As school starts up again, it is easy to get caught up in the back to school groove and forget about the health risks that come with your student being back in the classroom. Keep these three tips in mind to keep your kid healthy this school year:
Get their bedtime routine back on track. During the summer, sleep patterns can often get out of whack. But with school times and early wake-up calls, it is important for your child to get enough sleep. Children under the age of 12 need to get a minimum of 9 hours of sleep at night, and teens need to get a minimum of 8 hours of sleep. Make sure to power off your child’s devices an hour before their bedtime. If your child struggles with falling asleep while the sun is still on “summer schedule,” consider darkening their room using curtains.
Get their school or sports physical completed. Your child’s annual exam, school physical, and sports physical can all be completed at the same time. If you haven’t scheduled this appointment for your child yet, give our office a call.
Make sure their backpack fits well. Your child’s backpack should have padding on the should straps, and take some time to adjust the fit based on the amount and weight of the books they will daily be carrying. Make sure that your child knows to wear their backpack with both straps over both shoulders, not one slung over one arm, which adds to the pressure on that arm.
Keep these tips in mind as your child heads back to school, and start their school year off on a healthy note!