Does your child struggle to learn? Today on Home School Heartbeat, Mike Smith talks about a possible factor in that struggle, with HSLDA Special Needs Coordinator Dianne Craft.
Mike Smith:
Dianne, what does nutrition have to do with a child's ability to learn?
Dianne Craft:
Mike, oftentimes these children, who are struggling with their mood during the day, or with memory or with focusing, are really children who have an upset body chemistry. Their chemistry is upset because something is not working for them. They’re either not getting the right foods, or it’s not being digested right. The neurotransmitter serotonin—that “feel-good focus” neurotransmitter—that drugs like Ritalin re-circulate, is really made in the gut. Ninety-five percent of all the serotonin is made there, so what we put in the child's stomach is so important. If they have a lot of meltdowns during the day, are very frustrated easily, look at whether or not we’re giving them more sugar than their body needs, especially in the form of cereal and juice in the morning—try some protein. If they are having inconsistent performance (know things one day and forget the next), look at allergies. Very often, dairy isn’t their friend. And when we can change that, we change a child’s learning.
Mike:
Dianne, thank you so much for joining us this week. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.
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Not sure if your child has a learning glitch? Dianne Craft’s free resource sheet offers helpful tips about identifying and addressing learning struggles. Click on the image above to download or request.
( If you have trouble opening this document click here for an updated version of Adobe Reader.)
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