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Back to School
Posted on: 08/25/2008
With this hectic time of returning to school upon us, some common health precautions may get lost in the shuffle. Remember at this time of year to:
-make sure the kids get plenty of sleep. The usual summer pattern of staying up late at night and sleeping in in the morning can cause trouble with adjusting to the school routine. Make sure that the children are getting a good night's sleep on school nights, and maintaining that sleep on the weekends. Children aged 5-12 need 10-11 hours of sleep each night.
-get the kids to eat breakfast. We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and that's especially true for children. Don't let them leave the house without eating something healthy. Kids learn better and perform better in school if they've eaten a healthy breakfast. A Pop-Tart and a can of Diet Coke on the bus doesn't count.
-provide healthy snacks and lunches while at school. When preparing snacks, it's tempting to pack a processed, unhealthy yet convenient snack like cookies or chips. But try to give the kids healthy alternatives, like fruit, raw veggies, yogurt, or low fat cheese and crackers. At lunch time, try to avoid packing soda and sugary fruit juices.
-make the kids wash their hands after coming home from school. When a large number of children are together for several hours a day, germs spread easily. Reminding children to wash their hands at school and after coming home from school will help reduce their risk.
Good luck with the transition back to school this year, and remember: it's only 4 months until winter break!
Posted by Dr. Rucoba
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