August is here! Classroom assignments are being sent out. Last-minute summer reading assignments are being completed. Students, teachers, and parents are beginning to start preparing for another school year. Of course, getting ready to go back to school doesn’t just mean buying your school supplies, shopping for new clothes, and finding the perfect backpack. It also means creating healthy habits to see you through the challenges of heading back to school. These back to school health tips are sure to get you on the right track to tackle anything you might face!
Start the Day Off Right
There’s a reason why breakfast is noted as the most important meal of the day! Not only is it the best way to keep hunger at bay until lunch, but breakfast jump-starts your metabolism. Eating breakfast is linked to good health: better memory, better concentration, and lower chances of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. If you don’t eat breakfast, you’ll easily spend the rest of the day exhausted or worse, overeating in an attempt to replenish necessary blood sugar and energy.
Additionally, breakfast is the perfect time to bond with family. Talk to your children about their plans for the day. Broach deeper conversation topics and free yourselves from worries and concerns. Use this as a time to talk about what you are and aren’t looking forward to later in the day. By creating this tradition, your children will be able to create memories that will last a lifetime and hopefully pass this tradition down to their children as well.
Know the Risks
Knowing the health risks of school-aged children is important to ensure their health and wellbeing. Commonly, children experience head lice, scoliosis, and poor vision. These issues can be easily detectable with a visit from the school nurse or pediatrician, so it’s important to pay special attention and of course, schedule doctors’ appointments when necessary.
School-aged children also deal with colds, coughs, and other common illnesses and ailments. To stop the spread of germs in their tracks, teach your children to wash their hands. Encourage them to spend time taking extra care to scrub between their fingers and the backs of their hands. Additionally, using hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available and sneezing into the crook of an elbow is a valuable lesson too.
Prioritize Sleep
Children need between 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. That said, they often lose sleep due to the overuse of digital devices. Reduce screentime to two hours a day for children two and older in order to promote healthy habits like outdoor play and physical activity. Provide a good example for your children and put away electronic devices at least a house before bedtime. Create a bedtime routine that includes going to sleep at the same time each night. Avoid caffeine, strenuous exercise, and hot showers before bed.
Pack a Healthy Lunch
Putting a focus on your children’s nutrition is a surefire way to make sure that they lead a healthy lifestyle. Pack a healthy lunch for your child to make sure that they are getting all fo the necessary vitamins and minerals. Child obesity is a greater health risk than realized and by providing your children with healthy meal options, you can help nip this trend in the bud. Eating the right foods can make children more alert and help their bodies fight infections.
Get Active
Encouraging your child to incorporate sports and exercise in their daily routine can keep them healthy. Serve as a role model here too and engage in physical activity on your own. Your child will see this and follow along. Whether it’s a walk in the park, a bike ride, or an afterschool sport or activity, it’s important to teach your children the benefits of being active. Don’t let ‘being too busy’ serve as an excuse for lack of activity – instead carve out time each day to move together!
By following these back to school health tips, you can ensure that your child has a successful start to the school year. You can also promote their overall health and wellbeing. It starts small. Forming little healthy habits here and there while they’re young and encourage them to continue leading a healthy lifestyle long after high school graduation and well into adulthood. Of course, when life gets sticky and illnesses begin to creep up on you, consider Abba Medical Transportation for all of your needs.