Summer break is quickly winding down, and getting your kids ready to start the school year involves more than buying school supplies and shopping for new clothes. Consider these tips for a healthy start to your child’s new school year.
Remind your kids that washing their hands after using the restroom and before eating is very important. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most effective way to avoid spreading or catching germs is to encourage hand washing. To make sure kids are washing their hands long enough, I suggest they sing the alphabet song or “Happy Birthday to You” from start to finish as they wash the fronts and backs of their hands and in between fingers. Also, remind your children to always cough or sneeze into the crooks of their elbows or into their sleeves.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all children ages 6 months and older receive all vaccinations to ensure long-term health and the health of friends, classmates and other members of the community. Flu vaccines are also recommended for all school-age children. Check with your children’s doctor, your children’s school or the local health department for all recommended vaccinations.
To help your child grow into a healthy adult, I highly recommend regular well-child visits. These visits are especially important when children are younger and developing quickly. During well-child checkups, your child’s doctor will give vaccines that are due and check your child’s growth and development. Well-child checkups are simply an opportunity to raise general questions and concerns about your child’s development, behavior and general well-being.
Before school officially starts, it’s important to reinstate routines. At least a week before school starts, shift your kids back to their school-year bedtime schedules. I also recommend cutting back on video games and television. You can help your child with this transition by encouraging them to read for an hour before bed.
Child obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years, according to the CDC, and the effects can be serious. There are several things you can do for your child to lower the risk of obesity, including packing healthy meals and snacks and making sure your child gets enough physical activity each day. Breakfast is especially important. Students who eat breakfast versus those who don’t are more alert during class. Plus, the right foods combined with adequate rest will help their bodies fight off infections.
Lice is another common concern when kids head back to school. You should always stress to your child the importance of not sharing combs, hats and clothing with their peers. Another tip is to send a pillow with your child during a sleepover. Do a visual head check at least once a week, particularly for younger children. It’s also a good idea to do a body check for ticks on your child.
Children who suffer from allergies may find it harder to concentrate in school where dust mites, mold, and other allergens may flourish in classrooms. Also, eating in the cafeteria can present a number of problems for those suffering from food allergies. Discuss any allergy concerns with your child’s school nurse and teacher as soon as possible at the start of the school year.
To help ease your child’s back-to-school butterflies the first week of school, make sure they get enough sleep and eat a healthy breakfast. You can also write down their locker combinations, teachers’ and bus drivers’ names, class numbers and lunch times for them to keep in their pocket or backpack. Using a wall calendar or personal planner to write down when assignments are due or practices are held can also ease your child’s mind and reduce back-to-school stress.
Eskenazi Health provides well-child checkup services at several locations. For more information on these services or to find a pediatrician or primary care physician, please call 317-880-8687. Eskenazi Health Center has a sliding fee schedule and is open to all regardless of ability to pay.
Nydia Nuñez-Estrada, M.D.
Family Medicine
Eskenazi Health Center North Arlington