As summer is coming to an end, many parents may dread what’s coming next: Back to School! More than wondering what back to school sale to go to first, most parents are concerned how to prepare their child emotionally and mentally for school and how stay healthy during the school year. By following the tips below, we hope to make back to school a happier, healthier transition for both parent and child!
Tips:
• Establish sleep and nutrition routines before school starts! Avoid difficult mornings the first week of school by setting bed and wake-up times a few weeks before school starts and gradually adjusting them to be earlier as the first day approaches. And make sure they start every day with a healthy breakfast such as whole grain, low-sugar cereals!
• Keep them going throughout the day with the right foods! Pack their lunch with colorful mix of fruits and vegetables. Apples, baby carrots, berries, grapes, pears are easy to pack and easy to eat and provide essential nutrients to keep them energized and ready to learn. Avoid sodas and sports drinks! One can of soda per day can add 30 pounds in a year.
• Help your kids know their school like the back of their hand! Visit the school in advance so children know where their classroom is. Give them a chance to meet their teacher, the school nurse, and other staff, if possible.
• Encourage communication! Encourage your child to talk to you about how they feel about going back to school. Practice listening to them (hint, pay attention to them when they speak the same way you would want someone to pay attention to you). When kids feel they are being heard, they are less likely to hide something from you, such as whether they are being bullied at school.
- Dealing with Bullies! Going back to school is never easy and having a bully to deal with can make it ten times worse! But you can help your child stand up to bullying by instilling them with confidence, help them make friends, encouraging them to communicate if they are being bullied and working with their teachers and school administrators to make the school a bully safe environment.
• August is National Vaccination Month! Immunizations, which are a very necessary part of the back-to-school routine, can be a little scary for kids, but you don't need to drag them kicking and screaming to the doctor's office. Ease kids' worries by talking with them about the health benefits of vaccines so they understand why the shots are important and are less anxious about getting them.
Here is a summary of vaccinations recommended by the CDC for school aged children: (www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam/default.htm)
Children 4-6 (Click on the bold items to learn more about them)
- DTap (Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)
- PPSV (Pneumococcal) - for pneumonia
- IPV (Inactivated Poliovirus)
- Influenza - for the flu
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
- Varicella for chickenpox
- Hepatitis A
- MCV (Meningococcal)
- TdAP (for children 11-18) - for whooping cough
- HPV (for children 9-18) - HPV vaccine is also known as Gardasil
- MCV (Meningococcal) - for meningitis
- PPSV (Pneumococcal) - for pneumonia
- IPV (Inactivated Poliovirus)
- Influenza - for the flu
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
- Varicella - for chickenpox
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
We hope you and your family have a wonderful August and an exciting beginning to the new school year!
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