lot of active time. In today's educational climate in which standardized test performance in core subjects carries a significant amount of weight with regard to teacher and school evaluations, "wasting" all that time doing nothing in PE is something districts cannot afford. As such, PE classes have been cut so students can spend more time in core classes.

Supporters of mandatory gym programs contend that physical education classes have a wide range of benefits. According to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, physical education classes help children develop fine and gross motor skills, learn cooperation and teamwork, reduce stress, and improve self-confidence and self-esteem. Furthermore, supporters argue that public schools have a responsibility to encourage children to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle - especially as a rising number of young Americans are obese. Activities that promote muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility, they argue, can help reverse the trend of American

children gaining weight.

Subsequently, some school leaders are left without a clear answer in the debate. Should fitness classes be required to fulfill a school's curriculum requirements?

This video looks into the question of whether or not physical education should remain in public schools.
Are Physical Education Programs Really Fit?
Further expounding on the issue, MSNBC also analyzes a major study of physical education programs conducted by Cornell University. The study, based on information from 37,000 high school students' responses to surveys from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reveals that most students do not believe gym class is effective. This has led nearly all states to create and pass new bills to reform public schools' fitness education programs.

Unfortunately, while many states have increased the time students spend in gym class, Cornell's study found that adding 200 more minutes of time to gym class each week did not produce substantial changes. Even by adding 200 more weekly minutes, the studies showed that boys generally engaged in only 7.5 minutes of more activity per day, while girls only participated in activity 8 additional minutes each week.

Attempting to explain these disappointing results, Cornell's lead professor of policy analysis and management asserts, "The rest of the extra gym time is likely spent being sedentary - most likely standing around idly while playing sports like softball or volleyball that don't require constant movement." Cornell's results hit a familiar nerve, as a study of fitness classes in Texas elementary schools also found that the majority of students spent the class time inactive; specifically, the data suggested that students were only engaging in exercise or movement for approximately 3 minutes during the entire class period.

As reported in USA Today, what would benefit children more is periods of rigorous physical activity that make them break a sweat. High-energy games like tag and dodgeball are great examples of activities that have little downtime. At a minimum, elementary-aged children should get 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. Middle school and high school students should get 45 minutes of exercise a day. And about half of that time should be spent in activities like those mentioned above that get the heart racing.
Should Schools Discontinue Gym Classes?
Despite the results, the lead professor of the Cornell study does not necessarily believe that gym classes should be banned in public schools, arguing, "We're not saying schools should get rid of (physical education)," but "there has to be a meaningful change in the curriculum."

While many of the nation's gym classes may not be performing at peak levels, supporters of fitness education aim to spotlight the potential of reform, as well as the accomplishments many public schools have achieved.

In examining the changing policies of fitness education, it is important to understand how gym classes in public schools could be modernized. While running laps and doing jumping jacks used to be a staple of many physical education classes, many schools have diversified their options to reflect a more modern take on gym class. Schools offer instruction in traditional team sports and games like flag football and red rover, but also emphasize healthy eating habits, and the benefits of lifting weights and offer unique experiences from bowling to fly-fishing to kayaking. By offering more intriguing physical activities for students, many public schools are reporting positive feedback from both their students and community members.

Many physical education leaders are arguing for a complete paradigm shift in the area of fitness and wellness instruction. Elizabeth Spletzer, a highly experienced fitness instructor currently coordinating the University of Minnesota's Physical Education Teacher Licensor program, strives to teach future fitness teachers the diverse learning benefits that children gain from physical activity. Instead of seeing gym class as only a physical activity, reformists like Spletzer want others to understand the psychosocial benefits of exercise, including improved self-esteem, better behavior and decreased instances of depression and stress. There are academic benefits as well. According to a report by the New York Times, students who are physically active have better attention and focus, improved problem-solving abilities, better working memory, and a general improvement in both reading and math scores. In fact, the academic benefits students gain from physical activity during the school day appear to outweigh the benefits of increasing class time in subjects such as reading and math.

While schools debate the future of physical education, one fact remains certain: gym class will never look the same again!

Questions? Contact us on Facebook. @publicschoolreview

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Pros and Cons of Mandatory Gym Class in Public Schools - PublicSchoolReview.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Leaders debate the pros and cons of mandatory gym classes in public schools. Learn more about the controversy and whether gym class should be a phenomenon of the past.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
5 Reasons Kids Need Homework and 5 Reasons They Don't

The benefits of homework has been debated by teachers and parents for years as the very word evokes very negative connotations to every involved, students, parents and teachers. Although many people think of homework as doing more harm than good by causing copious amounts of unnecessary stress to everyone, others believe that it has great advantages for children by encouraging them to think more independently outside the classroom.
The Benefits
The first benefit of homework is that it allows students and teachers to work more closely together. They can discuss their assignments or any problems that they are having with parts of their textbooks, before or after classes.

The second benefit is that it can bring families closer together as students may ask their parents or siblings for help on their homework. Not only will this help the students get a better understanding of their work with any parts they are stuck on, it will also allow parents to get more involved in their child's educational life.

Thirdly, doing homework will prepare students for the big end tests. If a child does poorly on an assignment then they will learn what is necessary to do well on the next test without being punished. It also provides students with the opportunity to practice at what it takes to be successful in school. Like they say, practice makes perfect.

Doing homework is also a great way to develop responsibilities. By being assigned work one day and knowing that it has to be done by the next day, they will develop a sense of punctuality by turning their work in on time.

And finally it allows parents to see how their children are being educated and they can develop a better idea of how they can help their child. However, some parents, students and even some teachers feel that after 7-8 hours of lessons in school, it is unfair to expect students to come home and work for another three hours.
The Potential Harm
The first reason that children should not be given homework is that they need time to relax and take their minds off work. The pressure of having to complete homework every night is quite daunting for most children and they need time to refresh their minds and bodies.

Secondly, it reduces the amount of time that children could be spending with their families. Family time is especially important to a growing child and without it social problems can crop up and a family unit can be compromised by a lack of time being spent together.

Thirdly, homework can cause conflict between children and parents when the parent wants to the child to do their homework but meets resistance from the student to do an overwhelming task.

Too much homework can encourage cheating because children end up copying off one another in an attempt to finish all their assignments. They then end up being rewarded for cheating which doesn't benefit them at all.

And finally, a lot of teachers don't often have the time to grade papers properly as they are too busy with designing lesson plans and consulting teaching resources in order to just manage lessons. So by the time students are getting their papers back, the class has moved on to a new topic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
5 Reasons Kids Need Homework and 5 Reasons They Don't

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Although many people think of homework as doing more harm than good by causing copious amounts of unnecessary stress to everyone, others believe that it has great advantages for children by encouraging them to think more independently outside the classroom.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Trying to decide between year-round vs. traditional school? Here's a look at the pros and cons of year-round school system.

Think year-round school might be right for your child, but not sure if they'll miss summer vacation? Before you make the decision between year-round school vs. traditional school, here's a look at what this school system looks like and the pros and cons of year-round school.

What is year-round school?

Kids who attend a year-round school go to class the same number of days as students on a traditional school schedule. The only difference? A year-round school calendar is spread out more evenly over the year. Students get more frequent breaks, but their breaks are shorter and they don't get a traditional 10- to 12-week summer break.

Here are some of the pros and cons of year-round school.

Longer-lasting learning with shorter, more intense bursts of instruction.

More difficulty scheduling meaningful family time.

Shorter breaks in learning, which can cause a decline in academic skills and knowledge.

Possible child care challenges, if the care options in your area follow a traditional school track.

Less boredom during long summer breaks.

Fewer unique learning opportunities that come with traditional summer vacations.

The pros of year-round school

Eliminating any sort of long break from school can improve a child's academic achievement. Long summers are known to cause "summer slide," or the decline of academic skills and knowledge over the course of the extended vacation. Even if you hire a tutor to help your child in subjects like math, it may not be enough to prevent at least a little of this "summer slide" from occurring. This loss in learning varies across grade level, subject matter and family income, according to the National Summer Learning Association, but it affects all children in some way.

"If your child doesn't have a long break, it helps prevent summer learning loss," says Carol Lloyd, the executive editor at Great Schools. "Summer learning loss is a major issue for kids. All children - no matter their economic level - experience a slide in math over the summer months." The slide varies for other subjects.

Though it may seem fun, a summer break can often lead to boredom. Year-round school eliminates the need to fill 12 weeks of vacation with activities to keep your child interested and engaged.

"If the American summer is not structured, it's almost too long," Lloyd says. "A lot of kids don't have enough to do during the summer - they get bored."

The shorter, more intense bursts of instruction along with more breaks is another pro of year-round school, says Matthew Lynch, a writer, education activist and the former dean of the school of education, psychology, and interdisciplinary studies at Virginia Union University.

The cons of year-round school

The most obvious downside of year-round school is the effect it can have on families. Quality family time is important to the emotional and developmental well being of a child. Not having a summer break can make it difficult to schedule meaningful family time.

"The major drawback is the assumed detriment to family structure," Lynch says. "American families have become accustomed to the traditional long summer vacation. Parents may find it difficult to schedule vacations and family reunions."

Finding child care that works well with year-round school is often another challenge for parents - no matter whether you're considering hiring babysitters or nannies.

"Child care could also become a concern, particularly if multiple, shorter school vacations are scheduled throughout the year, at times when parents are working," Lynch says.

In addition, the absence of a true summer can be a negative for all concerned. Summers off have long been a light at the end of the tunnel for teachers after an intense school year.

"Every job comes with its share of headaches and, at one point or another, employees in all industries claim that they are burned out," Lynch says. He adds that this is of particular concern in education because tired teachers can have a direct effect on their students.

Finally, traditional summer vacations can provide unique learning opportunities you can't get in a classroom. Taking that time away from kids means they could miss out on art, culture and special adventures.

"During summer break, kids are getting all sorts of experiences they wouldn't get in school," Lloyd says. "Summer is a great supplement to what your child is getting in school. If they're in year-round school your child will miss out on those experiences."

Is year-round school right for your family?

Deciding whether or not you send your child to year-round school is a very personal decision. Here are a steps to take before making your final decision:

Weigh the pros and cons of year-round school.

Visit the school in question.

If your child is old enough, see what he thinks about this new school plan.

Consider any difficulties you may have securing child care.

Ultimately go with what's best for your family.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Trying to decide between year-round vs. traditional school? Here's a look at the pros and cons of year-round school system. Think year-round school might be right for your child, but not sure if they'll miss summer vacation? Before you make the decision between year-round school vs.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why every school should bring dogs into the classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Should Schools Take a Break from Recess? | Education World

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Does it make sense, educationally and developmentally, to eliminate recess for students in elementary school?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Tooga / The Image Bank via Getty Images

UPDATED* States are reporting that some of their schools are dropping out of the healthier school-lunch program because they can't afford to participate. But does that really mean nutritious school lunches (and snacks) are doomed?

The majority of the nation's schools - about 94% - are participating in the National School Lunch Program, which reimburses schools for the meals they serve and provides food at lower cost to feed lower-income students. These schools must follow new criteria required by the 2010 Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, and include more grains, fresh fruits and vegetables in lunches. But for some, these changes are pretty challenging to follow.

In a survey conducted this summer of more than 520 district nutrition directors, the School Nutrition Association reported that a very small percentage - 1% - of schools were dropping out of the program for the 2013-14 school year, and 3% were considering abandoning the program.

( MORE: What the New USDA Rules for Healthier School Snacks Mean for Schools)

Why? Kids aren't buying the better-for-them options in the cafeteria, and that's leading to a drop in revenue for some schools. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pays schools back about $2.93 cents per lunch served to a child eligible for free meals, and the USDA offers an additional 6¢ per lunch for schools meeting the standards. But for smaller or nonprofit private schools that simply don't have enough kids who qualify for these lunches, the often higher costs to feed them healthy meals that adhere to the new nutrition guidelines are not covered by this reimbursement.

"My understanding, from a few of the districts that have dropped off, is that their free and reduced percentage could be as low as 5% of the students, which means that all they are getting for the reimbursable meal is 30¢," says Julia Bauscher, the president-elect of the School Nutrition Association and school-nutrition director at Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Ky. "If they had previously not offered a lot of whole grains or fruits and vegetables, or their students didn't choose them, there was a significant increase in cost of providing the meals."

Take the Voorheesville Central School District near Albany, N.Y., which the Associated Press featured in its story about schools struggling with the new lunch-program requirements. Superintendent Teresa Snyder says the district lost $30,000 in revenue during the first quarter of the year because of the program, since students either brought lunch from home or went without, instead of purchasing the healthier options offered in the cafeteria.

But that district is very small, and less than 6% of its students qualify for reduced or free lunch. The school still offers healthy food, and to find a way to maintain the school-lunch program, administrators worked with students to develop a nutritious and more cost-effective menu that would appeal to kids. "For us, this is not a political statement, but an economic one. We believe in the intent of the law, it simply does not apply to a district like ours," says Snyder. "I do believe our issues revolve around our small population of free and reduced lunch - the reimbursements are so low they do not balance the cost of providing the meals according to the guidelines."

( MORE: Stricter School-Lunch Standards Lead to Lighter Kids)

Smaller schools may also face an additional hurdle, since most of the people responsible for achieving this balance are volunteers who aren't trained in nutrition - or food distribution. "In Kansas we have a lot of private schools and oftentimes the food-service director may be a parent, and they may not have had a lot of background in food service, so they need additional help and training. Our public schools have people who have more experience," says Cheryl Johnson, director of child nutrition and wellness for the Kansas State Department of Education.

Of course, the entire program is predicated on the fact that children will welcome - and eat - the healthier options. As TIME has reported, schools with the greatest success in making their cafeterias healthier started early and introduced changes gradually. The Jefferson County Public Schools district in Louisville, Ky., for example, made its lunchrooms offer 50% whole grains for an entire year before the rules were even enacted, for example.

"The bigger the difference between what [the students] were accustomed to seeing on their serving line in 2011 to 2012 vs. what they saw in 2012 to 2013, the more difficult it was for the school food-service director to address the needs and concerns of the students," says Bauscher.

USDA undersecretary Kevin Concannon says the schools that have been the most successful have also considered food presentation. For instance, dyeing applesauce bright green seems to draw students to grab it in the lunch line - possibly because they think it's sweeter and more decadent than it actually is. "It's a matter of really training the palate. Kids are the same as adults, we get used to eating certain ways and all of a sudden there's an abrupt change," he says.

( MORE: More Food for Hungry Students: USDA Tweaks School Meals)

The most difficult to please, not surprisingly, are teens in high school. Because they are probably more set in their eating habits, and because high school athletes, for example, need to eat more calories, these schools have experienced the most backlash against the new lunch options, which many students felt were too skimpy. (Wallace County High School students in Sharon Springs, Kans., even made a video that went viral last year in which they sang about their hunger pangs.)

In response to these complaints, the USDA decided to waive some of the original restrictions, by removing limits on the amount of protein and whole grains per meal. Those amendments to the rules will remain in effect this school year. Johnson says after the video, there was a 5% drop in participation among Kansas schools, but that had shrunk to only 3% by the end of the school year.

It may take several school years for the new lunch standards to be accepted, and several more before their effects are seen in children's eating habits. What we consume, not to mention the process of sourcing, preparing and distributing food, can't be changed overnight, much less over a semester or two. "Eating healthier is a good thing, but it is more expensive. And the truth is most students don't want to eat healthier, so there has been and will be a transition period because what is being served at school in many cases doesn't look like what they eat at home," says Michael Smith, the superintendent at Tuscola Community Unit School District No. 301 in Tuscola, Ill. "I'm a proponent of the new standards health-wise, but it is another example of how all of these issues are dumped on schools. I wish they would also be addressed in other places where students eat, like fast-food [restaurants] and gas stations."

Still, the goal of the new standards is to encourage healthy eating early on, before unhealthy habits set in. If children in elementary schools are seeing more grains and fresh produce in their cafeterias, then they may be more likely to try them and continue eating them as adolescents and adults. School, after all, is a place for learning, and that includes the cafeteria.

*This piece was updated with the latest numbers on school lunch participation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Some Schools Are Saying 'No Thanks' to the School-Lunch Program | TIME.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
UPDATED* States are reporting that some of their schools are dropping out of the healthier school-lunch program because they can't afford to participate. But does that really mean nutritious school lunches (and snacks) are doomed?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
By not giving your child a place of her own -- a simple space in which she can emote, do inner work, and most importantly, be private -- you are telling her, in so many words, that she can't be trusted.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
15 Surprising Benefits of Playing Video Games

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Evidence is mounting that the benefits of play go well beyond entertainment and improved hand-eye coordination.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Sports are a part of our culture and touch nearly everyone's life to some degree. Getting your child involved in sports has many benefits; however, some parents also have some valid concerns about involving their child in sports, like time commitments and the potential for injuries. You know your child, but generally, the benefits of playing sports far outweigh the drawbacks.

Here are the five biggest reasons why you should let your child play sports and never look back.
Sports are Fun!
...and that is - by far - the most important thing. Remember, they are kids and playing with or making new friends while running around is fun. As a bonus, they will unwittingly learn life lessons and team strategies. If you or your child is hesitant, take them to a game and let them see how the game works and the interaction among the players. Soon they will be itching to join the fun!
Promoting an Active Lifestyle
It stands to reason that being on the move helps kids stay in shape and builds athleticism and endurance. Playing sports can also help to reduce body fat, control body weight, help fight depression and anxiety and strengthen bones. Developing an active lifestyle early means that there's a better chance that kids maintain it in the long run.
Learning Sportsmanship
In sports leagues there are winners and losers, competition is part of the game, but more importantly, kids learn sportsmanship and how to overcome adversity. Learning how to deal with things that don't go your way, like a missed shot or foul call, help children grow. Being a good sport, both in athletics and life is essential to being a good citizen.
Time-management Skills
There is a time commitment when joining a sport, but that is where kids begin to learn important time-management skills. If your child knows he has a game that evening but cannot play unless his homework is done, he is more likely to get that homework done before the game! Your child starts disciplining themselves and setting priorities without even realizing they are doing it.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Teamwork is an important life skill. It's also an essential part of team sports. Participation in sports allows kids to make lasting friendships, develop communication skills, feel a sense of community and learn to respect their teammates and coaches.

