Making a Healthy Back-to-School Transition

By Stacy Leatherwood-Cannon, M.D.

As a new school year approaches, it’s important for parents to make sure their child makes a healthy transition from the swimming pool to the classroom. Taking proactive measures with your child’s health before classes began can help reduce their risk of illness throughout the year.

Immunize

Taking your child in for a check up before school begins may prevent, identify and treat health problems before they appear. Vaccinations will also help eliminate the chances of your child getting an illness throughout the school year. Check with your doctor to make sure your child has had all of the necessary immunizations according to the state of Michigan’s vaccination requirements.

The eyes have it

An eye exam may mean the difference between your child getting an A on a test and a C. How well a child can see will have a great impact on how much and how quickly they will learn.

Some school systems give annual vision tests to students. Unfortunately, this test doesn’t always detect all problems. If left undetected, vision problems can lead to difficulties in learning, as well as behavioral, physical and emotional problems.

Get a good night’s sleep

Getting your child into a sleep schedule can be a struggle when they go from later evenings to earlier mornings. Good-quality sleep can help your child learn more easily and reduce many behavioral problems; it will also boost their energy and enthusiasm. Start a week early getting your child into a sleep routine and keep the following sleeping tips in mind:

• Set a regular time for bed each night and stick to it;

• Avoid feeding children large meals close to bedtime;

• Avoid caffeine less then six hours before bedtime;

• Establish a calming bedtime routine.

Start the day with breakfast

As with any person, a nutritious breakfast is always recommended for children to start the day off right. Studies have shown that children who skip breakfast may be at a disadvantage as it interferes with cognition and learning skills. Eating breakfast improves school attendance and enhances their diet.

A nutritious breakfast, though, isn’t a donut on the way to the bus stop. Instead, offer your child a variety of healthy choices; such as yogurt, fruit, hot or dry cereals, or smoothies. Try non-traditional foods, too. Spark their interest by serving leftover spaghetti or chicken.

Preventing back injuries

An important safety concern for parents to watch is their child’s backpack. A heavy backpack can cause back pain. Keep these tips in mind when shopping for one:

• Choose a backpack with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back.

• Organize the backpack to make sure that it does not weigh more then 10 to 20 percent of your child’s body weight. Place heavier items closest to the center of the backpack.

• Remind your child to always use both shoulder straps. Using just one shoulder strap may cause strain on the back muscles.

• Ideally, a backpack with rollers should be used to avoid any unnecessary strain.

By taking a proactive approach to getting your kids prepared for the school year, you can make the transition from summer vacation much easier.

Dr. Leatherwood-Cannon is a board certified pediatrician for Henry Ford Health System. She obtained her medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, and received advanced training at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. She sees patients at the Henry Ford Medical Center-New Center One in Detroit.