As a new school year approaches, HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital and its partner, Prevea Health, encourage everyone to make the health and safety of their family a priority. Every parent wants their child to have a successful year, and taking time to consider their needs for health and safety can help them start the year off right.
1. Make sure your child is up to date on all vaccinations. Review your child’s immunization records and make sure he/she is up to date on all immunizations before heading back to school. Vaccinations not only protect the person receiving the vaccine, but also help to prevent the spread of disease to those who are particularly most vulnerable to serious illnesses.
2. Obtain a physical. School and sports physicals are an important part of each school year, even if they are not mandated by the school. Yearly physicals enable your health care provider to monitor growth and development, update immunizations, determine risks for sports participation and discuss safety issues.
3. Backpack safety. Choose a backpack with wide shoulder straps and make sure your child uses both straps evenly across the back. Having all the weight over one shoulder can lead to muscle strain. Advise your child to pack lightly. A backpack should never weigh more than 10 to 20 percent of your child’s body weight.
4. Pack a healthy lunch. Most schools send cafeteria menus home, enabling you to plan your child’s lunches in advance. Pack a nutritious lunch on the days your child prefers not to eat the school’s main course. Go over the menu with your child and discuss the nutritional value of what is being offered. Steer them away from soda and dessert and toward low-fat milk and fresh fruit.
5. Fight the spread of germs. Before your child goes back to school, make sure he/she understands the importance of proper hand washing. Soap and water can do wonders in reducing your child’s risk of illness. A child should wash his/her hands properly before eating and after using the restroom.
6. Be safe while on the roads. Children should always use a seatbelt and be placed in car seats appropriate for their age. Talk to your child about safety while at the bus stop and crossing roads.
7. Turn off the screens. Set a limit for screen time to two hours or less each day. Electronics should be turned off at least 60 minutes before bedtime.
8. Get enough sleep. School-aged children need at least 10 hours a day of sleep. If your child has tended to go to bed and wake later during the summer, help them practice earlier bed and wake times now so they have time to adjust to a new schedule before the start of school.
For tips on helping children with their homework, visit: https://www.prevea.com/Your-Wellness/Resources/Helping-with-homework