Even athletes in individual sports learn to work as a team with their coach and make lasting friendships with others in their sport.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Five Reasons Why Your Child Should Play Sports

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sports are a part of our culture and touch nearly everyone's life to some degree. Getting your child involved in sports has many benefits; however, some parents also have some valid concerns about involving their child in sports, like time commitments and the potential for injuries.

# data[].attributes.headline
10 Benefits of Dogs & Children Growing Up Together

# data[].attributes.subject
10 Benefits of Dogs & Children Growing Up Together

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.purina.co.uk/find-a-pet/articles/getting-a-dog/adoption/benefits-of-dogs-for-children

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Benefits of Dogs & Children Growing Up Together | Purina

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When raised together, dogs and children can be the perfect duo and they offer a number of benefits to each other too! Find out more with Purina.

# data[].attributes.body
https://youtu.be/ugPTJMpyTNg

# data[].attributes.body
https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/online-id.html

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Internet is amazing! But it also has some things you need to watch out for.

Who Are You Online?

You're always you, of course. But if you use a smartphone, tablet, or computer to play games and text with friends, you also have an online identity. Games and websites might let you create a profile picture that represents you. It's fun to dress up that character and maybe give it a sense of style you'd never try at school.

Apps and websites also let you choose your own username. If you want to be known as King_of_Ketchup, that's your new name. So if you start calling yourself the King of Ketchup, does that mean you really like ketchup? Should you tell your new online friends how much you love ketchup? That's up to you, but it brings up a good point: How much should you share about your real self online?

You may feel fine telling your best friends about your biggest crush, but what if the whole school could see your poem about your crush's beautiful eyes? What if strangers could see it?

There are rules about being online, just like there are rules about what you do and say in other places. It's important you learn the rules so you can play safely online.

Keep Your Privacy

Anybody who uses the Internet has been asked to sign in, log in, or create a profile. Kids need to check with a parent or grown-up before doing so. Why? This information could be used for reasons you wouldn't like, like getting a lot of junk email.

Another word about email: If you have your own account, let your mom or dad know before you reply to email that asks for your personal information. Some email looks official, but it's actually a trick to get your personal info.

Another way to keep your privacy is to choose a screen name or email account name that isn't your real name. For instance, instead of "Jack_Smith," why not choose "Sk8boardKing21"? Only your friends and family will know your code name!

Social Media and Strangers

Maybe you're allowed to use your phone to send texts or watch videos. As you get older, you might get interested in social media sites. These usually have a minimum age (13 years), but many kids look at these sites before they're 13.

Social media sites let you text, share photos, play online games with friends, and tell people as much or as little about yourself as you want. But they also can let you meet strangers. It might seem fun to make new friends, but do not communicate with strangers you meet online. Don't talk to them, agree to phone them, or email them photos of yourself.

To a kid, this can seem kind of silly. The writer might seem really nice and tell you how you sound really smart and cute. Unfortunately, kids have been tricked online by people who pretend to be something that they're not. Someone might lie and say they're in sixth grade too, when they're really all grown up. Some kids have found themselves in a dangerous situation when they agreed to meet the mysterious online "friend" in person.

Let your parents know if a stranger emails you, sends a text message, or starts a conversation with you online. A grown-up should decide what's best to do, which may include changing your email address or telling the police. In general, if you're thinking about creating an account on a social media site, talk with your mom or dad first.

Online Bullying

When you're using the computer, it can be tempting to hide behind a username to play a joke on someone by teasing the person or pretending to be someone else. Or maybe you're angry with someone and it's easier to say something mean if the person doesn't know it's you.

Just like in the real world, it's mean and hurtful to do stuff like that online. Even if you're only kidding, they might not know that you're only joking and they might be very hurt or angry by what you said. It's a lonely feeling when you don't know who's messing with you. Is it someone just being funny or does the person really mean it?

Whether they're strangers or friends, the rule is: Be kind online. Schools, teachers, and parents are all getting stricter about what is OK or not OK to send as a message on your phone or computer.

Here's a good test: If you wouldn't say it to someone's face, don't say it to the person on the computer. And just like with regular bullying, tell a grownup if you or someone you know is being upset in this way.

Rules to Follow

If you're a kid who likes to have fun and chat with friends online, here's how you can stay safe and avoid problems:

Stick to safer sites. Your parents and teachers can guide you to the best sites for you. Some sites have age restrictions, so you might be tempted to lie about your age. It's safer to tell the truth and avoid those sites until you're older.

Guard your passwords. If someone can sign in as you, you have no control over what they do or say. And everyone will think it's you! So don't share your passwords with anyone except your parents.

Limit what you share. Never tell a stranger where you live or your phone number. If you're not sure if you should share something, ask a parent. Remember that anything you put online or post on a site is there forever, even if you try to delete it. If you wouldn't want your entire class to know or see something, you shouldn't share it with anyone online, not even your best friends.

Don't be mean or embarrass other people online. Just like you, there's a real person attached to that screen name who has feelings too.

Always tell if you see strange or bad online behavior. Tell an adult right away if someone says something to you that makes you uncomfortable. Also tell an adult if you see anyone bullying or saying strange stuff to other kids.

Be choosy about your online friends. Some sites let kids make lots of friends with people they don't know. But online friends are not the same as real in-person friends. Never agree to meet an online friend in person or give out personal information about yourself. It's dangerous because some people pretend to be kids online but actually are creepy adults.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Online, just like in the real world, it's always better to be safe than sorry! Here's how kids can stay safe on the Internet.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Report%3A School is the best place for kids to be physically active because they spend so many hours there

Elementary school children should spend at least 30 minutes a day in PE class

Middle school and high school students should get an average of 45 minutes a day in PE

Kids need to break a sweat at school.

Students should be doing at least 60 minutes of vigorous or moderate-intensity physical activity at school, with more than half of the activity occurring during regular educational hours and the remaining amount before and after school, says a report released Thursday by the Institute of Medicine.

Estimates suggest that only about half of U.S. kids meet the government's physical-activity guideline of doing at least 60 minutes of vigorous or moderate-intensity physical activity every day, the report says. School is the best place for kids to be physically active because they spend so much time there, it says.

Among the recommendations from the expert committee convened by the institute:

* Elementary school children should spend at least 30 minutes a day in PE class; middle school and high school students should get an average of 45 minutes a day in PE. That's 150 minutes a week for elementary kids and 225 minutes for middle and high school students.

* At least half of the PE class time should be spent doing vigorous to moderate-intensity physical activity.

* Students should do additional vigorous or moderate-intensity activity throughout the day, including during recess, during classroom breaks that are physically active or in other active-learning opportunities.

* There should be other options to be physically active before and after school, including intramural and extramural sports, active before- and after-school programs and walking/biking/skateboarding to and from school.

"This is a whole-of-school approach. It's not just physical education. It's everything that occurs during school as well as around the school day," says Harold Kohl III, professor of epidemiology and kinesiology at the University of Texas School of Public Health and chair of the committee that did the report.

In many schools, physical-education classes and recess have been squeezed out because of increasing educational demands and tough financial times. Since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2001, 44% of school administrators report cutting significant time from PE and recess so there's more time for subjects such as reading and math, the report says.

Mark Terry, president of the National Association of Elementary School Principals and a principal at Eubanks Intermediate School in Southlake, Texas, says, "We all want healthy kids. It's a great goal, but a difficult one.

"You have to look at the unintended consequences of things like this. They are well-meaning, and they are good for kids, but you have to alter the amount of time you have for other subjects," he says.

"The problem is, what are you going to do less of? Are you going to do away with art or cut back on music or cut back on the minutes you have in the classroom?"

Having programs before and after school sounds like a good idea, but the question is who is going to run them and who is going to pay for them, Terry says.

Kohl responds: "We tried to be realistic in these recommendations, and there are creative ways to work these things without sacrificing other subject matter."

Currently, a third of children in the USA are overweight or obese, putting them at greater risk of developing a host of debilitating and costly diseases, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Physical activity improves kids' fitness, lowers their risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes and helps build strong bones and muscles. Children who are more active have greater attention spans and better academic performance, the report says.

The report recommends that the Department of Education designate physical education as a core subject like math and reading. "It is as important because it affects kids' health, cognitive function and overall development," Kohl says.

The report urges state legislatures and departments of education to adopt and/or strengthen physical education and recess policies, as well as before- and after-school policies, to meet the goals the report outlines.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Report: More PE, activity programs needed in schools

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Report%3A School is the best place for kids to be physically active because they spend so many hours there Elementary school children should spend at least 30 minutes a day in PE class Middle school and high school students should get an average of 45 minutes a day in PE Kids need to break a sweat at school.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Many students and their parents are frazzled by the amount of homework being piled on in the schools. Yet researchers say that American students have just the right amount of homework.

"Kids today are overwhelmed!" a parent recently wrote in an email to GreatSchools.org "My first-grade son was required to research a significant person from history and write a paper of at least two pages about the person, with a bibliography. How can he be expected to do that by himself? He just started to learn to read and write a couple of months ago. Schools are pushing too hard and expecting too much from kids."

Diane Garfield, a fifth grade teacher in San Francisco, concurs. "I believe that we're stressing children out," she says.

But hold on, it's not just the kids who are stressed out. "Teachers nowadays assign these almost college-level projects with requirements that make my mouth fall open with disbelief," says another frustrated parent. "It's not just the kids who suffer!"

"How many people take home an average of two hours or more of work that must be completed for the next day?" asks Tonya Noonan Herring, a New Mexico mother of three, an attorney and a former high school English teacher. "Most of us, even attorneys, do not do this. Bottom line: students have too much homework and most of it is not productive or necessary."

Homework studies

How do educational researchers weigh in on the issue? According to Brian Gill, a senior social scientist at the Rand Corporation, there is no evidence that kids are doing more homework than they did before.

"If you look at high school kids in the late '90s, they're not doing substantially more homework than kids did in the '80s, '70s, '60s or the '40s," he says. "In fact, the trends through most of this time period are pretty flat. And most high school students in this country don't do a lot of homework. The median appears to be about four hours a week."

Education researchers like Gill base their conclusions, in part, on data gathered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests.

"It doesn't suggest that most kids are doing a tremendous amount," says Gill. "That's not to say there aren't any kids with too much homework. There surely are some. There's enormous variation across communities. But it's not a crisis in that it's a very small proportion of kids who are spending an enormous amount of time on homework."

Etta Kralovec, author of The End of Homework: How Homework Disrupts Families, Overburdens Children, and Limits Learning, disagrees, saying NAEP data is not a reliable source of information. "Students take the NAEP test and one of the questions they have to fill out is, 'How much homework did you do last night' Anybody who knows schools knows that teachers by and large do not give homework the night before a national assessment. It just doesn't happen. Teachers are very clear with kids that they need to get a good night's sleep and they need to eat well to prepare for a test.

"So asking a kid how much homework they did the night before a national test and claiming that that data tells us anything about the general run of the mill experience of kids and homework over the school year is, I think, really dishonest."

Further muddying the waters is a AP/AOL poll that suggests that most Americans feel that their children are getting the right amount of homework. It found that 57% of parents felt that their child was assigned about the right amount of homework, 23% thought there was too little and 19% thought there was too much.

One indisputable fact

One homework fact that educators do agree upon is that the young child today is doing more homework than ever before.

"Parents are correct in saying that they didn't get homework in the early grades and that their kids do," says Harris Cooper, professor of psychology and director of the education program at Duke University.

Gill quantifies the change this way: "There has been some increase in homework for the kids in kindergarten, first grade and second grade. But it's been an increase from zero to 20 minutes a day. So that is something that's fairly new in the last quarter century."

The history of homework

In his research, Gill found that homework has always been controversial. "Around the turn of the 20th century, the Ladies' Home Journal carried on a crusade against homework. They thought that kids were better off spending their time outside playing and looking at clouds. The most spectacular success this movement had was in the state of California, where in 1901 the legislature passed a law abolishing homework in grades K-8. That lasted about 15 years and then was quietly repealed. Then there was a lot of activism against homework again in the 1930s."

The proponents of homework have remained consistent in their reasons for why homework is a beneficial practice, says Gill. "One, it extends the work in the classroom with additional time on task. Second, it develops habits of independent study. Third, it's a form of communication between the school and the parents. It gives parents an idea of what their kids are doing in school."

The anti-homework crowd has also been consistent in their reasons for wanting to abolish or reduce homework.

"The first one is children's health," says Gill. "A hundred years ago, you had medical doctors testifying that heavy loads of books were causing children's spines to be bent."

The more things change, the more they stay the same, it seems. There were also concerns about excessive amounts of stress.

"Although they didn't use the term 'stress,'" says Gill. "They worried about 'nervous breakdowns.'"

"In the 1930s, there were lots of graduate students in education schools around the country who were doing experiments that claimed to show that homework had no academic value - that kids who got homework didn't learn any more than kids who didn't," Gill continues. Also, a lot of the opposition to homework, in the first half of the 20th century, was motivated by a notion that it was a leftover from a 19th-century model of schooling, which was based on recitation, memorization and drill. Progressive educators were trying to replace that with something more creative, something more interesting to kids."

The more-is-better movement

Garfield, the San Francisco fifth-grade teacher, says that when she started teaching 30 years ago, she didn't give any homework. "Then parents started asking for it," she says. "I got In junior high and high school there's so much homework, they need to get prepared." So I bought that one. I said, 'OK, they need to be prepared.' But they don't need two hours."

Cooper sees the trend toward more homework as symptomatic of high-achieving parents who want the best for their children. "Part of it, I think, is pressure from the parents with regard to their desire to have their kids be competitive for the best universities in the country. The communities in which homework is being piled on are generally affluent communities."

Homework guidelines

What's a parent to do, you ask? Fortunately, there are some sanity-saving homework guidelines.

Cooper points to "The 10-Minute Rule" formulated by the National PTA and the National Education Association, which suggests that kids should be doing about 10 minutes of homework per night per grade level. In other words, 10 minutes for first-graders, 20 for second-graders and so on.

Too much homework vs. the optimal amount

Cooper has found that the correlation between homework and achievement is generally supportive of these guidelines. "We found that for kids in elementary school there was hardly any relationship between how much homework young children did and how well they were doing in school, but in middle school the relationship is positive and increases until the kids were doing between an hour to two hours a night, which is right where the 10-minute rule says it's going to be optimal.

"After that it didn't go up anymore. Kids that reported doing more than two hours of homework a night in middle school weren't doing any better in school than kids who were doing between an hour to two hours."

Garfield has a very clear homework policy that she distributes to her parents at the beginning of each school year. "I give one subject a night. It's what we were studying in class or preparation for the next day. It should be done within half an hour at most. I believe that children have many outside activities now and they also need to live fully as children. To have them work for six hours a day at school and then go home and work for hours at night does not seem right. It doesn't allow them to have a childhood."

International comparisons

How do American kids fare when compared to students in other countries? Professors Gerald LeTendre and David Baker of Pennsylvania State University conclude in their 2005 book, National Differences, Global Similarities: World Culture and the Future of Schooling, that American middle-schoolers do more homework than their peers in Japan, Korea or Taiwan, but less than their peers in Singapore and Hong Kong.

One of the surprising findings of their research was that more homework does not correlate with higher test scores. LeTendre notes: "That really flummoxes people because they say, 'Doesn't doing more homework mean getting better scores?' The answer quite simply is no."

Homework is a complicated thing

To be effective, homework must be used in a certain way, he says. "Let me give you an example. Most homework in the fourth grade in the U.S. is worksheets. Fill them out, turn them in, maybe the teacher will check them, maybe not. That is a very ineffective use of homework. An effective use of homework would be the teacher sitting down and thinking 'Elizabeth has trouble with number placement, so I'm going to give her seven problems on number placement.' Then the next day the teacher sits down with Elizabeth and she says, 'Was this hard for you? Where did you have difficulty?' Then she gives Elizabeth either more or less material. As you can imagine, that kind of homework rarely happens."

Shotgun homework

"What typically happens is people give what we call 'shotgun homework': blanket drills, questions and problems from the book. On a national level that's associated with less well-functioning school systems," he says. "In a sense, you could sort of think of it as a sign of weaker teachers or less well-prepared teachers. Over time, we see that in elementary and middle schools more and more homework is being given, and that countries around the world are doing this in an attempt to increase their test scores, and that is basically a failing strategy."

Additional resources
Books
The End of Homework: How Homework Disrupts Families, Overburdens Children, and Limits Learning by Etta Kralovec and John Buell, Beacon Press, 2001.

The Battle Over Homework: Common Ground for Administrators, Teachers, and Parents by Harris M. Cooper, Corwin Press, 2001.

Seven Steps to Homework Success: A Family Guide to Solving Common Homework Problems by Sydney Zentall and Sam Goldstein, Specialty Press, 1998.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Has the amount of homework your child gets caused tears? Stolen sleep? Forced your family to sacrifice whole weekends? You're not alone.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Year-round school calendars offer the same 160 to 180 days of schooling as the traditional nine-month school calendar. The difference is that the school vacations are distributed over the year rather than primarily in the summer. The long summer break is believed to have been created to ensure children were home to help parents harvest crops on family farms, a need that is no longer relevant for most families.

While the year-round schedule is not what most adults remember from their own school experience, it may not be as challenging or undesirable as some assume it to be. Children are not given less time off, but instead, the usual nine months on, three months off schedule is redistributed with a schedule of short instruction periods that alternate with shorter breaks across the whole year.

Learn more about the pros and cons of year-round school.

The Debate Over Year-Round School

Proponents of year-round schools say it may be a way to increase academic achievement and be beneficial to many working families, but opponents have also identified potential drawbacks. The debate over year-round schools has uncovered numerous pros and cons to be weighed by parents considering whether it is the right choice for their children and larger school community.

