Now that the kids are back to school, they’re bringing home art projects, permission slips, half-eaten lunches, and new viruses to test your family’s immune systems. Here are some tips and things to think about in your effort to give your family a good chance at beating those back-to-school bugs.
Establish a kid’s nutrition plan
Having a variety of foods allows kids to get the energy and nutrients they need to grow and fuel their bodies throughout the day.
Encourage your kids to practice putting lunch bags together before bedtime. Not only will it help to ensure that the lunch you pack won’t come home uneaten, but it also helps teach kids responsibility and organization. To help you create a healthy kid’s nutrition plan, you can refer to the Kid’s Healthy Eating Plate, created by The Harvard School of Public Health.
Shopping consciously and honoring your kid’s feedback on your grocery list (to a nutritional extent) can lay the ground for a happy transition to enjoying lunch out of a brown paper bag or an awesome lunchbox.
Create a healthy back-to-school routine
Having a routine that upholds the “to-dos” of the day not only supports building healthy habits but also ensures your child knows what to expect.
A consistent bedtime routine can prepare kids to go down for the night. Part of this routine involves having downtime, which can include straightening up the room, taking a bath or reading a book.
Teaching kids to keep themselves organized can be a huge stress reliever and doable with the right encouragement and assistance. Establish a routine for using planners: once it becomes a habit, it becomes so much easier.
Setting aside a designated homework space that is a comfortable workspace equipped with books and supplies can be a great way to quell the pains of sitting down to do homework.
Importance of a full night’s rest
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), routinely getting the sleep that’s needed is linked with better attention, behavior, learning, memory, ability to regulate emotions, quality of life, mental and physical health in children and teenagers. The AASM recommends preschoolers get 10 to 13 hours of sleep, grade schoolers get 9 to 12 hours and teenagers get 8 to 10 hours.
Set your child with special health needs up for success
If your child has asthma or an allergy that can cause anaphylaxis, have your child’s health plan documented and in place at school in case of emergency. Ensure the school has your child's EpiPen and inhalers on hand and your child's teacher is familiar with the plan.
Emotionally prepare your child for the new school year
Children may feel nervous at the start of a new school year. Having conversations with kids about what makes them anxious can help by understanding their feelings or finding ways to address their worries.
Bring attention to the upside of starting the new school year to foster enthusiasm in kids. If your child is excited about art class or joining a club, put a spotlight on it.
School physicals FAQs
What is included in a child’s physical exam?
Back-to-school physicals can include checking vital signs like blood pressure, monitoring growth and development, covering child and adolescent health topics and administering vaccines.
Immunizations protect against some of the most common and preventable diseases. Work with your pediatrician and school administrators to ensure your kids are up-to-date on all required immunizations.
Which health screenings are usually provided by schools?
School health screenings typically include tests for hearing and sight. Trouble hearing or seeing can significantly impact the learning that happens in the classroom. Health screenings may also involve checking for blood pressure, height, weight, oral health and testing for scoliosis.
Visit urgent care for school physicals or pediatric care
Memorial Hermann-GoHealth Urgent Care offers pediatric urgent care in The Woodlands designed for kids and staffed by pediatric specialists during the day, after hours and on weekends. They treat conditions that are not life-threatening, including flu, fever, earaches, insect bites, sprains, simple fractures and cuts requiring stitches. They can help with back-to-school physicals and are in network with most children’s health plans.
References:
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/kids-healthy-eating-plate/
https://childmind.org/article/preparing-for-back-to-school-success/
https://healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/oral-health/Pages/Brush-Book-Bed.aspx
https://jcsm.aasm.org/doi/10.5664/jcsm.5866
https://childmind.org/article/back-school-anxiety/
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/school/Pages/back-to-school-tips.aspx
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/school/Pages/Health-Screenings-at-School.aspx
Originally published at GoHealthUC.com
