As children prepare to return to school, pediatricians want to share a few important tips with families.
“As families start to prepare for the school year, it can be difficult to ease out of summer mode,” said Dr. Callie Brown, pediatrician at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and associate professor of pediatrics at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. “If we can help our kids start school the right way, we can set them up for a successful year. Prioritizing a routine and schedule that works for your family will be the key.”
Brown and the American Academy of Pediatrics offer the following tips for families:
Ease back into a sleep schedule
Try to progressively ease kids into an earlier bedtime and an earlier wake-up time. Even just a few minutes earlier can make a difference.
Create a bedtime routine and stay consistent. Keep electronics and screens out of the bedroom to help children fall asleep.
Staying active during the day, creating a calming bedtime routine that includes reading books together, avoiding snacks and drinks that contain sugar before bedtime and limiting late-afternoon naps can help.
Immunizations
North Carolina law requires children to receive certain vaccines upon entering child care, kindergarten, seventh grade,12th grade, and college. Your pediatrician or a local health department can make sure your child is up to date on their immunizations.
Establish homework habits
Designate a quiet spot in the house for homework. The ideal location is organized and free of distractions. Eating dinner together as a family is a great way to discuss what children have learned that day in school.
Consider healthy meal options
Children who eat a nutritious breakfast function better. Try to ensure they eat a breakfast that contains protein to start their day.
Children will often be ready for a snack when they come home from school, so keep quick, easy and healthy options on hand, such as fruit with peanut butter, whole grain crackers with cheese, yogurt with fruit, and pre-cut vegetables with hummus.
Healthy lunch options can include vegetables, fruit, dairy products, lean meats and whole grains that will give kids the energy they need throughout the remainder of the school day.
Medications and medical conditions
Children who regularly take medication at school are required to bring a completed authorization form to school. Often, a medical provider must sign these forms. It is important to keep schools informed about any potentially serious medical conditions children may have.
General health
A yearly physical gives parents and children an opportunity to discover and discuss current and potential health problems or concerns with their pediatrician.
All children who are new to North Carolina schools, including preschoolers and kindergartners, are required to have a medical provider complete a health assessment form and return it to their school.
Children participating in school sports also need a yearly physical.
“Every child and family is different, so hopefully tweaking these basic tips to fit your needs can help ensure a great start to the school year,” Brown said. “This is a busy time for families, but by doing a little homework ahead of time, we can make this a happy and healthy school year.”
Media contacts:
Jenna Kurzyna, jkurzyna@wakehealth.edu; Joe McCloskey, jmcclosk@wakehealth.edu