The Pros and Cons of Year-Round School

Reduces learning loss over summer break

Costs to implement the new schedule

No need for summer break

Higher operating costs in the summer

Evenly distributed breaks for vacations

Teens could not have summer jobs

Consistent year-round childcare need

Siblings may be on different multi-track schedules

Uses a multi-track system to maximize school use

Students would not have summer sports, summer camps

Makes teaching a full-time profession

Could be challenging to pay teachers for year-round work

Pros of Year-Round School

Some of the pros of year-round schooling include:﻿﻿

Decreased need to re-teach skills after long vacations, allowing teachers to use classroom time more efficiently.

Extending the school year may help make teaching a full-time, more lucrative profession for educators if year-round schools can cut costs through multi-tracking programs.

Families who struggle to find childcare or pay childcare expenses will benefit, as will children who are in sub-par childcare during summer vacation or after school care.

Multi-tracking programs, those in which groups of students are on different school schedules, may allow for more school consolidation.

Remediation needs can be addressed during the school year as opposed to during summer programs, possibly decreasing the need to include summer school in local budgets.

Shorter summer breaks mean students are less likely to incur summer learning loss, which may increase academic performance for underprivileged children and decrease the number of students being served by intervention programs.

Vacation time can be more evenly distributed throughout the year, making it easier to schedule family vacations and for students to revitalize themselves more frequently.

Cons of Year-Round School

Some of the arguments against year-round schooling include:﻿﻿

Children in year-round schools would not be able to participate in sports teams or programs that operate in the summertime.

Initial costs associated with starting or changing a traditional school to a year-round school are high.

Multi-tracking programs mean that parents could possibly have children that are on different schedules.

School budgets and staffing issues simply may not allow for extended school-year programs. Many schools already struggle to pay teachers a competitive wage, making it hard to keep high-quality teachers. The cost of teaching as a full-time endeavor may not be feasible either locally or federally.

School maintenance costs, including day-to-day upkeep, air-conditioning, and utilities, can increase significantly t if schools are open during the summer.

Students in year-round school may miss out on opportunities to spend time with children of other ages while learning about nature, as typical summer camp experiences may no longer be a part of the childhood experience.

Teens who need to work to help support themselves or make money for college may have difficulty holding or finding a job if they do not have the entire summer off.

Increasing Popularity of Year-Round School

Frederick M. Hess, director of Education Policy Studies of the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, notes that few countries offer more than seven consecutive weeks of vacation for students. This contrasts with the United States' average of 13 weeks.

In a 2008 report titled "Summer Vacation Is No Longer Necessary," Hess suggested that following the agrarian calendar is an anachronistic way of running schools-that, although year-round school calendars are not a uniform solution, families should have more options for schools that operate year-round.﻿﻿

That opinion is gaining traction. In fact, a growing number of schools have opted to transition to a year-round calendar model.

According to an education policy report prepared for members of Congress in 2014,﻿﻿ the number of year-round schools went from 410 (educating 350,000 students) in the 1980s to more than 3,700 (educating two million students) across 45 states in 2012.

Such growth in the numbers has school officials looking into research that examines both benefits in learning for students, but also how year-round schools affect the overall cost of education for all parties involved.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Facts to Help Parents Identify the Pros and Cons of Year-Round School

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Year-round schooling offers the same 180 days as the traditional nine-month school calendar, but it comes with much debate and a lengthy pros and cons list.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.petsintheclassroom.org/benefits-of-classroom-animals/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Classroom animals are wonderful resources for teachers to make learning fun in all subjects!

Pets Bring so Many New Ways to Learn

Whether it's Math ("how much does a hamster weigh?") or Science, ("what does a snake eat?") Geography ("what part of the world do ferrets come from?") or Grammar ("what words would we use to describe a goldfish?") students will approach learning all these subjects with a new enthusiasm and interest. Other classes can even come visit your classroom pets and your students can create special presentations about the animals.

Pets Enrich the Classroom Experience

Even kids with no exposure to animals or nature in their home environment can see, feel, touch and make connections to the wide world of animals.

Observing and caring for an animal instills a sense of responsibility and respect for life.

A pet brings increased sensitivity and awareness of the feelings and needs of others-both animals and humans.

Kids learn that all living things need more than just food and water for survival.

Students will see directly how their behavior and actions affect others.

Studies show that the presence of animals tends to lessen tension in the classroom.

A Child's Health, Education and Welfare

Caring for pets in the classroom is one way of improving school attendance and teaching children about responsibility.

Health & Education

It's official. Studies show that children from families with pets are better equipped to fight off infection than kids from non-pet households, showing significantly higher levels of immune system performance. When school attendance records were compared side by side, researchers discovered that kids with pets averaged more days at school every year than their pet-free counterparts.

The study also showed that kids turn to their pets for emotional well-being, with 40% of children choosing pet companionship when feeling down. Kids were also found to seek out their pets when feeling tired, upset, scared or lonely, and 53% of respondents said they enjoy doing homework with pets nearby. "Being around animals is extremely good for children", says Dr. Harvey Markovitch, pediatrician and editor of The Archives of Disease in Childhood. "They're good for morale, and teach children about relationships and about the needs of another living being - learning to care for a pet helps them to learn how to care for people". Studies show caring for pets aids in improving school attendance and teaching children about discoveryhealth.com

Studies show caring for pets aids in improving school attendance and teaching children about responsibility.
Kids and Pets-A winning combination!
Pets and Emotional Growth

Taking care of a pet provides opportunities for learning; builds a child's self-esteem and develops strong human animal bonds.

Pets Encourage Nurturing

Nobody enjoys being treated roughly. Kids soon learn that if they want to be liked and trusted by the family cat, they'll need to treat her carefully and kindly. This sort of training benefits all kids, but is especially important to small boys who don't often get the chance in our society to practice nurturing skills as girls do.

Pets Build Self Esteem

Helping to take care of a pet gives a child a sense of pride and accomplishment, especially if the animal is able to return the affection. Shari Young Kuchenbecker, Ph.D., research psychologist at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, says, "The child who cares for a pet knows that what he does matters, and so he'll want to do more of it. The more successfully he feeds, walks, or emotionally bonds with the pet, the more confident he'll feel." In fact, studies conducted by the Waltham Centre have shown that children with pets have higher levels of self-esteem than those without pets.

Pets Teach Responsibility

Even a small child can begin to learn to care for the needs of another living being. Whether helping to empty a cup of dry kibble into the rabbit's bowl, or filling the hamster's water bottle, it's never too early to start teaching kids proper animal care. Of course, parents or teachers must monitor all pet care that the child carries out. Kids should be expected to fulfill their responsibilities, but when the inevitable slip-ups occur, we shouldn't make too much of a fuss; we should just point out that the pet was counting on him.

Pets Become Friends

Lots of animals such as cats, dogs and guinea pigs love human contact and can become a child's best buddy. Kids can even develop strong human animal bonds with non-responsive animals such as fish or turtles. These relationships help to strengthen a child's social skills, giving them the potential to do better in a school setting. (sesameworkshop.org)

There are many benefits to having classroom pets! Here are the benefits two teachers shared with us through our Pets in the Classroom Success Story Video Contest!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Classroom Pets Stimulate Learning Classroom animals are wonderful resources for teachers to make learning fun in all subjects! Pets Bring so Many New Ways to Learn Whether it's Math ("how much does a hamster weigh?") or Science,

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
As Schools Cut Recess, Kids’ Learning Will Suffer, Experts Say

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Schools are cutting recess in favor of academic time, with 7 percent of U.S. schools now offering no recess time to kids as young as second grade. Some experts say this is a very bad idea, depriving c

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Dear EarthTalk: I hear that many school cafeterias have nutrition standards no better-even worse-than those of fast food chains. What can be done about this? - Betsy Edison, Nashville, TN
Americans have done a great job making sure that our kids have something to eat at school regardless of socioeconomic status, with the National School Lunch Program providing low-cost or free lunches to upwards of 31 million students at 92 percent of U.S. public and private schools.

But that doesn't mean the food has been especially nutritious, and public health experts say it's no wonder our kids are more obese than ever when we feed them trans fats, salts and sodas for lunch. Kids get half their daily calories at school, so what's for lunch there has a big impact on health and lasting eating habits.

A 2008 analysis of school lunches by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that American kids consume very few fruits and vegetables in their cafeterias-with potatoes accounting for a third of all vegetables consumed. IOM also found that kids were eating many refined grains and too much saturated fat and sodium. A 2009 study by USA Today found that meat used by McDonald's and Burger King was tested for bacteria and unsafe pathogens up to 10 times as much as meat bound for U.S. school cafeterias.

In response to these stark findings, along with vigorous advocacy by First Lady Michelle Obama, things are starting to improve. In 2010, Congress voted to revamp the nation's school lunch program by enacting the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA). The higher standards in the new law seek to align school meals with the federal 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans by upping the availability and portion sizes of fruits, vegetables and whole grains (and requiring students to select a fruit or vegetable), establishing calorie ranges, removing trans fats and limiting sodium levels. The law also incentivizes schools to take part with generous meal reimbursement funds. The new standards went into effect in 2012 and have been working their way through school districts from coast-to-coast and getting rave reviews in the process.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health who collected plate waste data among more than 1,000 students in four schools in urban, low-income school districts both before and after HHFKA took effect found that fruit selection increased 23 percent following implementation: "Average per person fruit consumption was unchanged," said researchers, "but because more students selected fruit overall, more fruit was consumed post-implementation." Also, per student vegetable consumption went up 16.2 percent.

But just because public health researchers think the program is going well doesn't mean Congress will keep it going. The Republican-dominated House of Representatives has included waivers for school lunch nutrition standards in its fiscal-year 2015 Agriculture Appropriations bill. "The provision would allow schools with a 6-month net loss of revenue to opt out of providing the healthier meals outlined by the HHFKA," Dr. Jennifer Woo Baidal writes in the New England Journal of Medicine. "A deficit of any amount from any cause could allow schools to return to the same meals that the IOM found in 2008 to be nutritionally lacking." Consumers interested in protecting the new nutritional standards should weigh in by calling, writing or e-mailing their Congressional representatives and speaking up for healthier kids.

CONTACTS: National School Lunch Program, www.fns.usda.gov/nslp/national-school-lunch-program-nslp; IOM, ; HHFKA, www.fns.usda.gov/initiative/hhfka.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine ( www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dear EarthTalk : I hear that many school cafeterias have nutrition standards no better-even worse-than those of fast food chains. What can be done about this? - Betsy Edison, Nashville, TN Americans have done a great job making sure that our kids have something to eat at school regardless of socioeconomic status, with the National School Lunch Program providing low-cost or free lunches to upwards of 31 million students at 92 percent of U.S.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Posted on April 20 2020

If your children don't have a space of their own in your home, you should do something about this ASAP.

Kids of all ages can benefit from a space that they know is theirs, theirs to play in, theirs to read in and theirs to relax in.

For toddlers, this can be as simple as a corner of your living room (so that they can be with you but also away from you at the same time), a designated outdoor space (so that they are not trampling your garden), a place in the kitchen where they can help prepare food.

For school-going children these needs will change, in different ways for juniors and seniors.

Why do kids need their own space?

Because giving them their own space will let them know that you trust them with their own space to do the things they love.

Children deserve their privacy too. And for that, they need a space that's dedicated to them.

Children should have their own freedom, even if it's within the limits you impose as parents. This will make the transition from childhood to adolescence run a lot smoother.

By giving your children their own dedicated space from early on, you're setting the grounds for the independence they will start to demand later on.

The trick is giving your children responsibility you can measure, which will inspire them to reach for more. More independence, more freedom; both things that need to be earned, because that's the precedent you're setting.

When your children show that they're ready for the next step of their growth, you can offer them their own space.

Of course, your children's space should have some guidelines or parameters set by you. But first, they need to earn that space.

How can they earn their own space?

By being responsible not just in school, but also at home. Foster independence through responsibility and gratitude. If you do something right, I will show you how grateful I am by giving you the things you've earned.

When you foster a healthy sense of independence, this will translate into good decision-making, healthy choices, and strong self-esteem.

A great way to promote this is with reward charts, with rewards that suit their needs, ages and wants.

Why should they earn their space?

Because instead of just giving your children what they ask for every second, you're teaching them how to earn it and how valuable that is.

You need to guide your child's development and offer positive reinforcement when they do good. Through that, they can earn a space of their own.

Whether that's a bedroom for themselves, a playroom, a music room, etc., will depend on where your child stands and the things they need and enjoy.

Giving them this space will promote their sense of independence, and they will understand that independence goes hand in hand with responsibility, commitment, and obligation.

As they mature and transition into other stages of their life, they will find comfort in knowing that they have a space they can call their own.

This space is safe, and it's where they'll be able to get to know themselves. They will be able to explore their creativity and imagination, but also what makes them unique. This is a place in which they can explore their feelings and meet with their inner voice whenever they need. Where they can think about the new things that they're discovering every day and find solutions to the problems and conflicts they may be having.

Just because they're children doesn't mean they don't have a complex inner world. It's important that you acknowledge this and give them the tools to explore that inner world.

Set up a space for them and you won't regret it!

iKds offer a great selection of products that can assist you in providing your child with a unique space dedicated for their use.

Have a look at the vast range of TeePee tents, Play Mats, Wall Decorations and more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If your children don't have a space of their own in your home, you should do something about this ASAP. Kids of all ages can benefit from a space that they know is theirs, theirs to play in, theirs to read in and theirs to relax in.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
D ue to its vast reach, unparalleled popularity and foundation of positive values, sport is definitely one of the greatest things man has ever created. It's also a powerful tool that breaks down all the barriers and helps us feel good about ourselves, both physically and mentally. Sport is quite beneficial for children too: by playing sports children develop physical skills, exercise, make new friends, have fun, learn to be a team member, learn about play fair, improve self-esteem, etc.

The enhancement of physical and mental development of children is certainly the most important contribution of sports, but the list of values your child may learn and acquire through sports does not end here. Other positive aspects are numerous, which reveals the true beauty of sport.

When I went to basketball raining for the first time, I wasn't aware that such experience would serve me for a lifetime. New friends I made on the court, and the positive energy that inspired and motivated us, keep reminding me of the good times I had. Though I stopped practicing after some time, I still recall those memories with a smile. All the players were more than friendly, helping me feel as an equal part of the team. We have developed true team spirit and we spent time together even after the practice. In addition, basketball contributed to my proper physical development and good posture, while some of the tactics and strategies helped me a lot in different aspects of life.

What benefits can come from sports?

Most parents wish to encourage children to play sports to help them feel valued. Every child can be successful at one sport or another. However, it takes time for parents to find the sport suitable for the child. Therefore, they should be patient in selecting the sports, since it is a process that will pay off in the long run.

No other thing in life affords children such opportunity to develop positive character traits and to soak up many quality values as sports does. Here are some benefits that may come from playing sports:

Kids' character and moral principles are formed through fair play. Moreover, children who are actively engaged in sports can be good role models for their peers from school, neighborhood, or even school choir, and inspire them to start playing some sports as well.

Playing sports enables them to create friendships they otherwise might not have formed. For example, the friendships professional athletes create on the field remain intact even when they are not playing sports, and often last a lifetime.

Sports bring people together from all over the world, regardless of their nationality, religion, culture, or skin color.

Teamwork and benefits of social interaction among children are best seen in sports. Kids learn they are part of a team that requires the same effort from all members to succeed, as well as how to win with class, and lose with dignity.

They view competitions on and off the field as opportunities to learn from their success and failure. In addition, losing often motivates kids to work even harder for next time.

They learn to respect authority, rules, team colleagues and opponents.

Sport is an important learning environment for children. Numerous studies have shown that children who play sports perform better at school. It is also within sport that peer status and peer acceptance is established and developed.

Sports experiences help building positive self- esteem in children.

In addition, participating in sports can be a helpful way of reducing stress and increasing feelings of physical and mental well-being, as well as fighting against juvenile delinquency, conflict and aggressive outbursts. The point is to keep the body in good health in order to be able to keep our mind strong and clear.

When children learn positive life lessons through sports, there is no doubt they will become honest, reliable adults who will try to help others in need at any moment.
We cannot stress enough how important it is to NOT impose unrealistic expectations and hard achievable goals on children from the start. Kids should participate in sports not for instant success and results, but rather to develop their physical and intellectual skills. Otherwise, forcing the child to play some sports may create a counter-effect and as a result make them develop an aversion to sports in general.

Instead, let your child should first get used to sports, accept it and get to like it so it can become part of his and her everyday life. Results, achievements, medals and awards may come later on, though they require a lot of hard work, discipline and sacrifice.

Also, it is important to allow your child to discover and explore other interesting things too besides sports so they don't feel suffocated at your constant nagging how sports is good for them. Let them see the values of sports for themselves.

Know that the essence of sports is to unite all the people worldwide, regardless of their social background, their financial status and the country they come from. So if you think that you need money in order to play sports, you are wrong!

Sport is not a privilege of wealthy people. In less rich parts of the world you can see children running for a handmade ball on dusty streets, or racing on the road from home to school and back. For them too, sport is an inexhaustible source of inspiration and happiness.

As long as your child is involved in sports activities, he is in the world where he tries to be as best as he can be. All his senses, the locomotor system and intellectual capacities are engaged. By playing sports your child will not only become stronger physically but mentally too. Best of all, he will learn how to overcome any obstacles and challenges that will come his way. Isn't that what we all need?

The world celebrates April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. Be physically active and encourage your child to play sports.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
D ue to its vast reach, unparalleled popularity and foundation of positive values, sport is definitely one of the greatest things man has ever created. It's also a powerful tool that breaks down all the barriers and helps us feel good about ourselves, both physically and mentally.

