It’s time for your kids to get back to school! Getting back into the swing of things can be a challenge. Organizing schedules and making time for everything that needs to be done is always tough. However, it’s important to make enough time for health, too! Be sure your kid is up-to-date on their vaccines and sports physicals. Keep an eye on allergies and asthma. And look out for flu season!
Back to School Vaccines
Students entering kindergarten or seventh grade should be up-to-date on vaccines. Make an appointment with your healthcare practitioner. Make those appointments sooner rather than later. Back to school time can be busy for medical practices.
Sports Physicals
Young athletes sometimes require a physical in order to participate in their sport. As your child ages, sports can greatly impact their physical health. In order to be sure your child is healthy and ready to play, it’s important to include sports physicals in your yearly visits. This includes:
- Sports injuries
- Rehab and treatment
- Puberty and performance
- Safe weight loss or gain
- Athletes with disabilities
- Supplements and eating like an athlete
Make sure your little athlete is getting enough rest and has plenty of time for their studies.
Allergies and Asthma
Kids have a variety of seasonal allergies, allergic reactions, and severities of asthma. Certain classes can’t bring peanut butter into the classroom. Some kids can’t play on the playground during certain parts of the year. In some cases, kids have to be medicated in order to be okay at school. For this wide spectrum of ailments, we recommend seeing an allergist or immunologist for allergies and asthma. We find that it’s best to be evaluated and to create a plan to help your child through these issues.
Frequent Colds
Cold and flu are common this time of year. You can expect your child to get sick once or twice over the school year. Some parents choose to get their child the flu shot every year. This can be quite helpful in avoiding the flu. Minimize the risk of infection by keeping those kids healthy! Make sure everyone washes their hands and don’t share certain personal items. Eat well and get plenty of rest to avoid getting sick.
If your child is getting sick frequently with cold or flu, make an appointment to see your healthcare practitioner. Getting a cold or flu multiple times in a season could mean that your child has a compromised immune system. Make sure to note any symptoms and duration of these colds and report this to your practitioner at your appointment.
Tips for Getting Back to School
- Get a supportive backpack. Make sure it isn’t too heavy. Convince them to wear it over both shoulders rather than slinging it over just one. Consider a rolling backpack, if they carry a heavy load.
- Pack healthy, balanced lunches. Include fresh fruits and vegetables. If your kid eats from the cafeteria, look into what’s offered first. Don’t include too much sugar.
- Make sure your kid has good homework or study habits. Allot a specific time of day for homework and studying. Provide a healthy snack and make sure to include stretching breaks to avoid stress on the neck and back.
- Limit Internet/device use. Shut off all devices 30 minutes before bedtime.
- Get enough sleep. Your child should be sleeping about 8-10 hours per night.
Finally, for questions or comments, respond to this post or contact us!
