How To Raise Your Kids’ Grades

Because research shows that a big factor in how your kids do in school is your attitude, take time to review homework and help them study, which sends the message that you think school is important.

Eat together as a family. Children in families who eat dinner together at least three times a week have higher grades and lower rates of drug and alcohol abuse.

Giving your kids a daily multivitamin can raise their IQ as much as 25 points. Nutrients like B vitamins and iron—which many kids don’t get enough of—are crucial for maintaining healthy brain function.

Turn on some classical music while they do homework. In one study, people who took tests in rooms with Mozart playing scored higher than those who took their exams in silence.

Give them tuna sandwiches for lunch. Oily fish, like salmon and tuna, are loaded with omega-3’s, fatty acids needed for proper brain function. Aim for three servings a week.

Make sure they get to bed on time: Kids who get eight hours of sleep every night score higher on tests than those who get less. In fact, studies show that turning in earlier raises test scores more than staying up late to cram.