# data[].attributes.headline
7 Ways Having a Pet Can Improve Your Mental health

# data[].attributes.subject
7 Ways Having a Pet Can Improve Your Mental health

# data[].attributes.body
https://youtu.be/KNM5_lO1dOA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 Ways Having a Pet Can Improve Your Mental health

# data[].attributes.headline
A four-day school week? Teachers and kids give it an 'A.' Parents are less enthusiastic

# data[].attributes.subject
A four-day school week? Teachers and kids give it an 'A.' Parents are less enthusiastic

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/four-day-school-week-teachers-kids-give-it-parents-are-n1009506

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
BRIGHTON, Colo. - Emma Cable, a junior at Eagle Ridge Academy in this working-class suburb north of Denver, spends her Mondays at volleyball practice and volunteering at a seeing-eye dog organization. Isabelle Jaramillo, a third grader at Northeast Elementary, spends hers at the local Boys & Girls Club, while Angelica Gallegos, a sixth grader at Vikan Middle, and her brother, Paul, a fourth grader at Pennock Elementary, go with their mother to Barr Lake State Park.

Different grades, different activities and one thing in common: None of these students spend that day in class.

That's because their school district, 27J Schools in Adams County, Colorado, switched to a four-day school week at the start of this school year as part of an effort to recruit and retain better teachers. With 28 schools and about 18,000 students, it was the first district in a major metropolitan area and the largest school district in the United States to make the change, though it's been a growing trend among rural districts.

Now, at the end of the experiment's first year, those affected gave it mixed reviews. While kids and teachers relished the regular long weekends, parents did not. Those with younger kids worried about child care, and those with older children worried about the unstructured free time.

But 27J Schools, whose teachers are the lowest paid in the Denver metro area despite numerous attempts to increase local taxes to fund raises, could still be a model for other major urban and suburban districts facing funding and staffing challenges and looking for creative ways to attract quality educators. So far, the district - which has committed to the shortened schedule for at least another two school years - has seen increased and more promising teacher applicants and lower staff turnover.

"We weren't going to compete in the current system. You just can't be dead last in funding, last in starting teacher salaries, last in average teacher pay and expect you'll attract the best folks," 27J Schools Superintendent Dr. Chris Fiedler told NBC News in a recent interview.

Making a four-day week happen

In most states, including Colorado, minimum instructional requirements for public schools are governed by hours in the classroom, not days. As a result, resource-strapped districts like 27J can cut a day from the school week but still comply with requirements by extending the length of the other four school days.

Under their revised schedule, elementary school days were extended 40 minutes, while middle and high school schedules implemented longer eight-hour days. Mondays were dropped.

"Unlike Friday, Monday is a day for kids and teachers to prepare for the week," Fiedler said.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A four-day school week? Teachers and kids give it an 'A.' Parents are less enthusiastic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In a bid to attract more educators, this struggling Colorado school district was the first in a major metro area and the largest in the U.S. to make the switch.

# data[].attributes.body
https://youtu.be/DnKpnojwz2M

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Is social media good for you? - BBC My World

# data[].attributes.body
https://phitamerica.org/benefits/benefits-of-pe-in-school/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
WITH THESE 12 LIFE-LONG BENEFITS

Active kids are less likely be overweight or obese. We are trending to 60% of all kids being obese.

Let's get kids moving!

Over 15 research

projects conclusively say, "Active kids do better

in school."

Learn More Here

Getting physically active reduces the chance of being fatigued while increasing your energy

...throughout your life!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
See the unparalleled benefits of physical activity. No drug or pill does more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Is Homework Good for Kids? Here’s What the Research Says

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The very thought of sending kids to school year-round makes some parents cringe. They balk at the idea of kids attending schools with no summer break. They question the value of a continuous school year interspersed with several short breaks. While the schedule is definitely not what the majority of adults grew up with, it's not nearly as onerous as some people think. Rather than giving kids less time off, a year-round schedule offers the same 180 days of schooling as the traditional calendar, created long ago to ensure children were home to help their parents harvest crops.
Want recommended books and reading ideas? Sign up for our Scholastic Parents newsletter.
Kids in year-round schools attend classes for anywhere from six to nine weeks in a row, broken up by two- to four-week vacations. That, say some educators, keeps the learning process ongoing with minimal disruption. A Duke University study even suggested kids attending year-round schools are at a slight advantage, because they don't forget what they learned during the long summer break.

Schools in fast-growing areas transition to year-round schedules as a way to ease overcrowding. When that occurs, kids are placed on multi-tracks, and alternate tracking in and out of the school, a process that keeps the buildings in constant use.

Frequent breaks are a mainstay of year-round schooling, but they aren't for everyone. Patricia McCracken, who grew up attending a year-round school in Virginia Beach, Virginia, says she found the two-week breaks, which occurred every six weeks at her school, to be disruptive. "It was really hard to get involved in the work because as soon as you geared up, you had to gear back down again."

Mary Brown, a middle-school teacher in Wake County (where three-week breaks occur every nine weeks), says she doesn't see that as a problem at her school. "Our schedule offers the kids a break from school right when they need it," she says. Earlier this year, after their first three-week break, she says, the kids seemed refreshed. "They didn't have the bored, glazed-over look of kids who had been in school for weeks on end with no break in sight."

Juggling different school schedules is one of the toughest problems parents of children in both year-round and traditional schools face. Many high schools don't employ a year-round calendar because of sports schedules. And teens want to be able to take summer jobs.

The year-round schedule can make finding appropriate childcare a problem too. Because her mom was a teacher in a traditional school, McCracken says, "It meant my sister and I were basically latchkey kids for two or three years because it was impossible to find a babysitter for two weeks every six weeks." As year-round schooling becomes more common, however, communities are meeting the demand by offering track-out programs for kids who aren't in school.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The very thought of sending kids to school year-round makes some parents cringe. They balk at the idea of kids attending schools with no summer break. They question the value of a continuous school year interspersed with several short breaks.

# data[].attributes.body
https://petkeen.com/benefits-of-classroom-pets/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
There's no question that having a classroom pet has many advantages, but there are some disadvantages as well. In fact, the whole concept is full of controversy, with many speaking out for and against using animals in the classroom.

We'll go over the good and the bad and offer some suggestions on the best pets to choose from as well as the pets you need to avoid. Hopefully, we'll help you make an informed decision before you take that first step.

What to Consider Before Committing to a Classroom Pet

Obviously, if you're a teacher, you'll need to think about every aspect of pet care and the impact this will have on you and your students (and parents). You'll need to check to see if any of the students have allergies to the animals appropriate for the classroom.

Then there's the upkeep. What kind of housing will the pet need? You really need to be careful about each animal's requirements. You want to check on the suitable size of the enclosure and will it fit in your classroom? What is the diet of your potential pet?

What happens to the pet on weekends and holidays? Will you take it home with you every weekend, or will the children take turns bringing it to their own homes? You should also think about the age of the children in your class while deciding on the right kind of pet. The younger the children, the hardier the pet needs to be.

You should also ensure you can afford to care for the pet-you must bring it to the vet if there's ever a medical issue.

Lastly, you'll need to consider how the animal will fit into your curriculum. The entire process will take a lot of time and effort, as well as knowledge of the animal on your part.

The 8 Benefits of Having a Classroom Pet

There are most definitely many benefits of having a classroom pet, so we'll go over the advantages.

Having a pet in the classroom can allow the children to interact with the pet and the other children. Pets can be a bridge for children to make friends with their classmates and give them the confidence to work through conflicts.

Having a pet in the classroom will give you the opportunity to teach a variety of lessons based on the animal itself. A classroom animal can provide an interactive way to engage the children with their studies, and you can use science, math, and even English assignments based on the pet. The children can learn about the ecology of the animal and write papers on it (including creative writing).

3. Teaches Responsibility

The children can take turns helping to take care of the pet-feeding, cleaning, providing fresh water. These chores need to be done every day, and you can teach the children how to take care of this animal.

Students can even take the pet home on weekends, which will give them the chance to be responsible for its well-being for a few days.

Following along with responsibility, the pet can give the students a sense of accomplishment and pride while taking care of the pet. Studies have even shown that children tend to have a higher level of self-esteem compared to those without pets.

Children can form a powerful bond with their pets and will consider them to be friends. This is no different in the classroom. Animals can provide us with unconditional love, which can give children strong emotional support. Even animals that aren't cuddly like cats or dogs (like fish or turtles) can provide children with companionship.

6. Stimulated Mental and Emotional Growth

Animals are known to help relieve anxiety and stress, and studies have shown how even being around an animal can help regulate your heart rate and breathing. This is why animals are commonly used in hospitals and why they can also contribute to a sense of calm in the classroom.

7. Enriches the Classroom

Pets in the classroom can give children who don't have a pet at home the chance to interact with an animal. It can even provide the children with something to look forward to, and you might find an increase in attendance. They'll feel more excited about their lessons and will probably look forward to going to school every day.

8. Encourages Nurturing

Besides making the student feel more responsible for taking care of the pet, it can also provide the child with nurturing skills. It can teach the children how to be gentle, and these nurturing skills they learn in their childhood are tremendously important for their futures.

According to the 2019 Pets in the Classroom Survey:

These numbers show that there are indeed many advantages to having a pet in your classroom.

The 7 Disadvantages/Dangers of Classroom Pets

There are, unfortunately, a number of problems with bringing a pet into the classroom. Most of the disadvantages impact the pets most.

1. Pets Left Alone Overnight

Without anyone around to monitor the pet overnight, there's always the risk of a sudden illness going unnoticed. A classroom pet could also suffer from extreme temperature fluctuations if the heat or air conditioning is turned off at night.

2. Pets Remain Unsupervised

Since pets can't be constantly watched, there's always the possibility that someone can abuse or kill the pet when the classroom is unattended.

3. Pets Can Be Over-handled

When you have a classroom full of boisterous children and one small animal, it can be difficult to control the situation. Some pets can die from stress if handled by too many children at once.

4. Classroom Not a "Home"

The classroom can be an inhospitable environment for many pets. Some small animals commonly used in classrooms are nocturnal, so they are supposed to sleep all day. Being in a bright and noisy classroom all day will disrupt their natural sleep patterns.

5. Lots of Work for Teachers

The chore of taking care of the pet and ensuring its protection as well as its health will ultimately fall on the teacher. Those managing the classroom will have to figure out if their budget can handle the upkeep as well as any health issues that might arise.

6. Health Risk for Some Kids

There are allergies, transmittable diseases, and the chance of the animal biting. Some children could prove to be allergic to the pet you've chosen (that perhaps no one knows about), and things like salmonella can be transmitted after handling certain reptiles.

While studies have shown that the pet can positively impact academics and attendance, it can also be a distraction for some children. Students that have trouble focusing might be easily distracted and will have a more challenging time listening to the lesson at hand.

Top 5 Animals to Consider When Choosing a Classroom Pet

These guys make some of the best pets thanks to their ease of care and because they're bigger than most other rodents. They are social animals, so you could consider getting a pair.

Rats are much less likely to bite than other pets that are traditionally used in the classroom (like hamsters and gerbils). They're sensitive, intelligent, and easy to look after.

Fish are easy to look after (be sure to research the best kinds for this situation), but holidays and weekends might prove tricky. They are nice to look at and can provide some engaging lessons.

Watching the life cycle of a frog would be a great lesson for the children. However, salmonella is a risk, so you either set up a "no handling the frog" situation or have the children immediately wash their hands after holding the frog.

This one is a little unorthodox, but they are relatively easy to take care of and are also easy to handle.

Just be sure to do your own homework before settling on one of these pets. You will want to avoid putting them into enclosures that are unsuitable or too small and make sure that feeding them won't be a challenge.

The 9 Animals to Avoid When Choosing a Classroom Pet

Sugar gliders are nocturnal and are fed in the evening, so the students will not see any activity or be able to watch them eat. They will also react to fear and might bite.

2. Hedgehogs/Ferrets/Chinchillas

They're all nocturnal, don't like to be handled, and can be excitable. They are also considered "exotic," and have particular care needs.

These guys can be popular classroom pets, but they'll actually spend most of their time hidden in their shells. Plus, they can live for 20 to 30 years-that's quite a commitment! However, they are low maintenance, so you could still consider one for your classroom.

Most reptiles don't like being handled, so there's the risk of biting. Many of them also grow quite large and have dietary needs that could upset some children (frozen mice, for example).

Birds can be quite noisy and messy and are prone to nipping if handled too much. They can also become quite stressed because of the noise and activity in the classroom.

These are usually the go-to for classroom pets, but they're nocturnal and prone to biting if disturbed.

Rabbits are a mixed bag. Some teachers have used them in the classroom with great success, while others don't recommend them. Being in a noisy classroom might be too stressful for most rabbits, and they need to be spayed or neutered. They are also not low maintenance.

Final Thoughts

If bringing a pet into the classroom isn't in the cards, there are lots of other options for children to learn more about the world around them. You can consider taking the kids on field trips to zoos and nature centers, have guest speakers come into the classroom with animals, and watch nature documentaries.

Choosing to bring a pet into your classroom is a big decision! The lessons your students will learn from this experience are absolutely priceless, but you also need to think of the animal's needs. Hopefully, we've helped you to decide what the best option is for you and your students.

Featured Image Credit by: Piqsels

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
8 Benefits of Classroom Pets (With Infographic) | Pet Keen

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We discuss the pros and cons, and offer some suggestions on the best pets to choose for your next classroom including the pets you need to avoid.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
For some youngsters, a 15-minute recess is a chance to practice for a soccer game later that day. But for many others, that time is the...

Share story

For some youngsters, a 15-minute recess is a chance to practice for a soccer game later that day. But for many others, that time is the only physical activity during the day.

In a growing number of elementary schools, those 15 minutes of playtime are threatened. Roughly 40 percent of U.S. school districts either have eliminated recess or are considering eliminating it.

Even more ominous, child-health experts argue, is the trend toward banning run-and-chase games such as tag and kickball. Eliminating games that increase heart rates and improve hand-eye coordination, critics say, will fuel already high childhood-obesity rates.

"Imagine a child's circulatory system as if it's a river. Rivers that slow down become stagnant, diseased," says Rhonda Clements, a former president of the American Association for the Child's Right to Play. Clements, a professor of education at Manhattanville College in New York, has written or edited nine books on the value of child's play.

"If we continue to eliminate physically vigorous games that help strengthen children's circulation, their strength and muscular conditioning, then just like a river, their bodies become susceptible to disease," she says.

Running at recess was banned last year in Broward County, Fla. In October, officials at an elementary school south of Boston banned tag and touch football. Elementary schools in Cheyenne, Wyo., and Spokane banned tag during recess. And this past summer, Portland public schools eliminated swings from their playgrounds, along with merry-go-rounds, tube slides, track rides, arch climbers and teeter-totters.

Some educators call these extreme reactions to overblown concerns.

"We never even considered getting rid of recess," says Monica Smith, principal at Sandymount Elementary in Finksburg, Md. "It's too important. The kids get recharged. They get back into the classrooms ready to learn. I wish we could give them more time. But with all the other subjects we're mandated to have, all we have left for recess is 15 minutes."

Public school systems are increasingly afraid of lawsuits from parents of children who get hurt on the playground. That fear of liability and the pressure to prepare students for high-stakes testing have spurred thousands of schools to cut recess and physical education - usually in favor of increasing math and reading instruction.

Critics say that's unwise on two counts.

"Recess is being cut out so children will have more time to study for the tests, and we know that test-driven instruction doesn't allow time for creative thinking and learning for children," says Joe Frost, a retired professor of education at the University of Texas, Austin, and an expert on childhood play. "On top of that, the few schools that continue to keep recess have really dumbed the playground down."

The most recent numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 17 percent of children and adolescents are overweight.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Elementary schools increasingly restrict or ban recess for kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
For some youngsters, a 15-minute recess is a chance to practice for a soccer game later that day. But for many others, that time is the... Share story For some youngsters, a 15-minute recess is a chance to practice for a soccer game later that day.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Five Facts You Should Know About School Meals

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn five important facts about school lunches and some helpful links to related articles on the subject.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Teach children how to recognize what their personal space is in various situations and how to advocate for themselves if someone intrudes on their space. Depending on the situation, children may need to;

*Back Up

*Walk Away

*Ask(or tell) The Person To Back Up/Stop Touching

*Ask An Adult For Help
3. Explicitly Teach The Expected Behavior
Some children will need explicit teaching in order to truly understand and respect other's personal space as well as to understand and advocate for their own. Here are some ways you can teach children what personal space is;

1. The Space Bubble: Using a hula hoop, have children hold the hula hoop around their waists and then walk around the space, seeing when their hula hoops bump. That is likely where someone's personal space bubble would be. If you get much closer, the other person would probably be uncomfortable (make sure the hula hoops are not too big).

2. Sitting Down Space Bubble: You will need a lot of string or yarn to do this activity, or you can use a long jump rope and share it. Have children sit down and give them the string, yarn or rope (or do it outside and use sidewalk chalk). Let each child demonstrate their personal space bubble by arranging the string, yarn or jump rope around them, forming a circle whatever size they want. Look at children's space bubbles. Are some bigger/smaller than others?

3. My Comfort Zone: As with Red Light / Green Light, one child is standing across the room and the other children are on the other side. This game works best if you have only one child advance forward toward the child across the room. The child who is demonstrating their space bubble should put their hand up using the "STOP" signal, when the child walking toward them gets close enough. Any closer and the child would be uncomfortable. Take a look at each child's space bubble as you play. Have children switch places until everyone gets a turn to demonstrate their space bubble.

Personal Space & Safety

Another important reason to teach children to understand and respect personal space is for safety. Personal space can help us to stay safe. It can be a buffer zone which keeps people at a safe distance and even from bumping into one another. Personal space is a private and individual thing that can be hard to explain. We almost consider it like an extension of our body.

People may react negatively when their personal space is being invaded by another. They may simply feel discomfort, or they may experience anxiety or anger. Some children may even lash out physically at another child who has invaded their space. It is important to know the personal space boundaries of the students in your class. Especially if a child has a very small space bubble and experiences big reactions to someone coming into their space.

