Get Ready for Class with Back-to-School Tips from Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital
The carefree days of summer will soon be interrupted by alarm clocks and homework. Doctors at Atrium Health Levine Children’s Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital encourage parents to get a jump start on the transition from summer to the school year by making sure their children are ready to get back into a routine.
“A fresh school year is a great reset for children and parents. Now is the time to get ready for the changes ahead, whether it’s starting a new school or getting back into the school-day routine. It’s important to help your children prepare now so that they can excel when the school year starts,” said Dr. Yameika Head, clinical practice director of pediatrics at Atrium Health Navicent.
These tips from physicians can help:
Get to the Doctor
Parents and guardians should use this opportunity to double-check that children aren’t overdue for their regularly scheduled well-visit or for vaccines. Visit your pediatrician to ensure that your child is healthy and ready for school with proper documentation of vaccines and sports physical forms. It is important for your child to receive vaccines before they start school, where they may be exposed to illnesses that not only disrupt learning, but more importantly can be devastating for your child’s health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children ages 3 to 10 receive vaccinations for chickenpox; diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP); flu; measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); polio; and COVID-19.
Children ages 11 to 18 should be vaccinated for flu; human papillomavirus (HPV); meningococcal conjugate; serogroup B meningococcal; diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP); and COVID-19.
Your child’s pediatrician can also identify any areas where your child may benefit from therapies or learning accommodations to better ensure success during the school year.
Get into a Routine
School starting can mean readjusting an entire family’s morning routine, and that can be tough on children and adults. Now is the time to start getting children to bed at a reasonable time, and waking them up at a consistent time — even on the weekends. This will help adjust their routine. Doctors at Atrium Health Levine Children’s recommend that children get at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night.<.p>
Once school starts, settling into a homework routine is also important. If your child doesn’t have activities in the afternoon, build a quick snack break into the schedule followed by homework. By completing homework before dinner, children have a larger block of time to relax or play before going to bed, which encourages a regular and more restful sleep schedule.
Get Healthy
Studies show that children learn better with full stomachs. Also, children who eat breakfast tend to eat healthier throughout the day. If your child isn’t eating breakfast and lunch at school, make sure to stock up on easy-to-pack lunches and healthy breakfasts ahead of time.
When paired with a diet rich in lean protein, fruits and vegetables, staying active can help strengthen bones, decrease blood pressure, help with weight-management, increase self-esteem and reduce stress and anxiety. For children, unstructured playtime is important for brain development. Exercise not only helps kids stay healthy, it also helps improve focus.
Get Together
While some children may be excited to go back to school, for others, it can induce worry or anxiety. Make time to talk to your kids about how they are feeling. Ask questions like, “What are you excited about?” “Is there anything that you’re worried about?”
Talk to your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your child’s mental health. Treating problems at the beginning of the school year can help prevent poor grades and address difficult behaviors or worsening states of mind.
If you and your child are struggling with preparing to go back to school, a pediatrician at Atrium Health Levine Children’s can help. To find a doctor, visit childrenshospitalnh.org and click “Find A Doctor.”
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of health care in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent is part of Advocate Health, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providingequitable care for all, Advocate Health provides nearly $6 billion in annual community benefits.