Getting Off to a Safe Start

By Scott St. Clair

The start of school is a time of excitement and nervousness as students prepare for new classes, teachers, friends and activities and as parents try to help their kids navigate these new challenges. Here are a few helpful tips for getting the school year off to a healthy start:

School forms

Make sure that your child is registered and all forms (preschool, kindergarten, sports physical) are filled out.

Vaccinations

Certain vaccinations are required by the state for the start of kindergarten and 6th grade. To start kindergarten, children are required to have completed the vaccine series for DTaP (Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis), Polio, Hib (Haemophilus influenza b), MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella), Hepatitis B, and Varicella (chickenpox). All 6th graders are now required to have a booster of TdaP (Tetanus, diptheria, Pertussis), which will provide protection against tetanus and prevent the spread of whooping cough.

School nurse

If your child has any special health care needs (medications, special dietary restrictions, etc), please communicate with the school nurse to establish a plan to deal with your child’s specific situation.

Backpack safety

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a backpack that is lightweight with two wide and padded shoulder straps. It should include a padded back, a waist belt, and multiple compartments. Experts recommend not packing more than 10-15% of body weight and using both straps to help minimize back and neck strain.

Nutrition

Eating patterns tend to change during the summer, and the start of school is a good time to focus on healthy eating habits. Specifically, your child needs a good, healthy breakfast that includes whole grains, fiber, and protein, and that minimizes sugar. Research has shown that kids who eat a healthy breakfast tend to have better concentration and memory at school, participate in more physical activities, eat healthier overall and decrease their overall weight.

Sleep

The start of school is a good time to reestablish good sleeping patterns. While every person has individualized sleep needs, general guidelines suggest 10 to 11 hours of sleep for elementary students and 8 to 10 hours for teenagers. Research has shown that a lack of sleep can lead to poor focus and attention at school as well a decrease in the effectiveness of the body’s immune system to fight off infections. Encourage a consistent bedtime and wakeup time to help your child’s sleep system get on a regular schedule.

Physical activity

Physical activity and exercise help children strengthen muscles and bones, maintain a healthy weight, sleep better and improve their mood.

You can help your child by decreasing screen time (TV, videos, computer) and encouraging any type of physical activity.

My hope is that our area’s students have a safe and healthy school year for 2009-2010!

Dr. Scott St. Clair is a pediatrician at Blue Ridge Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine and an Executive Committee member of the North Carolina Pediatric Society.