Personal space boundaries ( space bubbles) can vary widely from person to person. It can depend on a variety of factors, including how well you know the other person, your relationship with the other person (do you like them, not like them), and how much you trust them.

Some children need to be taught to have a bigger space bubble with certain people or groups of people. One way to teach them this is by using a Personal Space Target. Using this target to demonstrate, you would draw, write or put a picture of the student in the middle of the target (the bullseye), then use the next rings to demonstrate who it is safe to have a smaller space bubble with and who should be kept at a greater distance. For example, family members would be in the ring next to the bullseye and strangers would be in the outermost ring.

For your convenience, I have made 3 Personal Space Targets for you. The first one is blank so that you or your student can add in the information. You can draw it, write it, or even use real photos. The second Target has some grey shading to help students visualize the different rings/levels of personal space. This target may be good for use with older students. The third Target is in soft colors to nicely demonstrate the different rings/levels of personal space generally used by people.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Teach children how to recognize what their personal space is in various situations and how to advocate for themselves if someone intrudes on their space. Depending on the situation, children may need to; *Back Up *Walk Away *Ask(or tell) The Person To Back Up/Stop Touching *Ask An Adult For Help 3.

# data[].attributes.headline
10 Science-Based Benefits of Having a Dog

# data[].attributes.subject
10 Science-Based Benefits of Having a Dog

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/10-science-based-benefits-dog/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Science-Based Benefits of Having a Dog – American Kennel Club

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Recent research shows that owning a dog is good for you physically and emotionally. Here are the science-backed benefits of owning a dog.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.idtech.com/blog/benefits-of-shorter-school-days

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
6 Benefits of Shorter School Days | Should There Be a Change?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The past year has led to a lot of questions about what school should look like and the best way kids learn. It was only a matter of time before the traditional …

# data[].attributes.headline
Should Kids and Tweens Have Cell Phones?

# data[].attributes.subject
Should Kids and Tweens Have Cell Phones?

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.verywellfamily.com/kids-and-cell-phones-2633996

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When your 12-year-old finally walks in the front door, you don't know whether to hug them or yell at them. You expected them home half an hour ago, and you were worried sick. "I told you we were working on that group project today!" they defend, as you launch into a lecture. "We had to finish it. It's due tomorrow!"

Your kid has a point, but you are still upset about having to worry. After you take a deep breath, you calmly let them know that you are glad to see them, but next time, they need to call if they'll be home late. Looking at you strangely, your child responds, "With what phone?"

It turns out there was no landline where your child and their classmates were working. A similar issue came up a few weeks ago when their soccer practice location was moved and you didn't know where to pick them up. You begin to wonder if it's time to get your kid a phone, but you don't want them to become addicted to social media or have access to games whenever they want. And you don't want them staying up late to text their friends.

Kids today may need cell phones earlier than parents think-but that doesn't mean they need the latest phone on the market. Let's break down how to know when your child needs a phone, what kind to get, and how to set boundaries around usage.

Why Do Kids Need Their Own Phones?

There are a few reasons why getting a phone for your child can make life easier for everyone-and also keep them safer. It can also teach your child responsibility as they learn to care for their phone, avoid losing it, and stay within their cell phone plan's voice, data, and texting minutes.

Basic Safety

It's important your kids can reach you easily and immediately in an emergency. This extra sense of security and safety is probably one of the main reasons parents even consider getting a younger child a cell phone. This is especially true once they get to the point of spending time with peers unsupervised. But you'd also want your child to be able to call you anytime something feels wrong, even if they're with another adult.

Additionally, if your child walks or takes the bus to school, you may have peace of mind if they can shoot you a quick text to let you know they've safely reached their destination.

Teens who drive or who ride in their friends' cars may need to use a phone to call their parents or an emergency number. "If they get stuck on the side of the road or become lost, they need to be able to pull up directions or call for help," notes Katie Weidenkeller, a Colorado-based licensed professional counselor who works with children and teens. Some phones have built-in GPS tracking, like Apple's "Find My" app that allows you to track your child if you add them. There are other apps you can buy. For example, Life 360 includes many tracking, location, and safety features.

Communicating With Peers

Cell phones are a primary way to connect with others these days. Having a phone of their own may help kids socialize and build friendships. Older kids and teens may also use their phones to plan group schoolwork and social gatherings, or even play games together.

"Phones can be a tool to promote social skills, such as using them to FaceTime with friends and family," says Reena B. Patel, LEP, BCBA, a positive parenting psychologist and licensed educational board certified behavior analyst.

Extracurricular Activities

If your children participate in extracurricular activities, having a phone allows them to reach out to you if needed. For example, they may need to let you know about changes in schedules or locations. This may be especially true toward the end of the sports season or school year when practices and studying are ramped up.

The Downsides of Phones for Kids

While there are benefits surrounding both convenience and safety, getting a phone for your child might also present some downsides that are important to consider.

Negative Effects of Social Media

Kids with phones might end up spending more time on social media. Excessive social media use in teens has been linked to mental health issues, such as negative self-image and an increase in self-harm.

Negative Effects on Sleep

Using screens before bedtime has been confirmed to negatively impact sleep. Sleep deprivation in children can be associated with lower processing speed and working memory. That means learning becomes more difficult for kids who do not get enough sleep.

Unlimited Access to Information

It seems like everything is on the internet. You may worry about your child stumbling across inappropriate content, or reading about things on their own that you'd rather they learn with your guidance. Of course, phones aren't the only way for kids to find things that they shouldn't, but access to this technology certainly makes it easier for that to happen.

Distraction

We all know cell phones are a distraction for drivers, but cell phones can also be a big distraction for people crossing the street on foot, leading to more accidents and injuries. They can also be a distraction at school. While some schools allow cell phones for use at lunch and in between classes, others ban them. Your child may not be able to have or use the phone during the time when they are most likely to be away from home.

Behavior Problems

Cell phones also put your child at risk of getting in trouble for sending, posting, or receiving inappropriate photos. Or a child might make prank calls, or be blamed for them if a classmate takes their phone and uses it to make those inappropriate calls.

What Age Does My Child Need a Phone?

There is no magical age where kids are suddenly ready to get a phone. Parents need to decide when the time is right based on a few factors.

Practicality

If having a phone would simplify your child's daily routine, then it may make sense to get one. If you always have to reach out to their coach to see what time you need to pick them up, or your child is always borrowing someone's phone to get in touch with you, maybe it's time for them to have a phone of their own.

Responsibility

In order to be trusted with a cellphone, a child should already reliably keep track of their belongings-and take good care of them. "If your child loses things easily, it might not be time for a phone of their own," notes Weidenkeller.

Being responsible enough to have a phone also means that your kid will use it wisely. If they can follow rules and respect boundaries and limits, they may be ready for a phone.

Supervision

Generally, a kid who always has adult supervision does not necessarily need a phone. The adults, such as you and an after-school care provider, might already be communicating with each other as needed. Once your child is spending unsupervised time with peers, getting a phone may become more necessary.

The exact age that you can leave your child unsupervised varies by state, but you should also consider your individual child before allowing them to spend time with no adults present. If you are unsure about leaving your child without adult supervision, you could always have a conversation with your child's pediatrician or healthcare provider.

Should You Get a Smartphone or a Starter Phone?

Smartphones are so much more than just a phone, and that's part of why it's easy to overuse them. If you do think your child would benefit from a phone, but you're concerned about them accessing too much social media and not getting enough sleep, you can always get them a phone that only calls and texts.

"Around age 14, children's frontal lobes are developing, which affects impulse control,"notes Patel. "To handle a smartphone, kids need to be socially mature and be able to stop and reflect upon their actions. Before they reach this point, I recommend a flip phone or a starter phone instead of a smartphone."

Setting Boundaries Around Phone Usage

Children and adults alike can benefit from boundaries on their screen time use. But kids may need some extra help to set these boundaries-and ensure that they adhere to them.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends coming up with a family media use plan that includes media-free times, such as dinner or other meals, and media-free zones, such as bedrooms. The AAP also advises parents to ensure that screen use does not take away from a full night's sleep and at least an hour of physical activity each day.

Some kids might be tempted to reach for their phones at all hours, so it may be wise for parents to hold the phones overnight, or until homework and chores are done. Some parents opt to unplug the wifi after bedtime or even change the password.

Some other ground rules you may consider:

Purchase a pre-paid plan with a limited number of minutes so that you won't be faced with a lot of extra charges.

Look for a phone that allows strict limits, including being able to turn off web access and text messaging. Some phones also allow you to restrict both incoming and outgoing calls to certain numbers.

Give the phone to your child only on certain occasions, such as when they might not be near another phone

Download a GPS tracker app onto the phone, or require your child to share their location, so that you can easily find them when you need to.

Discuss serious cell phone issues, such as cyberbullying, the dangers of distracted driving, cell phone etiquette, and school rules for cell phone use.

A Word From Verywell

Getting a cell phone for the first time is now a milestone for kids. If your child needs to get in contact with you during the day, getting them a phone may be a good choice. Consider getting a starter phone instead of a smartphone, as they have limited features and may protect kids from getting hooked on playing games or spending too much time on social media.

You may also want to consider having a family meeting to allow space for everyone in the family to share excitement and concerns over having a phone. Work on troubleshooting those concerns and collaborating on joint solutions. Get on the same page by signing a contract. That way, everyone can remain accountable to everyone. When circumstances change, these contracts can always be revisited.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Having a phone is a good way to help kids stay safe and in touch with you as a parent. But there are risks to smartphone use. Learn more about what age to get your child a phone.

# data[].attributes.headline
10 Benefits of Physical Activity for Kids

# data[].attributes.subject
10 Benefits of Physical Activity for Kids

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.parents.com/fun/sports/exercise/10-benefits-of-physical-activity/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When many people decide to "get fit," they assume it involves rigorous activity, but you don't have to spend hours in a gym to be physically active. People can get in shape by performing everyday activities in the home. Every time you and your child throw a softball, swim a lap, climb a flight of stairs, walk to the store, or carry packages, your health and fitness levels are improving.

When someone is physically fit, they feel better and stay healthier. Plus, the earlier a child starts getting in shape, the more they'll reduce their risk of numerous illnesses.

Here are some of the benefits that physical activity offers your child.

1. Strengthens the Heart

The heart is a muscle, and like other muscles, its performance improves when it's regularly challenged by exercise. Strengthening the heart muscle can help ward off heart disease-the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services -even in early childhood.

2. Helps Keep Arteries and Veins Clear

Exercise reduces the amount of harmful cholesterol and fats in a person's blood. It also increases the flexibility of the walls of blood vessels, and it helps to lower blood pressure. This can reduce a person's risk for heart attack and stroke.

3. Makes the Lungs More Efficient

Working hard increases lung capacity, as well as their efficiency in moving air in and out of the body. As a result, more oxygen is drawn into the body and more carbon dioxide and other waste gases are expelled. Regular exercise helps prevent the decline in oxygen intake that occurs naturally with age or as a result of inactivity.

4. Reduces Blood Sugar Levels

Exercise prevents sugar from accumulating in the blood by triggering muscles to take up more glucose from the bloodstream and use it for energy. This can reduce a person's risk of developing diabetes.

5. Controls Weight

When a person is sedentary, they tend to be taking in more calories than are needed. These unused calories accumulate as fat. Someone who is physically active may have a deficit of calories, which takes fat away and lowers weight. Decreased weight is good for the heart and can be especially beneficial in those with diabetes.

6. Strengthens Bones

Just as muscles grow stronger when physically stressed, bones also respond by getting stronger. Adults start losing bone mass in their 20s, but those who exercise regularly reach greater peak bone density (before the drop-off) than those who don't, according to the National Institutes of Health. Increased bone density helps prevent osteoporosis, a condition in which bones lose density, weaken, and become porous and fragile.

7. Helps Prevent Cancer

People who exercise regularly have lower incidences of cancer. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, the cancers most affected by inactivity include colon, endometrial, and lung.

8. Regulates Blood Pressure

Exercise has been shown to reduce stress levels. As the levels of stress in a person's body subsides, their blood pressure and risk for heart disease decline.

9. Boosts Energy Levels

Regular exercise often makes people feel more energetic, allows them to be more active, and reduces the likelihood that they'll tire during the day.

10. Enhances Emotional Well-Being

Most people report that they feel calm and have a sense of well-being after they exercise. Exercise, according to one theory, releases beta-endorphin, a natural substance in the body that is hundreds of times more potent than morphine.

A May 2019 study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that serotonin, a mood-regulating chemical the body produces, increases during exercise and can boost the energy and strength of our nerve cells, which may help ward off neurological disorders like Parkinson's Disease. Increased levels of serotonin in the central nervous system are also associated with feelings of well-being, heightening of appetite, and lessening of mental depression.

Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; American Medical Association; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Benefits of Physical Activity for Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Keeping in shape can help your child throughout her life.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Nov. 10, 2000 -- It's late afternoon, the kids have just had their after-school snack -- and they're already working on homework. Math problems, science reviews, reading assignments: This could go on for hours. Are they getting too much homework? "Borderline," one parent says. "It's a lot more than I used to get."

In October, a survey by Public Agenda, a nonprofit research group, found that 10% of parents think their kids are getting too much homework. Two-thirds of parents felt their children were getting the right amount -- and 25% thought they were getting too little.

"It's a small but vocal minority -- mostly in affluent neighborhoods," says Harris Cooper, PhD, chair of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is author of The Battle Over Homework, a bookfor administrators, teachers, and parents. In his research, Cooper reviewed more than 120 studies on homework.

Evidently, this "vocal minority" is having an impact on local school boards: Earlier this year, a New Jersey school superintendent imposed a homework policy limiting nightly assignments. Reportedly, congratulatory calls came in from parents across the country.

In fact, about every 15 years a new public attitude emerges toward homework, Cooper says. "I'm not sure if it's a generational thing or reactions to reforms moving too far in one direction or another," he tells WebMD. In the 1950s, when the U.S. grew nervous over Russia's launching of Sputnik, the nation's kids saw an upsurge in homework to prepare them for complex technologies. As we eased into the 1970s, the tenor of the times begged that less pressure and stress be placed on children.

Then the mid-1980s report, Nation at Risk, alerted educators that kids were not reading at expected levels, and the catch-phrase "rising tide of mediocrity" was created. "One of the suggested solutions was to increase homework," Cooper says. "The concern was about staying economically competitive with the Japanese.

"Today's educators are getting pressure from state school boards to cover more material and in greater depth -- all without a corresponding expansion of the school day," Cooper tells WebMD. "Students are spending homework time learning extra material rather than reviewing the day's lessons."

Continued

Also, competition-driven parents are placing "homework pressure" on teachers -- "to ensure that children will get into the best colleges and universities when they graduate," Cooper says. "But not all parents agree that more homework is the correct approach."

Indeed, homework was invented for a good reason -- as Cooper's research shows. At least 70% of studies indicated that students who do homework had higher achievement scores than those who didn't. But that effect is strongest for kids in high school, he tells WebMD. "For elementary school students, homework has little impact on how well they will do in school."

Another caveat: Homework's benefits vary according to subject area. Homework in science and social studies has the largest impact on achievement, followed by reading and English. Math homework, according to Cooper's research, had the smallest impact. Also, doing more short assignments per week is more effective than having one assignment that lasts several weeks.

"We believe that children on average should receive 10 minutes of homework per night per grade, so that first-graders would get 10 minutes, second-graders would get 20 minutes, on up through 12th grade," Patty Yoxall, a spokeswoman for the National Parent-Teacher's Organization, tells WebMD.

"That's going to vary," Yoxall says. "There are going to be times when students get 20 minutes of math homework one night and maybe only five minutes of reading another night. But on average, during the course of a week, during the course of a month, it would average about 20 minutes a night for a second-grader."

Young children simply have a limit to the amount they can learn through self-study, Cooper says. "At some point, the benefits diminish and the costs rise. Young children lack the attention span necessary for long periods of study, especially in environments where there are lots of distractions."

For youngsters, homework exists "to teach them proper study skills, how to apportion their time between hard and easy tasks, and how to test themselves. They need [to] ... learn those kinds of skills ... educators should not expect that they know them already. What's nice about the 10-minute rule, it gradually shapes the child's behavior," Cooper tells WebMD.

Continued

"It's legitimate to push high school students more," Cooper says. "They can benefit from the extra study time whereas the younger kids can't."

The point of homework -- especially for young children -- is review, says Sylvia Seidel, a spokeswoman for the National Educators Association. "Children are bombarded with information during their school day, and it's a lot to process. That is one of the benefits of a homework assignment -- to review what was not understood and prepare for the next day. It's not so much so the child will get into the best college later, but just so he will be successful in school."

Setting up a good study place also is the parent's responsibility, Seidel says. "Of course the child wants to play after school and get rid of the cares of the school day. But the parent needs to provide a place the child can go every single day, at some point in the early evening or late afternoon ... someplace where they can think about the day and go over assignments."

Minimizing the distractions is key, Seidel says. "There can't be frequent visits to the refrigerator or off to the TV. It truly is concentrated quiet time ... that's very important."

Parents can help the child understand and absorb the material -- but should not do the homework for them, Seidel tells WebMD. "It's absolutely important for parents to get involved ... to go over spelling words or mathematical concepts ... whatever they feel comfortable with. But that does not mean that parents should do the homework in any way. It's important for a child to understand that just as his parents have work as their responsibility, school is the child's responsibility."

When parents get involved in homework, it sends children a lesson: that the parent values the learning experience, Seidel says. "That's why it's important for the parent and teacher to be in communication. If the parent feels the homework is too lengthy, too demanding, they need to let the teacher know that. I think it's extremely important that communication be made with the school. Teachers welcome the parent responses and support in being able to do what's best for that child."

Continued

"We also urge parents to talk with teachers, to find out what the goals of homework assignments are, why the amounts of homework are what they are," Yoxall tells WebMD. "There may be times when a teacher is focusing on a particularly difficult subject like chemistry, so there is more emphasis being given there rather than to French lessons. The better the communication is, the more satisfied both parties will be with the results -- and the more opportunities the child has to succeed."

