Nutritionists tend to favor snack times for early-elementary-age students. Small tummies, active days, and (in some kids) fast metabolisms can leave kids hungry. In fact, many schools make nutritious snacks a regular part of the day, often in midmorning, especially when kids start early and have late lunches.
Eating small amounts more often boosts concentration and actually helps reduce overeating because a child isn't "starving" at mealtime.
You won't create a plump munching monster if you follow these smart-snacking guidelines:
By now, you know the drill at parent-teacher conferences: The teacher starts off describing all the wonderful things about your child, segues into a behavior or concept that might need improvement, then asks you if you have any questions.
Don't overlook one important part of the conference: Talking to your child beforehand to find out if she has concerns or questions. Sometimes kids aren't comfortable confronting a teacher and may not mention it to you, either, unless you ask. Ask if she has any messages for you to pass on to the teacher.Some schools now involve kids in conferences to try to improve communication. But ideally there should be one-on-one communication between you and the teacher as well.