Simplified: Kids are heading back to school, and with that comes the return of bedtime routines, packing lunches and a classroom full of germs. Here are some tips from local pediatricians on how to keep your kids healthy this school year.
Why it matters
- Back-to-school season can be a busy time for families, but it's important to prioritize health – from ensuring kids have the vaccines they need to making sure they're getting the right amount of sleep.
- It's a good time to check in with your child's doctor about their growth, development and nutrition, said Dr. Halle McGee, a pediatrician at Sanford.
- It's also a good time to check in on your child's mental health – especially if you've got a kid going to a new school or starting middle or high school. Dr. Kara Bruning, a pediatrician at Avera, recommends in this video that parents tour the new school and talk about
"There's a lot of things we can do to alleviate those fears before the first day of school," Bruning said.
Here are five tips for back-to-school wellness
1) Ease back into a bedtime routine
Don't wait until the day before school starts to try an earlier bedtime, McGee said. It's better to plan ahead and ease into earlier sleep and wake times to help kids' bodies adjust.
2) Let kids help plan their food
Nutrition can be stressful, especially for parents of picky eaters, but McGee said one way to help is to engage your child in the process.
"Kids are usually pretty eager to sit down and make a list of foods they enjoy," McGee said. "It gives them ownership in the process."
3) Talk about the importance of basic hygiene
It's normal to see more viruses hanging about once kids get back in school, but things like washing hands can make a big difference in keeping them healthy.
Bruning recommends adding some hand sanitizer to your child's backpack, as well.
- She also notes, on the topic of hygiene, that it's important to encourage middle- and high-school kids to stay on top of regular showers.
"Nobody wants to be the stinky kid," she said.
4) Check in on mental health
Parents should ask their kids how they're doing overall and keep tabs on how they're doing in their peer relationships.
This is particularly important for teenagers, McGee said.
"Some of the best things parents can do is be that person adolescents know they can come to if they have a problem," she said.
5) Make sure vaccines are up-to-date
Kids entering kindergarten need their school shots, but there are also immunizations for kids age 9-11 and again for 16-year-olds.
Aside from those, there are also annual vaccines like a flu shot and the covid vaccine that can help keep kids (and adults, for that matter) healthy.