Students also need to talk with teachers when homework takes too long, Seidel says. "I always gave my students permission to stop working on homework after 30 minutes or whatever time was appropriate for that class at that grade level. I told them ... 'You have my permission to stop where you are and tell me the next day ... because I am making a judgment as well. If there's a problem, we need to pursue that. And they felt they were part of the decision making.'

"The NEA generally says that 20 to 30 minutes of homework is enough for an elementary child under normal conditions ... not a child with special requirements, who is a very slow reader and may need help working at home if the assignment is a totally written text," Seidel tells WebMD.

Cooper's advice to parents: "Make sure the child is studying efficiently and effectively before approaching the school. If it appears that it's still taking too long ... that it's indeed the amount of homework that's of concern, then it is important for parents to raise the issue with their child's teacher and also to discover if other parents have similar concerns."

But are homework policies -- like that imposed in Piscataway, N.J. -- necessary?

Actually, about one-third of school districts had homework policies, according to a 1994 survey published in the Journal of Learning Disabilities, Cooper says.

"We're big into local control on these kinds of questions," Cooper tells WebMD. "The best policies are formed at the district, school, and classroom levels. School districts should not get into the business of setting strict homework practices. They can set guidelines for amount of homework, but most importantly they should state the philosophy and goals -- all children should be expected to do homework as a cost-effective way of improving education."

Continued

Parents must be part of the decision-making process, Yoxall says. "If school boards are imposing these decisions from above with no input from parents, that could be a problem. You're setting up a we-they situation."

Bottom line: The ballet classes, the soccer practice, general playtime, homework -- "It's all important," Cooper says. "What's important is that kids lead a balanced life."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's late afternoon, the kids have just had their after-school snack -- and they're already working on homework. Math problems, science reviews, reading assignments: This could go on for hours. Are they getting too much homework? 'Borderline,' one parent says. 'It's a lot more than I used to get.'

# data[].attributes.body
https://hemopet.org/pets-classroom-help-children-study/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Hemopet | A Healthy Pet For A Happy Home

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pets in the Classroom: 4 Reasons Why They Help Children Study | Hemopet

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Pets in the classroom have become popular lately. Animals can have an indirect effect on learning by directly affecting engagement and other factors.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Public Schools Face the Rising Costs of Serving Lunch (Published 2011)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As schools serve more fresh produce and less whole milk in lunchrooms, they also may be forced to raise prices.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Research has found that learning environments play a crucial role in student success. Several factors can affect learning ability, including seating, light, noise, and even colour. Students who study in a positive learning environment have been shown to be more motivated, engaged, and have a higher overall learning ability. On the other hand, students learning in poor environments - those that are uncomfortable, loud, or full of distractions - will find it far more difficult to absorb information and stay engaged. With this in mind, let's look at how your surroundings affect the way you study, and consider some of the best ways to create your ideal learning environment.

Comfort
No matter where you choose to study, be it your bedroom, a local coffee shop, or your university library, it is vital that you're comfortable. According to lecture hall seating specialists at Race Furniture, 'When you are comfortable, you will stay focused and motivated for longer, which will help you to absorb more information. The right type of seating can also improve posture, encourage the use of movement, and reduce the risk of injury'.

Seating should therefore be a key consideration when creating a study space. Make sure you choose seating that is comfortable and provides the correct level of support, to maintain good posture throughout your study sessions. Keep in mind that, if you're uncomfortable, you're likely to become distracted more easily, and this will have a negative effect on your overall learning ability.

Lighting
Lighting can also play an important role in how well you engage in your learning. Studies have found that students learning in naturally lit environments typically achieve grades that are 25% higher than those in dimly lit classrooms. Natural light has also been shown to effectively boost mood and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Try to take advantage of natural lighting as much as possible, by positioning desks near windows and choosing study rooms that benefit from sunlight throughout the day. You should try and avoid using fluorescent lamps, as these can cause glare and make you feel tired quicker.

Colour
Colour can play a key role in how effectively you learn, so you should always consider this when choosing your ideal study space. Different colours can have a variety of effects on mood and emotion - for example. red is a strong colour that can stimulate learning and encourage creativity, but it has also been known to raise blood pressure, heartbeat, and stress levels. For that reason, shades of red are often avoided in learning environments. Whereas, yellow has been shown to create a positive feeling and can help students stay engaged throughout their study sessions. This makes yellow a great colour to use in learning environments. You can use colour to enhance learning and influence mood - try using different colours in your study space to see the effect they have on your learning ability.

Noise
Some people prefer some background noise while they're studying, while others work most effectively in complete silence. According to InformED, a blog by Open Colleges, 'There are times to use background noise and music to your advantage and times to seek out silence for your study sessions'. Research has found that some low-level background noise can encourage creativity and help you relax while studying. However, too much noise can act as a distraction and make it harder to focus on your learning. Whether you choose to study with some background noise or in complete silence is completely down to your personal preference. However, if you find that noise is having a negative effect on your learning, then be sure to find a calm and quiet study space where you can learn most effectively. You should also remove distractions, like mobile phones and other devices, that could potentially have a negative effect.

Clutter
Many studies have found that mess and clutter can have a negative effect on learning ability. Research suggests you will be more motivated and focused on your learning if your study space is clear and tidy. Whereas, disorganised and messy spaces can create feelings of stress and anxiety, which will have an obvious negative effect on your learning. It is therefore always worth giving your study space a quick tidy before you start studying.

Final thought
Your study space plays a vital role in how effectively you learn and absorb new information. Comfort, noise, lighting, and colour can all affect your learning ability. You should, therefore, keep these important factors in mind to help you create your ideal study space.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How your surroundings affect the way you study

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Research has found that learning environments play a crucial role in student success. Several factors can affect learning ability, including seating, light, noise, and even colour. Students who study in a positive learning environment have been shown to be more motivated, engaged, and have a higher overall learning ability.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Child behavioral expert Dr. Jennifer Cross explains why screen time should be limited for kids and why some screens are better than others.

Consider this: Nearly half of all children 8 and under have their own tablet device and spend an average of about 2.25 hours a day on digital screens, according to Common Sense Media.

What is all this screen time doing to kids' brains?

This week, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics found that screen time may be associated with delayed development in young children. The findings were based on parent reports of screen time use at 1 year and developmental skills at ages 2 and 4 years from a group of nearly 8,000 young children. According to data, using a validated screening tool, 1-year-olds who were exposed to more than four hours of screen time per day showed delays in communication and problem solving at ages 2 and 4. Also, more screen time for 1-year-olds was associated with developmental delays in fine motor and personal and social skills at age 2.

This research supports several previous studies that have shown a correlation between the amount of screen time among young children and the presence of developmental delays particularly in communication and problem-solving skills. A landmark National Institutes of Health (NIH) study that began in 2018, for example, found that children who spent more than two hours a day on screen-time activities scored lower on language and thinking tests, and some children with more than seven hours a day of screen time experienced thinning of the brain's cortex, the area of the brain related to critical thinking and reasoning.

"There is emerging evidence that there may be some structural brain changes associated with greater exposure to screen time as a young child," says Dr. Jennifer F. Cross, attending pediatrician and a developmental and behavioral pediatrics expert at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital. "If young children spend most of their time engaging with an iPad, smartphone, or the television, all of which are highly entertaining, it can be hard to get them engaged in non-electronic activities, such as playing with toys to foster imagination and creativity, exploring outdoors, and playing with other children to develop appropriate social skills."

Health Matters spoke with Dr. Cross, also an assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine, about the impact of screen time on kids' developing brains and what parents and caregivers can do.

We know that kids have easy access to screens, now more than ever. But how do screens affect early childhood development?
For young children, especially those under the age of 3, development is happening rapidly. Young children learn by exploring their environment and watching the adults in their lives and then imitating them. Excessive screen time may inhibit a child's ability to observe and experience the typical everyday activities they need to engage with in order to learn about the world, leading to a kind of "tunnel vision," which can be detrimental to overall development.

When I see children walking with a parent or being pushed in a stroller, they are often playing on a smartphone or a tablet and not paying attention to anything else around them. They will not learn about the world around them if all they're doing is looking at a smartphone. This will not just affect their ability to learn new things, but also how they interact with others and how language develops.

How does screen time impact a child's ability to learn?
To a young child everything is new. Children need to explore their environment using all their senses to learn about the world, so it is very important that they can interact with three-dimensional spaces and activities. This provides so much more information than watching a two-dimensional picture on a screen.

Studies have shown that children under 2 learn less from a video than when learning from another person, and it appears that although children will watch the TV screen by 6 months, understanding the content does not generally occur until after age 2. It's not that they won't be captivated by what's on the screen, but they're not learning from it.

A child will not learn to stack blocks by watching it on a screen. They will learn by touching the blocks, feeling the texture and weight of different materials, and using trial and error to get one to balance on another. This is early problem solving. So, in addition to limiting screen time, it is important to encourage a child to get involved in experiential learning through play with toys because that fosters early problem solving and creativity.

Language development expands rapidly between 1½ to 3 years of age, and studies have shown that children learn language best when engaging and interacting with adults who are talking and playing with them. There is also some evidence that children who watch a lot of television during the early elementary school years perform less well on reading tests and may show deficits in attention.

"There is also some evidence that children who watch a lot of television during the early elementary school years perform less well on reading tests and may show deficits in attention."
- Dr. Jennifer Cross

Tell us more about how screen time affects language and communication.
Research shows that talking with children in a reciprocal dialogue is extremely important for language development and social interaction. It's that back-and-forth "conversation," sharing facial expressions and reacting to the other person - in real life, rather than "passive" listening or one-way interaction with a screen - that improves language and communication skills in young children.

What age is appropriate to introduce screens?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends avoiding screens for children younger than 18 to 24 months, except when video chatting with family. The AAP also recommends limiting screen use for preschool children, ages 2 to 5, to just one hour a day of high-quality programming (think Sesame Street or PBS).

When something needs to get done around the house, it can be helpful to have a young child otherwise engaged and entertained. My advice then to parents is to turn on a short TV show like Sesame Street or Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood - something educational and fun that shows characters interacting and playing cooperatively to model good social skills - rather than giving their child a tablet or a phone. And, if possible, it's best to watch the educational programming with the child so you can actively engage with them about what they're watching and learning.

Suggested Screen Time Use By Age

18 Months and Younger
Avoid use of screen media other than video-chatting.

18 - 24 Months
Parents of children 18 to 24 months of age who want to introduce digital media should choose high-quality programming, and watch it with their children to help them understand what they're seeing.

2 - 5 Years
Limit screen use to 1 hour per day of high-quality programs. Parents should co-view media with children to help them understand what they are seeing and apply it to the world around them.

6 - 12 Years
Place consistent limits on the time spent using media and the types of media, and make sure media does not take the place of adequate sleep, physical activity, and other behaviors essential to health.

12 Years and Older
Designate media-free times together, such as dinner or driving, as well as media-free locations at home, such as bedrooms.

How might screens impact a child's sleep?
As humans, our circadian rhythms and our production of melatonin - the sleep hormone - kicks in when the sun sets. But the blue light from screens inhibits melatonin, which can delay sleep. And watching TV or playing games also keeps our brains and bodies more alert and activated and less ready for sleep. (Tablets and smartphones will suppress the melatonin more than TVs because the screen, and that blue light, is closer to the face.)

According to one study, infants 6 to 12 months old who were exposed to screens in the evening showed significantly shorter nighttime sleep than those who had no evening screen exposure.

For preteens and teenagers, excessive use of screens late at night will affect their sleep, and keeping screens out of the bedroom is advised. Too much time spent on social media as well as lack of sleep can affect behavior and cognitive performance in school and interfere with learning. It has also been shown that excessive screen time and sleep deprivation are linked to obesity, which in turn can affect self-esteem and lead to social isolation and more screen time.

How addictive can digital screens be for young kids?
The problem with mobile devices is that they draw you in, and as we all know it's easy to waste time surfing the internet. They are also so portable and ubiquitous that we cannot manage without them. As adults, we understand some of the drawbacks and make a conscious decision to put the phone down, but for 2- or 3-year-olds, who don't have any understanding of these concerns, if they have been exposed to the phone/tablet since infancy, it becomes their norm and they want to do more of it.

We should also be careful of relying on using screens to distract a child from a problem rather than having them figure it out and learn to resolve it themselves. Using a favorite song to distract a young child who has just fallen and scraped their knee might be OK, but having the parent comfort and cuddle with the child and talk to them is better. Using screen time to distract young children who are having trouble sharing a toy will not help them learn how to share and take turns in the future, although it may be a quick fix in the short term.

Are some screens worse than others?
Television isn't as bad as it was once perceived to be as it can be controlled more easily and stays in one place. Tablets and smartphones are much more accessible because they're portable. You can take them anywhere and use them at any time.

I believe YouTube is generally bad for young children. If left to their own devices, children are often better than their parents at finding their favorite videos that link to other videos and can lead to hours of watching endless clips. The largely unregulated nature of the site allows children to watch almost anything; at best there is little educational value, and at worst it can be violent or inappropriate content. Again, the best course of action is to watch with the child so the parent is engaged in finding content that is appropriate and educational.

What tips do you have for parents to limit screen time for kids?
1. Co-watch whenever possible. If children are going to have screen time, the best thing you can do is to watch the show or game with them to help them understand what they're seeing. Comment on things you notice, ask questions about what is happening, if someone on a show is singing a song, sing along with your child. Engage with them and repeat concepts after the show is over so they're more likely to retain that information.

2. Choose media wisely. Look to organizations like Common Sense Media for reviews about age-appropriate apps, games, and programs to guide you in making the best choices for your children.

3. Keep bedtime, mealtime, and family time screen-free. Don't use screens in the car except for long trips, and consider setting a curfew or an agreed-upon time when your family shuts off all screens. Balancing online and offline time is extremely important.

4. Limit your own phone use. Kids will do what they see their parents doing. At a young age, their parent(s) is the most important person in their life, so they will model whatever behavior they are seeing. If they see that you're behind a screen all day every day, then they'll see that it's acceptable and will want to do the same.

5. Emphasize the big three: sleep, healthy nutrition, and exercise. All three are essential to optimal brain growth and development and health and wellness for children and adults alike. And excessive screen time can impact all three. Children who spend more time in front of screens have been shown to eat more fast food and less fruits and vegetables and get less sleep and exercise. Therefore, it is very important to incorporate healthy lifestyle choices as part of the daily routine, as well as limiting screen time.
Read more on children's health. See tips on how to develop a Family Media Use Plan.

Jennifer F. Cross, M.D., is an attending pediatrician at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital and an assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine. An expert in the diagnosis and management of children with developmental disabilities, Dr. Cross is board-certified in developmental and behavioral pediatrics.

At A Glance

Featured Expert

Consult an Expert

Find a Doctor or call
877-697-9355

Get The Latest Health and Wellness News

Keep in touch with NewYork-Presbyterian and subscribe to our newsletter.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Does Too Much Screen Time Do to Kids' Brains?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dr. Jennifer Cross, developmental and behavioral pediatrics expert, explains the harmful effects of too much screen time on early childhood development.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
5 Reasons Kids Need Homework and 5 Reasons They Don't

The benefits of homework has been debated by teachers and parents for years as the very word evokes very negative connotations to every involved, students, parents and teachers. Although many people think of homework as doing more harm than good by causing copious amounts of unnecessary stress to everyone, others believe that it has great advantages for children by encouraging them to think more independently outside the classroom.
The Benefits
The first benefit of homework is that it allows students and teachers to work more closely together. They can discuss their assignments or any problems that they are having with parts of their textbooks, before or after classes.

The second benefit is that it can bring families closer together as students may ask their parents or siblings for help on their homework. Not only will this help the students get a better understanding of their work with any parts they are stuck on, it will also allow parents to get more involved in their child's educational life.

Thirdly, doing homework will prepare students for the big end tests. If a child does poorly on an assignment then they will learn what is necessary to do well on the next test without being punished. It also provides students with the opportunity to practice at what it takes to be successful in school. Like they say, practice makes perfect.

Doing homework is also a great way to develop responsibilities. By being assigned work one day and knowing that it has to be done by the next day, they will develop a sense of punctuality by turning their work in on time.

And finally it allows parents to see how their children are being educated and they can develop a better idea of how they can help their child. However, some parents, students and even some teachers feel that after 7-8 hours of lessons in school, it is unfair to expect students to come home and work for another three hours.
The Potential Harm
The first reason that children should not be given homework is that they need time to relax and take their minds off work. The pressure of having to complete homework every night is quite daunting for most children and they need time to refresh their minds and bodies.

Secondly, it reduces the amount of time that children could be spending with their families. Family time is especially important to a growing child and without it social problems can crop up and a family unit can be compromised by a lack of time being spent together.

Thirdly, homework can cause conflict between children and parents when the parent wants to the child to do their homework but meets resistance from the student to do an overwhelming task.

Too much homework can encourage cheating because children end up copying off one another in an attempt to finish all their assignments. They then end up being rewarded for cheating which doesn't benefit them at all.

And finally, a lot of teachers don't often have the time to grade papers properly as they are too busy with designing lesson plans and consulting teaching resources in order to just manage lessons. So by the time students are getting their papers back, the class has moved on to a new topic.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
5 Reasons Kids Need Homework and 5 Reasons They Don't

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Although many people think of homework as doing more harm than good by causing copious amounts of unnecessary stress to everyone, others believe that it has great advantages for children by encouraging them to think more independently outside the classroom.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In 2004, Kuss Middle School in Fall River, Massachusetts, was labelled a Level 4 or "chronically underperforming" school, a lowly status that made it the focus of increased oversight and intervention. By 2013, however, Kuss, along with other struggling schools in this high-poverty district, had pushed its ranking all the way to Level 1. Whereas many interventions can impose punitive measures that divide communities, the improvement in student achievement at Kuss has been credited in no small part to longer school days or extended learning time (ELT) - a reform championed by many school officials, educators, parents, and community leaders.

