4 Back-to-School Tips Every Parent Should Know
While summer has been a wild ride filled with vacations, sunscreen and the occasional popsicle, August is the time to prepare for the academic year ahead.
You’ve probably already stocked up on backpacks and other school supplies, right? Thinking about your child’s health and well-being should also be a back-to-school priority. To help make this process easier, here are four essential health tips to remember before the school year begins.
Schedule Checkups and Immunizations
Ensure your child has received all of the recommended immunizations. Vaccinations help prevent the spread of infectious diseases and protect your child and those around them. Remember, many schools require proof of immunization records. It’s also a good idea to schedule a physical examination with your child’s provider. During the checkup, the doctor will check your child’s weight, height and overall well-being. They may also screen for vision and hearing problems, but feel free to discuss any concerns you have about chronic conditions or their ability to focus.
Tell Them to Give it a Rest (Literally)
Experts recommend that school-aged children get between 9 and 11 hours of sleep per night. Lack of sleep can cause difficulty concentrating, poor academic performance and increased irritability. In fact, studies suggest that adequate sleep each night leading up to exams leads to improved scores.
Two tips for prioritizing sleep include setting a consistent bedtime and limiting screen time before bed. Establishing a consistent routine can signal your child’s body that it’s time for sleep. However, light from electronic devices can interfere with sleep patterns, so cut off screen time an hour before bed.
Help Them Eat Healthily
A healthy diet—especially one that includes breakfast—is essential for maintaining good health and attention, concentration and memory recall at school. Studies have shown that children who eat a healthy and balanced diet have better cognitive function, higher grades and are less likely to be overweight or obese.
Encourage your child to eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy products. Limit the intake of sugary snacks and beverages, processed foods and fast food, as these choices are high in calories, saturated fats and added sugars, which can lead to obesity and other health problems.
Get your child involved in meal planning and preparation. Encourage them to help with grocery shopping, cooking and packing lunches so they’re more invested in their meals.
Teach Good Hygiene
As we all know, schools can be breeding grounds for germs and infections. So, encourage your child to wash their hands frequently, especially before eating, after using the restroom and after sneezing or coughing. Remind them to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or their elbow when they sneeze or cough to prevent the spread of those icky germs.
With these tips, we hope your kiddos can stay healthy, learn a lot and have a great year.
Want More Health Tips?
Sign up for our e-newsletter, Live Healthy, to receive a monthly dose of information and inspiration for living well.