Within our Walls: Steps for a healthy school year

We are approaching that time of the year again. Soon our children will be heading back to school. Are we ready? Are they ready? Here are a few suggestions that can assist you and your child in having a great back-to-school experience.

It is recommended that children have a well-child exam yearly. During a well-child exam, your provider will be able to track your child’s growth and development. He/she can assess for any physical or emotional needs your child may have, and can intervene quickly if any issues are identified. It is also a good time to review immunizations, and assist with referrals to public health if vaccinations are needed. Vaccinations protect students from diseases and keep them healthy.

Will your child participate in sports? Now is a good time to get that sports physical scheduled. Sports physicals allow health care providers to perform an exam on your child to determine whether or not they feel it is safe for your child to participate in physical activity. Your provider is also able to address any health concerns they feel may interfere with your child’s sports performance or increase their chance of getting hurt. For example, if your child suffers from asthma, the health care provider may be able to adjust medications that would allow your child to breathe easier during physical activities.

When was your child’s last eye exam? It is recommended that children have their eyes checked yearly. As children grow and change, so may their eyesight. It is crucial to identify and treat any sight concerns as soon as possible as these concerns may interfere with your child’s ability to learn. If your child states they are having trouble seeing the “board” in the classroom, or words are fuzzy on the paper, it is time to get their eyes checked.

Assist your children with developing a good sleep routine. Children tend to flourish when they are well-rested. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that preschoolers ages 3-5 get 10-13 hours of sleep a night. School-aged children ages 6-12 are recommended to get between 9-12 hours of sleep a night, and teenagers ages 13-18 get 8-10 hours of sleep per night. In an article published by the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Shah states that when parents are trying to determine what an appropriate bed time is for their child, they should first determine what time their child needs to wake up, and count backward from that time to determine an appropriate bedtime.

Eating healthy and staying active can also aide in a favorable back to school experience. Research shows that healthy eating and physical activity is linked to improved academic success. Young people ages 6-17 should participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

Physical activity can help cognitive skills, attitudes, concentration, attention and improve classroom behavior. Not eating a healthy breakfast is also associated with impaired cognitive function.

The new school year is fast approaching. Let’s do our part to help our children remain healthy and active so that they can have the best learning experience possible.