Back to School Tips
Once summer comes and goes each year, it can be a bit stressful to get together all that is needed to ensure a successful year. Beyond buying school supplies and meeting teachers, we’ve gathered a few tips to ease the process of back to school time and increase the likelihood of a happy and healthy school year:
- Before school starts:
- Ensure your child is getting an adequate amount of sleep.
- Promote healthy eating habits.
- Carry the proper backpack.
- Pay extra attention to keeping busy kids healthy.
- Beware of lice.
Check the requirements on what is needed for children to begin school, such as a physical for children who participate in team sports. Check with your district, and then contact us to schedule an appointment if needed.
Regardless of whether you have a toddler, teenager, or both, sleep is an essential habit to stress to your children. Though it may be hard to tell what the right amount is for your little one, if he or she seems to be ready to wake up in the morning, has energy for the school day and afterward, and is generally cheerful performing daily activities, you should be right on target. If your child is well organized and willing to prepare for school the night before, consider allowing some extra sleep in the A.M.
Childhood obesity rates are skyrocketing and nutrition is a very important lesson to teach at a young age. Make sure your child has enough brain power for the school day by serving a healthy breakfast, which includes proteins, each day.
Provided that children are using their backpacks properly, there is no good evidence linking childhood use of backpacks to scoliosis and/or back pain. Although back pain may be the last thing your child is thinking about, as a parent, it’s important to ensure their comfort to prevent future injuries or discomfort. The right backpack should have wide, padded shoulder straps, a padded back, and a waist strap to provide extra support.
Getting your children involved in sports and activities promotes physical activity, learning to play with peers, and learning the value of teamwork—all of which are valuable lessons to be carried on into adulthood. However, we like to remind our patient families to be careful not to do too much too soon. Leave ample time for homework, family time, unstructured play, and time to simply be a kid!
Lice are perhaps the most sinister part of back of school woes. Remind your child that sharing hats, combs, or pillows is not a healthy habit and can cause discomfort and time away from school. Girls with long hair should always have their hair pulled back and up in a braid or a bun to help prevent them form getting lice.