Whether children like it or not, the new school year is about to begin. While parents prepare their children with school supplies and other items needed for classes, it is also important to make sure vaccinations and immunizations are up to date.
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. Check with your children’s doctor, your children’s school or the local health department for all recommended vaccinations.
Back-to-school time also provides an excellent opportunity for a quick health assessment. I always encourage parents to ask questions and take a proactive approach to their children’s health. Often, as children age, parents do not pay as close attention to their children’s health as perhaps they did when they were newborns. Health should always be a top priority.
Nutrition is always a big factor when students go back to school. Some things I encourage parents to do to help their children improve their eating habits are to sit down and go over the school menu, make sure their children have a hearty breakfast in the morning before school, and make strides to get their children active.
Mental health is another area parents should focus on before students return for the new school year. For students who are starting the year in a new school, are in transition to a new stage in their life, or are preparing to leave home for the first time, it may be a struggle for them as they deal with transition. Mental Health America offers some good tips on how parents can help their children prepare. These tips include:
• Know that your child’s mental health is just as important as their physical health.
• Plans for a good school year start in the summer, so begin establishing a back-to-school routine at least two weeks prior to school starting to minimize stress and help with the transition.
• Healthy food and beverages and good quality sleep are necessary for academic success.
• Express interest and enthusiasm about the start of the school year. If you are confident and excited, your child will be too.
• Start the conversation. Talk to your child about your expectations as well as his/her expectations for the upcoming school year. Take time to listen to your child and discuss aspects of the new school year that he or she is worried about.
Setting positive expectations is also important. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages parents to remind children that though they will meet new friends and teachers, they’ll also see many old friends and create new, lasting memories. The AAP also states that parents should talk to their children about positive experiences from previous years to get them excited about a new year.
Parents can help prepare their children for success by providing an environment conducive to doing homework free of distractions like background noises, computers and other electronic devices. Give children ample time to get their homework completed, provide breaks when they’re needed and offer assistance while not actually doing the homework for them.
For more information on the services Wishard-Eskenazi Health provides or to find a primary care physician, please call Health Connection at 317-655-2255.
Nydia Estrada-Nunez, M.D.
Family Medicine
Wishard-Eskenazi Health