Dear Families and Caregivers,
This week, we’ve been learning about healthy habits that can enhance your children’s performance on standardized tests. Many studies have shown that it is not only what kids know, but also their ability to demonstrate what they know when taking tests. These healthy habits will help your children do their best:
· Getting regular exercise energizes the brain. Exercise before studying or test-taking can help concentration and aids in memorization.
· Eating breakfast fuels the brain. Low-fat whole grain foods like cereal, oatmeal, and bread are good brain foods. Add some protein, including milk, yogurt, nuts or eggs. For natural sweeteners, fresh or canned fruit and juices are recommended. Avoid sugary breakfast foods, since the energy they supply doesn’t last as long.
· Getting adequate sleep helps children learn. Children need 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night. Cut out active play and screen time at least an hour before bed. Help your children establish a regular bedtime routine so they can fall asleep easily on the nights before testing.
· Practicing deep-breathing exercises to reduce the stress that interferes with your children’s ability to think, concentrate, and problem-solve. If you see your kids stressing over homework or an upcoming test, remind them to practice deep breathing so they can get back on track.
Practicing these healthy habits regularly will help your children learn better every day. Regular practice will also produce optimal results when they really count - during standardized testing.
Your support will help your children be ready to test their best during MAP testing on April 23-25!

Health Lesson: Ready, Set, Test! This health lesson was made available to your student's school by Mercy Children's Hospital.