My thanks to the Dominon Post for their permission to reproduce this article that was recently published in the newspaper.  Sally

BRAIN FUEL

Learning and playing uses a lot of energy, so make sure your grandchild had to school well fuelled.

Wellington nutritionist Sarah Burkhart says the average primary school pupil’s lunch needs one or two servings of bread and cereals, at least two servings of fruit and one serving of protein.

Convincing your grandchild to eat it is the hard part, however, so she has some tips for grandparents who labour over lunchboxes each day, only for the contents to be thrown into the nearest bin.

Whole fruit and vegetables can be difficult for little mouths to get around.  Try cutting carrots, cucumbers and other vegetables into sticks and serving them with a pottle of dip, like humus, yoghurt or salsa.
 
Vary the fruit you service, try berries and pieces of melon, as well as the usual apple or banana.

Chips are a crowd pleaser, but a nutritional no-no.  Plain popcorn is a “treat” substitute that most children will gobble up.

Talk to your grandchild about why they are not eating their lunch.  It could be too big, or certain combinations of sandwich fillings might not be so appetising by lunchtime.

Get them involved with making their lunch.  They are more likely to eat it if they have had a hand in what goes into it.

 

There is a program in New Zealand called B4 School Checks for four year olds to pick up on any health or behavioural problems that might hold them back once they turn five and are off to school.

If your grandchild missed out on these checks below are some signs that things may be wrong:

Loud talkers might be having trouble hearing.  If your grandchild complains of sore ears, or is holding on to one or both ears a lot that could also be an indication of hearing difficulties.

For vision, observe your grandchild when you’re out.  Can they see numbers on buses?  Read street signs?  If they are having trouble reading the books they bring home from school, ask them if it’s because they find it difficult to see the words clearly.

Headaches and sore eyes could be signs of eye strain.  If you have any doubt, please get them checked out.

Children should have a dental check up through school at least once a year.  Grandparents can help to keep growing teeth healthy by making sure their grandchildren are brushing them properly and for long enough.  

The most important thing is to make sure they don’t have a lot of juice and sugary drinks.