"We've seen schools that have added as many as 90 minutes to their day improve quite dramatically," says Rebecca Cusick, a fourth-grade teacher and president of the Fall River Educators' Association.

Massachusetts has been a leader in ELT for more than a decade. In 2005, the state legislature created the Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time Initiative and approved major funding to support high-poverty schools that lengthened the school year. The initiative currently supports 19 schools and more than 10,000 students. Individual models may differ, but the schools have all lengthened their calendars by approximately 300 hours annually. For a school on a typical 180-day calendar, this translates to roughly 90 minutes of additional classroom time daily. The extra time is used for core subject instruction, teacher professional development, and student engagement activities.

Schools are provided with more "comprehensive educational experiences as well as more informal play time and social development opportunities that too many schools today are not able to provide simply because they don't have enough time to do so," explains Jennifer Davis, co-founder and president of the National Center on Time & Learning (NCTL).

The popularity of longer school days got a major boost in 2013 with a joint program between NCTL, the U.S. Department of Education and the Ford Foundation called the "Time Collaborative." This three-year initiative involved 40 schools in the states of Colorado, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Tennessee. Outside of major projects like this, more school districts across the country are also stretching the school day, although in less ambitious ways.

But the shift to longer school days comes with pitfalls or, at least, unmet expectations. And even those educators who are in schools that have successfully implemented ELT initiatives will be the first to issue a warning - a longer school day is not for everyone.

Longer School Days: Weighing the Pros and Cons

Currently, around 1,500 schools across the country have extended learning hours, a significant increase since 2009 when only 650 had implemented the shift. Its popularity in some communities won't necessarily be replicated in others, says Adam Urbanski, president of the Rochester Teachers Association.

What ELT allows us to do is offer enrichment programs that we would not otherwise have the time to offer. Academics are a part of the program, but students also have the opportunity to participate in different interests - arts, sports, engineering, computers, martial arts. Anything is possible." - Rebecca Cusick, president, Fall River Educators' Association

"It can work, but extended learning time is not the panacea many of its advocates claim it to be," he cautions.

The question is, will the care and precision that has made the program successful be diminished or even ignored as enthusiasm grows? (The National Education Association does not have an official position on longer school days, only that the process should be carefully planned and collaborative.)

Research on the academic impact of longer school days is mixed. The Massachusetts Department of Education conducted a study in 2006-07 and found that increasing the school day by 25 percent resulted in an improvement in test scores of 5-10 percent. Other districts, including Washington, D.C., found no such correlation. Again, different communities use different models, so comparing results can be unreliable.

Skeptics of longer school days point out that high-achieving nations such as Finland, Singapore, and China have chosen not to take this route, opting instead for maximizing learning and collaboration time during the traditional schedule. Indeed, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, U.S. teachers already spend more time in direct instruction with students than their peers in practically every other developed country.

And extended learning requires money - lots of it. In Fall River, grants have been essential as the district, despite its commitment to the program, has struggled to maintain funding. Rebeca Cusick in Fall River acknowledges this challenge, but says it is not a reason to turn away or abandon the initiative.

"As costs increase, we are going to have to get creative to make it work."

The interest in longer school days has extended beyond the immediate impact on students and educators. A recent study by the Center for American Progress sounded the alarm about how the traditional school schedule is out of sync with the realities of the economic climate. Specifically, school schedules are misaligned with the work schedules of parents, forcing them to split their time "between being a committed parent and being a committed working professional."

"Schools make it really hard for working parents-and particularly, working moms-to fulfill all their responsibilities," explainsCatherine Brown, Vice President of Education Policy at CAP. ‎"Better aligning school and work schedules ought to be a core component of a progressive agenda to help working families."

CAP recommends states and districts introduce a new "model of choice": 9-to-5 schools. These schools would be concentrated in low-income communities, supported by new competitive grant programs and a commitment to "rethink their requirements on instructional time, including by increasing the minimum number of hours that students are required to be in school," according to the report.

But do students have the stamina to endure that lengthy daily schedule? Vicki Abeles, author of Beyond Measure: Rescuing an Overscheduled, Overtested, and Underestimated Generation, wrote in The New York Times last year about burdening already stressed-out students with a longer school day:

"Many of our children are already stretched to unhealthy breaking points, loaded down with excessive homework, extracurricular activities and outside tutoring because they're led to believe high test scores, a slew of Advanced Placement classes and a packed résumé are their ticket to college and success. This has led to an epidemic of anxious, unhealthy, sleep-deprived, burned-out, disengaged, unprepared children -- and overwhelmed and discouraged teachers.The key is creating a healthier, more balanced, more engaging and effective school day, not a longer one."

But in many of those communities where extended learning time is successful, the idea was never about overloading addled brains with more core subject instruction.

"What ELT allows us to do is offer enrichment programs that we would not otherwise have the time to offer," says Cusick. "Academics are a part of the program, but students also have the opportunity to participate in different interests - arts, sports, engineering, computers, martial arts. Anything is possible."

Getting Bang for the Buck

This focus on enrichment programs is also a pillar of the Extended Learning Time initiative in Rochester, New York, launched in 2013.

The program works in Rochester, says Adam Urbanski, because the focus has always been not just on more time, but better time - and on the students who need it the most.

"Some students need additional time, not all students. Those who benefit from it are usually those who don't have adequate conditions for continuing learning after school, whether at home or in the community," explains Urbanski.

Critical to the program's success In both Fall River and Rochester was the effort to build consensus in the school and community and empower educators to play a leading role in determining how the additional time was spent.

"If you ask the average teacher, 'Do you think longer school days work?' The answer will probably be, 'Well, that depends,'" says Urbanski. "So we have been vested in making sure that this was done right."

In Rochester, then-superintendent Bolgen Vargas and the Rochester Teachers Association agreed that extended learning was an initiative that had to be designed and implemented with educators, not to educators. (And not to parents either. There are various avenues to opt-out of the initiative for those parents who prefer their child not participate, but overwhelmingly in Fall River and Rochester, buy-in from parents has been a constant.)

Obviously, teachers would have to be compensated for the extended time, but they have also been determined to make the time work for their students. Thanks to a provision in the union contract known as the "School-Level Living Contract," Rochester educators have the autonomy and flexibility to make decisions regarding how the extended time was utilized.

Some school have had rougher transitions than others, but overall the extended learning time initiative in Rochester has won positive reviews from district leaders, educators, and parents.

"If done consensually with the teachers, and if you acknowledge that it works for some not all students, and you use the time meaningfully, then yes, we should acknowledge that longer school days can work," says Urbanski. "You can get a lot of bang for the buck."

Educators in Seattle are now in the process of helping decide how to utilize an additional 20 minutes. that will be added to the school day in 2017-18, part of an agreement between the district and the Seattle Education Association (SEA). Although the amount of additional time is significantly less than in other communities, the switch will affect every school. The district, in partnership with educators, is currently collecting feedback from parents on how to use this additional time.

"Many educators aren't convinced that merely lengthening the school day will necessarily do anything," says Michael Tamayo, a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher and a member of the SEA bargaining team. "But we want to make sure that it is used properly to really bring results for the students. That's what we're focusing on now."

Even 10 years on, the ELT initiative in Fall River is an evolving process, says Rebecca Cusick.

"The district has been great about being committed to making this work, and as we learn what the challenges are, we are constantly adjusting how we approach ELT. But schools that don't have it, want it. Teachers see what the possibilities are and they want that for their students."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A 9 to 5 School Day: Are Longer Hours Better for Students and Educators? | NEA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In 2004, Kuss Middle School in Fall River, Massachusetts, was labelled a Level 4 or "chronically underperforming" school, a lowly status that made it the focus of increased oversight and intervention. By 2013, however, Kuss, along with other struggling schools in this high-poverty district, had pushed its ranking all the way to Level 1.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Every teacher knows that an incredible amount of material accumulates during the school year, and classrooms can quickly become unmanageable.

So how can you feel confident and in control of your space from the first day of school to the last? By organizing your classroom in a way that keeps clutter to a minimum and helps your students function independently. Below, veteran teacher Sharon Taylor shares her best tips on classroom organization.

Don't let crayons, glue, and pencils take over your classroom! Instead of requiring each student to bring individual supplies, ask parents to contribute to the community collection if it's possible for them. You can also raise funds for your classroom with a ClassroomsCount™ campaign.

By doing this, you eliminate the need to track which items belong to which students. Store frequently used items in shower caddies at each table for students to share. This will help them learn to take turns and collaborate!

At the beginning of the school year, invest in Scholastic tubs, bins, baskets, and small storage boxes-or get creative and use empty coffee cans, jugs, and baby wipe containers. These will work great for storing manipulatives. Make sure frequently used items are easy to access and clearly labeled with words and pictures. Rarely used materials can be stored out of the way and only pulled out when necessary.

Instead of file folders, try using binders to store lessons and activities. You can organize binders for various monthly themes and topics and can even store small craft samples. Shoebox-sized plastic boxes are ideal for storing larger craft samples. It will take extra work to organize your binders the first year you use them, but by the next school year, you'll be ready to go with minimal effort.

This is a big timesaver for teachers! Before the week begins, set aside all the materials you will need for each day of the week. In your work area, keep a set of baskets labeled by day and store the materials you need in the appropriate bin. At the end of the week, clear out and re-file any remaining materials, and you'll be ready for next Monday by end-of-day Friday.

To have a successful reading program, you need a successful classroom library. The books should be easily accessible and organized so that students spend less time digging around and more time reading.

First, you need to decide how you want to organize your books. Many teachers keep their libraries in book bins that are organized by genre, topic, and level. However you decide to organize your books, make sure the book bins are clearly labeled.

Finally, Taylor has the ultimate tool to keep your classroom library organized: clothespins! Put each child's name on a clothespin and keep them in a basket near the books. When a student picks out a book to read, they should leave their clothespin on the book bin. When they are done reading, if they forgot where the book belongs, they simply look for where they left their clothespin to return the book to the proper bin.

Shop classroom tools for organization below! You can find all supplies, books, and activities at The Teacher Store, where educators get at least 25% off the list price.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Tips for Organizing Your Classroom at the Beginning of the School Year | Scholastic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Maximize your classroom in the new school year with first-rate classroom organization.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
{UPDATED} Pros & Cons of Screen Time for Small Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Screen time is a double-edged sword for parents. On one hand, it can be educational and entertaining for children. But on the other hand, it can interfere with healthy sleep and other key areas of child development. Is it possible to strike a balance and enjoy the benefits without the

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ask any nine-year-old if he or she likes homework, and you're likely to see a vigorously shaking head and hear a resounding and strongly emoted: NO! When the novelty of school wears off after kindergarten, many children become disenchanted with this time-honored, but sometimes annoying mainstay of education.

While there's no surprise that most kids would rather spend their time playing Roblox or riding bikes, what do grown-up experts have to say about the importance of homework in the learning process? You might be surprised to find out that the answer is somewhat complicated.

In recent years, the educational world has been rocked by school districts, parents, teachers, and educational researchers who have been voicing their concerns over the effectiveness of homework. On one hand, many districts around the country have been moving towards eliminating it altogether at the elementary level. On the other, researchers have shown that the right type of assignment can help students succeed academically and on standardized tests.

School might be out of session for the summer, but in just a couple of months as the fall semester begins, the debate will be heating up all over again as students head back to the classroom. Let's take a closer look at both sides of the debate and come to a more balanced perspective on this growing hot-button educational topic.

The Great Homework Debate: What's the Issue?

Homework has gotten a bad rap lately. Since the turn of the century, there has been quite a bit of negative talk, especially with the publishing of multiple books that critique its efficacy, like Alfie Kohn's The Homework Myth: Why Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing. In his book, Kohn states his belief that there is no evidence that it helps elementary students succeed.

No matter which book or study you read, the main arguments against home-based assignments seem to revolve around the following ideas:

It encroaches on important family time at home. Parents and researchers alike have noted that homework cuts down on the already limited time that parents have to spend with their children. In America's past, many women stayed home to tend to the kids. But times have certainly changed, with many non-traditional one-parent households, and many nuclear families now consisting of two-parent earners both with jobs outside the home.

Many homework assignments are checked for completion and not accuracy. Teachers are time-strapped and burdened as state funding gets slashed and class sizes soar. This often means that educators are unable to keep up with a workload that includes individualized feedback on differentiated homework assignments. In turn, this results in educators that simply check it as completed or not, earning students a participation grade instead of receiving much more meaningful feedback.

Can be seen as "busy work" if it does not relate closely enough to a specific lesson. As a parent, you might have seen this before when working with your kindergartener or 1st grader on a "menu" that includes topics that the children haven't even reviewed in class! In this way, some assignments can be seen as merely "busy work" assigned by the teacher because the campus or district says that a certain number of tasks must be given per week.

For older kids and teens, it can contribute to sleep deprivation and stress. As students begin to earn a GPA and work towards class rank, school becomes much more competitive. Even in the older elementary years, too much homework can be seen as a major factor for a student's lack of sleep or their stress related to earning a particular grade.

Some say it lowers motivation and intrinsic interest in academic subjects. Some parents and experts call homework a "chore" and blame assignments for destroying their child's love for learning. For instance, many rue the forced reading lists or sustained silent reading because kids usually do not respond well to an activity in which they're made to do something without little choice in the matter.

At this point, you might be thinking to yourself, is homework important or not? It's important to note that many educators and researchers do believe in the concept of homework. After all, a debate needs at least two sides! Let's flip the coin to see the other side of the argument.
Start Learning
Why is Homework Important?

The case laid out above might seem to seal the deal on the argument, as it does offer valid arguments, but facts and statistics are hard to come by when the educational system varies across the country as much as it does. However, there are many teachable aspects of homework that are often looked over in the rhetoric against the assignments.

Here are 10 reasons why homework is important to student success:

1. Helps build responsibility. Some current buzzwords and phrases in the educational community are all about making students accountable and taking ownership of their learning. Homework helps kids do just that because they learn to take responsibility for their actions. When completed, they get the reward of earning a good grade, but face consequences in learning and in class when leave it by the wayside.

2. Develops work ethic from an early age. Children need to understand the value of hard work and to form the obligation and self-regulation to commit to their projects and see them through. That said, homework can help students form a hardy work ethic that they will take with them to college and beyond.

3. Improves time management. From kindergarten to senior year, kids and teens struggle to manage time and prioritize their to-do list. For young children, parents tend to these assignments to guide kids to develop this important skill. The goal for high school students means eventually learning how to manage multiple tasks to fit it in their schedule, and plan which will take longer or shorter depending on their skill level, strengths, or weaknesses.

4. Gives students confidence. Sometimes kids need to attempt problems or exercises on their own and realize that failure is an important part of the learning process. In working through math problems or constructing essays, students gain confidence and hone creative problem-solving skills.

5. Enhances self-esteem. Once children gain confidence that they can complete an assignment or perform a skill independently, they build a healthy self-esteem, which is important to many aspects of everyday life.

6. Teaches study habits. Students don't enter kindergarten already knowing how to study. In fact, many kids still struggle with study habits when they enter high school! Consistent homework can help children realize the importance of practice, especially if their teachers provide timely feedback and offer tasks that directly relate to the unit quizzes or tests.

7. Can offer valuable feedback. When used correctly in the classroom, home assignments can result in meaningful classroom discussions or conferences. Teachers can meet one-on-one with students to discuss observations about progress, or use generalized whole-class feedback to offer students tips on how to improve.

8. Gets parents more involved in a child's education. Like it or not, as a parent, homework forces us to stay on the same page with our children as they work through units and lessons. It also allows parents to contact the teacher if they notice their child struggling with any one subject or topic. Especially in the younger grades, at-home work can keep mom and dad informed about their children's strengths and weaknesses, allowing for ample intervention opportunities, if necessary.

9. The link between homework and standardized test achievement. According to some recent studies, there is a modest positive link between students who successfully complete homework and success on state standardized tests. When taken further, it's not hard to believe that students who take their work seriously and value their education naturally perform better on not only state testing, but in classwork as well.

10. Prepares students for professional careers. While most professions don't require workers to take tasks home, there are indeed deadlines in the real world. Home assignments can help children prepare for the real world by teaching them to meet their obligations on time.

A More Balanced Approach

So how important is homework to student success, and what to kids really need to succeed? Ask most educational theorists, and they probably agree that homework, when given in moderation when and where appropriate, can be a useful tool to help kids learn and grow. The old adage "quality over quantity" applies to any home-based assignment, and timely feedback must be given to assist students learn the desired concept or skill. Students must understand the purpose and realize the relevancy for any assignment, whether done at home or in the classroom.

Don't forget - Kids Academy offers a vast library of quality learning resources to complement your lessons or your child's school work. Find meaningful practice using reading comprehension worksheets, learning videos, games and more at kidsacademy.mobi, and check us out on the AppStore or Google Play!
Start Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why is Homework Important: Importance of Homework in Learning Process

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
More than ever, students, parents, and even teachers are wondering to themselves: how important is homework to student success? The answer is more complicated then you would think! Take a look at both sides of the homework debate by reading this article that explores its effectiveness.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In 2004, Kuss Middle School in Fall River, Massachusetts, was labelled a Level 4 or "chronically underperforming" school, a lowly status that made it the focus of increased oversight and intervention. By 2013, however, Kuss, along with other struggling schools in this high-poverty district, had pushed its ranking all the way to Level 1. Whereas many interventions can impose punitive measures that divide communities, the improvement in student achievement at Kuss has been credited in no small part to longer school days or extended learning time (ELT) - a reform championed by many school officials, educators, parents, and community leaders.

"We've seen schools that have added as many as 90 minutes to their day improve quite dramatically," says Rebecca Cusick, a fourth-grade teacher and president of the Fall River Educators' Association.

