A recent study in South Australia has highlighted a troubling issue: many children are skipping breakfast, which adversely affects their academic performance. Led by Associate Professor Tess Gregory, an expert in early childhood education, the research indicates that approximately 10% of children in the state regularly miss this important meal.
This trend is alarming as it correlates with significantly lower NAPLAN scores, particularly in numeracy and reading. Children who consistently skip breakfast are found to be twice as likely to underperform in numeracy assessments and 1.6 times more likely to struggle with reading tests.
Associate Professor Gregory stresses the importance of breakfast in supporting children’s learning capabilities. She points out that attempts to focus and seize educational opportunities can be severely hindered by hunger.
In light of these findings, researchers are now pursuing partnerships with the government to improve breakfast habits among children in South Australia.