A Healthy Start to the School Year

The first day of school is fast approaching. Sure, stores have been filled with back-to-school supplies since mid-July, but now that it’s mid-August, it’s time to really prepare for the new academic year. With so many things to think about, it’s easy to overlook one of the most basic necessities for this transition: your child’s health.

Book bags can often be a badge of honor growing up. The more it’s filled, the more respect you command, serving as a reflection for a child’s mental and physical strength. But all that weight is not good for your child’s back. The extra weight can cause muscle strain and other injuries, especially if he or she tends to wear the pack on one side. To prevent a book-bag injury, make sure your child purchases one with padded shoulder straps and a padded back. Teach your child how to make use of all the compartments to distribute the weight evenly and stress the importance of using both straps. If your child’s school is one floor, rolling backpacks may be another option if the school allows them.

An important part of back-to-school planning involves teaching road safety. It doesn’t matter if your child takes the bus, rides in a car or walks to school. Each transportation option has its benefits and inherent risks. Go over safety rules, no matter how basic they may seem. Stress the importance of wearing seatbelts. Teach your child how to cross roads carefully and not to walk a round a bus because approaching drivers may not see your child in time to stop. If your child walks to school or rides a bike, have a few trial runs to point out safety tips, such as watching for cars, obeying crosswalks, not talking to strangers and traveling with a buddy.

Now is a perfect time to check with your child’s pediatrician to see if any immunizations are needed for the school year. School districts often require certain shots before entering kindergarten. More recently, some new immunizations have been recommended for children entering sixth grade. In addition to vaccines, some schools require physicals. If you are unable to afford the proper immunizations or medical care necessary for entering school, there are some clinics that provide them at reduced or no cost. The offers this type of care to low-income families in all of Northern Virginia.

When thinking about back-to-school health, don’t forget to plan out healthy lunches. The best kind of lunch box is the soft tote version with insulation built in. You might also want to invest in a thermos to keep milk or juice cold, and buy freezer gel packs to keep food from spoiling. Perishables should not be out of refrigeration for more than two hours, so discuss with your child a cool place to store the food. Don’t take short cuts when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Make sure you wash all produce thoroughly and pat them dry before packing them.   

Speaking of washing, it’s also important to have a talk with your child about washing their hands before digging into lunch. Teach them to use soap and warm water, and to scrub their hands for at least 20 seconds (silently singing a song is a great way to time oneself). If your child is concerned about finding time to wash his or her hands every day, introduce them to moist towelettes or hand sanitizer. Finally, as much as you hate to throw away food, it’s best to discard leftovers.

For a seamless transition to the school year, start changing their sleep schedule now. There may still be plenty of light hours available for outside play, but by introducing a new bedtime for the next few weeks, your child will have time to adapt to it in time for the first day of school.  

Don’t be overwhelmed by the number of items you have to take care of before school starts. Tackle a few each day and make sure you keep your child informed of what needs to be done for a successful start. The more you include him or her in the process of a healthy year, the more likely your child will want to adopt these good habits.