Cooking Up Literacy: What Kids Can Teach Us About Sleep, Joy, and Learning
- Alonzo Moore
- Aug 9
- 3 min read
Sometimes the most powerful insights about education come from the people experiencing it every day—our kids.
This week’s Cooking Up Literacy Tips were inspired by a conversation I had with a middle schooler and an upper elementary student after we listened to a recent podcast featuring The Joy School, a school that provides children with learning differences individualized support and accommodations while working to preserve something every child deserves: the joy of learning.
As we listened, we paused the podcast several times to talk about what we were hearing and share our thoughts. Two comments from the young people stayed with me—and they offer some important reminders for families as we begin a new school year.
Tip #1: Help Kids Get the Sleep They Need to Learn
During our conversation, the elementary student made a simple but important observation: school starts so early that many kids arrive tired.
The middle schooler quickly added his perspective. He said school schedules aren't necessarily built around how much sleep kids need; they are also influenced by the schedules of working adults.
I asked him how he knew that.
His response?
“I did my research.”
That was a proud educator moment! Here was a young person not only expressing an opinion, but also connecting it to information he had researched.
And his younger peer raised an important point as well: sleep matters for learning.
So, our first Cooking Up Literacy tip is to take a fresh look at your family's bedtime routine this school year. Instead of starting with bedtime, try working backward from the time your child needs to wake up.
Ask yourself: How much sleep does my child need to wake up rested, get ready without being rushed, and arrive at school alert and ready to learn?
Children and teens generally need more than eight hours of sleep, with younger children often needing considerably more. Bedtime isn't just about ending the day—it can be part of preparing children to learn the next day.
Tip #2: Put the Joy Back Into Learning
The second part of our conversation may have been even more thought-provoking.
Both students said that when they think about joy and happiness, school usually isn't the first place that comes to mind.
Then the elementary student said something that made me think:
“In Pre-K, you are learning new things all the time and don't even know you're learning because you're having so much fun. It doesn't seem like work. But learning is happening all around you. Why can't school learn from that so that kids can have fun as they learn?”
What a question.
Young children count while they play. They discover science while pouring water. They build vocabulary while pretending. They solve problems while constructing something. They learn to cooperate, communicate, imagine, experiment, and try again.
Learning and joy don't have to compete with each other.
And while families may not be able to control everything that happens during the school day, we can create joyful learning experiences at home.
That's our second Cooking Up Literacy tip:
Find one ordinary family routine this week and turn it into an opportunity for learning, conversation, and fun.
Washing dishes can become a conversation about measurement, temperature, or responsibility. Grocery shopping can involve reading labels, comparing prices, making a budget, practicing addition, or discovering a new fruit or vegetable. Preparing dinner can bring together reading, math, science, sequencing, teamwork, and—most importantly—family time.
You don't necessarily need worksheets, flash cards, or a formal lesson.
Sometimes you just need a kitchen, a conversation, and permission to have fun.
Come Cook Up Literacy With Us!
If you'd like to see what Cooking Up Literacy looks like in action, we'd love to meet you.
What’s Stirring Family Foundation will be at the Lanier Community Kickoff Celebration sharing information about our signature Cooking Up Literacy program and our other family literacy programs designed for families in community spaces.
The celebration takes place Saturday, August 15, from 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. at Lanier High School, 918 Buford Hwy, Sugar Hill, GA 30518. Lunch will be provided. Families can also enjoy interactive games, giveaways, inspirational speakers, and a Community Resource Fair.
As we head into another school year, perhaps we can learn something from the young people in our lives: Give them time to rest. Give them opportunities to wonder. And whenever possible, make room for joy.
Because literacy doesn't only happen at a desk.
It can happen around the dinner table, in the grocery aisle, during a family conversation—and anywhere families learn together.
© 2026 What’s Stirring Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
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