Massachusetts has been a leader in ELT for more than a decade. In 2005, the state legislature created the Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time Initiative and approved major funding to support high-poverty schools that lengthened the school year. The initiative currently supports 19 schools and more than 10,000 students. Individual models may differ, but the schools have all lengthened their calendars by approximately 300 hours annually. For a school on a typical 180-day calendar, this translates to roughly 90 minutes of additional classroom time daily. The extra time is used for core subject instruction, teacher professional development, and student engagement activities.

Schools are provided with more "comprehensive educational experiences as well as more informal play time and social development opportunities that too many schools today are not able to provide simply because they don't have enough time to do so," explains Jennifer Davis, co-founder and president of the National Center on Time & Learning (NCTL).

The popularity of longer school days got a major boost in 2013 with a joint program between NCTL, the U.S. Department of Education and the Ford Foundation called the "Time Collaborative." This three-year initiative involved 40 schools in the states of Colorado, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Tennessee. Outside of major projects like this, more school districts across the country are also stretching the school day, although in less ambitious ways.

But the shift to longer school days comes with pitfalls or, at least, unmet expectations. And even those educators who are in schools that have successfully implemented ELT initiatives will be the first to issue a warning - a longer school day is not for everyone.

Longer School Days: Weighing the Pros and Cons

Currently, around 1,500 schools across the country have extended learning hours, a significant increase since 2009 when only 650 had implemented the shift. Its popularity in some communities won't necessarily be replicated in others, says Adam Urbanski, president of the Rochester Teachers Association.

What ELT allows us to do is offer enrichment programs that we would not otherwise have the time to offer. Academics are a part of the program, but students also have the opportunity to participate in different interests - arts, sports, engineering, computers, martial arts. Anything is possible." - Rebecca Cusick, president, Fall River Educators' Association

"It can work, but extended learning time is not the panacea many of its advocates claim it to be," he cautions.

The question is, will the care and precision that has made the program successful be diminished or even ignored as enthusiasm grows? (The National Education Association does not have an official position on longer school days, only that the process should be carefully planned and collaborative.)

Research on the academic impact of longer school days is mixed. The Massachusetts Department of Education conducted a study in 2006-07 and found that increasing the school day by 25 percent resulted in an improvement in test scores of 5-10 percent. Other districts, including Washington, D.C., found no such correlation. Again, different communities use different models, so comparing results can be unreliable.

Skeptics of longer school days point out that high-achieving nations such as Finland, Singapore, and China have chosen not to take this route, opting instead for maximizing learning and collaboration time during the traditional schedule. Indeed, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, U.S. teachers already spend more time in direct instruction with students than their peers in practically every other developed country.

And extended learning requires money - lots of it. In Fall River, grants have been essential as the district, despite its commitment to the program, has struggled to maintain funding. Rebeca Cusick in Fall River acknowledges this challenge, but says it is not a reason to turn away or abandon the initiative.

"As costs increase, we are going to have to get creative to make it work."

The interest in longer school days has extended beyond the immediate impact on students and educators. A recent study by the Center for American Progress sounded the alarm about how the traditional school schedule is out of sync with the realities of the economic climate. Specifically, school schedules are misaligned with the work schedules of parents, forcing them to split their time "between being a committed parent and being a committed working professional."

"Schools make it really hard for working parents-and particularly, working moms-to fulfill all their responsibilities," explainsCatherine Brown, Vice President of Education Policy at CAP. ‎"Better aligning school and work schedules ought to be a core component of a progressive agenda to help working families."

CAP recommends states and districts introduce a new "model of choice": 9-to-5 schools. These schools would be concentrated in low-income communities, supported by new competitive grant programs and a commitment to "rethink their requirements on instructional time, including by increasing the minimum number of hours that students are required to be in school," according to the report.

But do students have the stamina to endure that lengthy daily schedule? Vicki Abeles, author of Beyond Measure: Rescuing an Overscheduled, Overtested, and Underestimated Generation, wrote in The New York Times last year about burdening already stressed-out students with a longer school day:

"Many of our children are already stretched to unhealthy breaking points, loaded down with excessive homework, extracurricular activities and outside tutoring because they're led to believe high test scores, a slew of Advanced Placement classes and a packed résumé are their ticket to college and success. This has led to an epidemic of anxious, unhealthy, sleep-deprived, burned-out, disengaged, unprepared children -- and overwhelmed and discouraged teachers.The key is creating a healthier, more balanced, more engaging and effective school day, not a longer one."

But in many of those communities where extended learning time is successful, the idea was never about overloading addled brains with more core subject instruction.

"What ELT allows us to do is offer enrichment programs that we would not otherwise have the time to offer," says Cusick. "Academics are a part of the program, but students also have the opportunity to participate in different interests - arts, sports, engineering, computers, martial arts. Anything is possible."

Getting Bang for the Buck

This focus on enrichment programs is also a pillar of the Extended Learning Time initiative in Rochester, New York, launched in 2013.

The program works in Rochester, says Adam Urbanski, because the focus has always been not just on more time, but better time - and on the students who need it the most.

"Some students need additional time, not all students. Those who benefit from it are usually those who don't have adequate conditions for continuing learning after school, whether at home or in the community," explains Urbanski.

Critical to the program's success In both Fall River and Rochester was the effort to build consensus in the school and community and empower educators to play a leading role in determining how the additional time was spent.

"If you ask the average teacher, 'Do you think longer school days work?' The answer will probably be, 'Well, that depends,'" says Urbanski. "So we have been vested in making sure that this was done right."

In Rochester, then-superintendent Bolgen Vargas and the Rochester Teachers Association agreed that extended learning was an initiative that had to be designed and implemented with educators, not to educators. (And not to parents either. There are various avenues to opt-out of the initiative for those parents who prefer their child not participate, but overwhelmingly in Fall River and Rochester, buy-in from parents has been a constant.)

Obviously, teachers would have to be compensated for the extended time, but they have also been determined to make the time work for their students. Thanks to a provision in the union contract known as the "School-Level Living Contract," Rochester educators have the autonomy and flexibility to make decisions regarding how the extended time was utilized.

Some school have had rougher transitions than others, but overall the extended learning time initiative in Rochester has won positive reviews from district leaders, educators, and parents.

"If done consensually with the teachers, and if you acknowledge that it works for some not all students, and you use the time meaningfully, then yes, we should acknowledge that longer school days can work," says Urbanski. "You can get a lot of bang for the buck."

Educators in Seattle are now in the process of helping decide how to utilize an additional 20 minutes. that will be added to the school day in 2017-18, part of an agreement between the district and the Seattle Education Association (SEA). Although the amount of additional time is significantly less than in other communities, the switch will affect every school. The district, in partnership with educators, is currently collecting feedback from parents on how to use this additional time.

"Many educators aren't convinced that merely lengthening the school day will necessarily do anything," says Michael Tamayo, a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher and a member of the SEA bargaining team. "But we want to make sure that it is used properly to really bring results for the students. That's what we're focusing on now."

Even 10 years on, the ELT initiative in Fall River is an evolving process, says Rebecca Cusick.

"The district has been great about being committed to making this work, and as we learn what the challenges are, we are constantly adjusting how we approach ELT. But schools that don't have it, want it. Teachers see what the possibilities are and they want that for their students."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A 9 to 5 School Day: Are Longer Hours Better for Students and Educators? | NEA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In 2004, Kuss Middle School in Fall River, Massachusetts, was labelled a Level 4 or "chronically underperforming" school, a lowly status that made it the focus of increased oversight and intervention. By 2013, however, Kuss, along with other struggling schools in this high-poverty district, had pushed its ranking all the way to Level 1.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
4 Big Benefits of Getting Less Screen Time

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you're like most workers, you're probably staring at your computer screen for long periods of time each day. In fact, a finds that Americans get close to 11 hours of screen time every day. And while an electronic device's screen may not seem like a potential health hazard, it can cause serious discomfort and sleep issues .

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
The Classroom | Empowering Students in Their College Journey

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The average length of the K-12 school day is 8:30 to 3:00, engaging U.S. students in school for 6.64 hours a day over the span of 180 school days. Underperforming schools and the lagging performance of U.S. students in comparison to other countries is a concern.

Some educators believe that extending the school day until 5:00 p.m. is the answer. Others believe that lengthening the school day is an expensive endeavor that won't yield substantial results. Approximately 1,800 schools in the U.S. have extended learning hours, but there are many pros and cons of extended school days.

History of the School Schedule

The Agrarian calendar is rooted in the past. The school day was originally created to meet the needs of farmers. Children would get up early and help with chores, go to school and then help out on the farm until sundown. The school day had to accommodate available daylight and the requirements of helping with the family farm.

Review the Research

Data is an important variable if you're considering the longer school days pros and cons list. Since the approach to curriculum development and pedagogical style varies by state and district, data must be disaggregated to evaluate specific impact.

Pro: In 2004, the school day was lengthened for a Massachusetts school to address the issue of underperforming students. By 2013, a dramatic improvement in scores was credited to the extended learning time.

Con: A longitudinal study in New Mexico looked at the performance difference in K-3 students from seven different school districts. While small gains were made in reading, math and writing, there were no statistically significant results for children in the areas of receptive language, social skills or vocabulary.

Impact on Students

When looking at the benefits of a longer school year, the opportunity for expanding subject matter and the individualized needs of students are factors.

Pro: An extended school day provides more time for students to learn and the possibility of providing individualized attention for students in need. Teachers can use more time in the day to go on field trips or expand content areas.

Con: Not all students need one-on-one assistance, and some may even experience boredom or burnout from the extended school day. Teachers would be required to reimagine their curriculum and would need extra time to develop a curriculum to fit an expanded day.

Consider a Change in Schedule

A change in schedule is an adjustment for school officials, students and families. In-depth consultation between all constituents reveals the pros and cons of extended school days.

Pro: An extended school day provides more flexibility for parents, eliminating the need for after-school care. Some families find that aligning the school day with typical parent work schedules is a family-friendly approach.

Con: A lengthened school day may impede upon extracurricular activities, especially in secondary education. Children need the opportunity to rest and re-energize, and they're often overextended with activities, homework and part-time jobs.

Funding Disadvantages and Benefits of a Longer School Year

Budgetary requirements are an important part of a longer school days pros and cons list.

Pro: Education is a priority, and funding should not hold back efforts to provide more effective academic preparation for students. To be competitive in a global market, students need to be exposed to a wide variety of subject matter.

Con: School districts across the U.S. are struggling to make ends meet. Some are even cutting arts programs or shortening the school week to balance the budget. A longer school day would involve substantial funding for teacher salaries and facility maintenance. Instead, an investment should be made in improving teaching strategies and new technology that could transform the learning process.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There are many pros and cons of extended school days to consider before making a systemic change. A longer school day may provide for expanded learning opportunities and a family-friendly schedule. Critics assert that a longer school day is costly and too hard on students who are already busy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Too Much on Your Mind?

Most kids have a lot on their minds. It can feel like you have so many things to do - and so many things to keep track of. Maybe there are worries or problems on your mind, too.
Did I do all my homework? Is that paper I need in my backpack? What time is it? I need to catch the bus! Is my friend going to meet me? Do we have practice today? Will I get picked for the team? Will I do OK on that test tomorrow?
Having too much on your mind can be stressful. When you feel this kind of stress, you might rush through things, get more distracted, be less patient, and not enjoy things as much. You might start to think, "I can't keep track of all this - I'll never get it all done!"

If you feel like this, it's time to stress less. Slowing down to be mindful can help.

What Is Being Mindful?

Being mindful means having your mind on what you are doing. It's the opposite of rushing or doing too many things at once. To be mindful, you slow down to take your time. You do one thing at a time. You focus on what you're doing in a calm way.

Taking a few minutes to pause, breathe, and be mindful lowers stress. It calms your mind and your body. When you feel calm, take your time, and have your mind on what you're doing, it's easier to get things done. And it's easier to do your best.

When you're rushed, busy, and stressed, you might think, "I don't have time to slow down!" At first, it can be hard to snap out of a stressful rush to s-l-o-w down and breathe. That's why it's good to learn how be mindful at a time when you're not in a stressful rush.

Find a quiet time - and try mindful breathing. It is one of the best ways of learning to be mindful.

How Can I Try Mindful Breathing?

Mindful breathing is simple and easy to learn. You just pause to take a few slow and easy breaths. For these few minutes, you decide to let your mind be on your breathing - instead of letting your mind be on everything else. Try it like this:

1. Sit in a relaxed way. If you want, close your eyes.

2. Start to notice your breathing. Breathe in through your nose. Breathe out through your nose. Try to let your breathing be slow and easy. Breathe in. Breathe out.

3. Notice how your body feels as you breathe. Can you feel the air tickle your nose as you breathe? Does the air feel cool or warm? Can you feel you belly, your chest, or your rib cage move as you breathe? If you want, put one hand on your belly or on your chest. Let each breath calm you. If you want, when you breathe out, you can sigh out some stress (you can make a sound like "hahhh" or "hmmm").

4. Take your time. Keep your mind on your breathing. If your mind wanders (you start thinking of other things), gently guide your mind back to your breathing. See if you can take four slow, calm breaths. If you want, take four more.

5. When you are finished, slowly open your eyes. Notice how you feel.

When Can I Use Mindful Breathing?

There are plenty of times mindful breathing can help you. The more often you practice mindful breathing, the more it helps.

Try mindful breathing:

in the morning to get your day off to a great start

at bedtime to help you get a peaceful night's sleep

when you're dealing with a big emotion - like feeling frustrated, angry, upset, or anxious

A few mindful breaths can help a big emotion settle. Try it when you're stressed. Mindful breathing helps you cope in a calm way. If you do mindful breathing for a few minutes every day, it can help you train your attention and learn to focus better.

If you need more help with stress or have a lot on your mind, talk about it with a parent, teacher, or counselor.

Date reviewed: January 2023

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Being mindful means having your mind on what you are doing. It's the opposite of rushing or doing too many things at once. When you feel calm, take your time, and have your mind on what you're doing, it's easier to get things done and do your best.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
School is back but it might be a bit different in the classroom for many students this term.

The Omicron variant* of Covid-19 has meant some changes to the way schools in some states will work, with face masks and Rapid Antigen Tests part of the plan to keep students safe and schools open.

Adjusting to changes at school can be stressful, especially after such a long break.

So Kids News asked Headspace app meditation and mindfulness teacher Sam Snowden for some tips.

Here's her advice for students:
COPING WITH BACK TO SCHOOL EMOTIONS
Going back to school after being away for a long time can bring up a lot of feelings. You might feel anxious, sad, excited or maybe a mix of many different emotions.

When we feel many emotions all at once, it can feel like a tornado of confusion in our minds. It's helpful to take some time to observe your feelings and see if you can name them one at a time.

You might like to journal about them or talk about them with someone you trust. This helps them to settle, letting you see things more clearly again.

You can think of your mind as like a snow globe. When it gets shaken up by stress and feelings, the flurry* of thoughts and feelings prevents us from seeing things clearly. When we name our thoughts and feelings, they begin to settle, like the snow in the globe, so that we can see things clearly again.

It's also helpful to remember that emotions let us know what's important to us.

So if you're worried about adjusting back to school, remember that the worry is showing you that you care about your friends and probably feeling comfortable and safe at school.

Caring is important - it's what makes us want to keep trying our best wherever we are.

On your way to school is a great time to check in with how you're feeling, naming your feelings one at a time and remembering that they are letting you know that you care - and that's a good thing.

It's also helpful to set an intention* for your day. You can choose one word like "focus" or "fun" and then come back to your intention throughout the day, bringing more focus into your conversations with friends or in the classroom, or finding reasons to laugh or play with classmates during break times.

Find time to check in with your feelings during the day too. It's helpful to find a quiet, private space that allows you to comfortably check in with your feelings and needs.

You can ask yourself, "what am I feeling?" and just see what feeling words come to mind as you name them.

Then ask yourself, "what do I need right now?" and see if any needs come up.

We all have a lot of different kinds of needs. We have a need for social time and the support and connection that social time brings.

We also have physical needs, like the need for sleep, water and movement.

So bring your curiosity to discover your needs one at a time.

It may be hard to know what you're needing at first but it'll get easier as you practice. You can always talk to someone you trust about helping you to identify your needs.

When we know what we're feeling and needing, we feel relieved and confident knowing we are on a clearer path leading us toward happiness and ease.
GLOSSARY

variant: a new form or version of something

flurry: sudden commotion, excitement, or confusion

intention: an aim or plan

EXTRA READING How to kick off the Covid blues Cricket star's message to kids: tough times won't last QUICK QUIZ

1. What is the name of the latest variant of Covid-19?

2. What does Sam Snowden teach?

3. What does Sam Snowden compare your mind to?

4. What do our emotions let us know?

5. What does Sam Snowden suggest you set for your day?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Name it, tame it
Take some quiet time to check in with your emotions as suggested in this news story. When you think you have identified your feelings and what it is you need to feel more comfortable, complete these sentence stems:

Right now, I feel ...

I feel ... (emotion identified above) that/about/because ...

To feel more comfortable, I need ...

Example: Right now, I feel nervous with butterflies in my tummy. I feel nervous because I'm not sure what my new grade is going to be like. To feel more comfortable, I need to stay calm with deep breaths and positive self-talk and to spend some time getting to know my new classmates and teacher.

Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Personal and Social Capability; Health and Physical Education

2. Extension
Share your finished sentences from the activity above with a trusted classmate and have them share theirs with you. See if you can help each other identify other things that might help to regulate your feelings or a way to check in with each other throughout the day.

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English; Personal and Social Capability; Health and Physical Education

VCOP ACTIVITY
Opener Up-Level It
Make a list of all the openers in the article. Pick three that repeat and see if you can replace them with another word, or shuffle the order of the sentence to bring a new opener to the front.

Don't forget to re-read the sentence to make sure it still makes sense, and that it actually sounds better.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Meditation and mindfulness teacher Sam Snowden's advice for a happy return to school

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
School is back but it might be a bit different in the classroom for many students this term. The Omicron variant* of Covid-19 has meant some changes to the way schools in some states will work, with face masks and Rapid Antigen Tests part of the plan to keep students safe and schools open.