Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, September 12, 1994                   TAG: 9409150005
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By PAT ANSTETT KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SCHOOLCHILD'S BEST ASSET IS SIMPLE GOOD HEALTH

It's up to you to ensure they get enough sleep, eat properly and have no underlying problems that can interfere with schoolwork.

Pay attention to any unusual symptoms, and call your doctor if problems persist more than a few days.

If your child complains of tummy aches or other ailments, talk to his or her teacher. Some school problem may be making your child reluctant to go to school.

Your job starts early. Here's a checklist to ensure your child's success at school:

Regular health exams. Yearly doctor visits up to age 6, about every two years afterward, help ensure that your child is growing properly, both physically and emotionally. Checking height, weight, head size, blood pressure and other measurements provides important information about possible health problems.

A good physical also will help determine if your young child is ready for school or should wait a year, says Dr. Kenneth Bollin, chief of family practice at St. John Hospital, Detroit.

Vision. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommend that doctors check a child's eyes at birth, again by age six months and between 3 and 4 years of age. After that, eyes need to be checked only periodically. School eye tests often are adequate, says Dr. Edward O'Malley, pediatric ophthalmologist at St. John Hospital. He disagrees with eye-care industry groups who recommend annual tests. However, a child may need more regular exams if a parent wore glasses as a young child, or if the family has a history of pediatric eye disease, O'Malley says.

Hearing. If your child is easily distracted or doesn't pay attention, consider a hearing test. There may be a learning disorder that interferes with his or her ability to listen.

Hyperactivity. Talk to your family doctor if your child is fidgety, talks loudly and frequently, is easily distracted, can't sit for too long, is impulsive or bossy, or can't wait for his or her turn. These are signs of a possible attention deficit disorder.

Immunizations. By the time children enter kindergarten, most doctors recommend certain shots to protect them from potentially fatal or disabling diseases like measles and mumps. Check with your doctor for when the shots are best administered.

A good night's sleep. If your child has a hard time falling asleep, start or resume nighttime rituals like baths, story-reading or back rubs. Or give him or her a slice of turkey or glass of milk, both of which are high in protein and contain tryptophan, which triggers sleep, according to ``The Doctors' Book of Home Remedies for Children'' (Rodale, $27.95).

Good eating habits. You owe your children good breakfasts to help their bodies and minds work.

Feed them cereal, milk or fruit for breakfast. Chocolate milk is better than no milk. Try muffins, juice, yogurt or whole-grain breads. Nutritionists also know that eating a good breakfast helps avoid junk-food binges, especially in mid-afternoon when kids want an energy boost.

New research suggests even sounder reasons for teaching children about proper eating. Spreading calories through the day helps convert less food to fat. Diseases of old age, like osteoporosis, also are believed to begin early among teens who don't get minimum requirements - particularly calcium, found in milk and yogurt. Breakfast may even help you live longer. Some longevity studies show that the healthiest people eat several meals a day - in moderation, of course.