by Mary Wright, RN, health educator for North End Waterfront Health
It’s back to school and time to think about what your child may need to make a smooth transition from summertime to school hours and rules. Here are some things to consider before that first day of school:
- Immunizations need to be up to date. Check with your health care provider and the school. Also include emergency contact information and any illness such as asthma or diabetes that your child may have. If your child needs to take medication during the school day, make arrangements with the school nurse.
- It is important that children get enough sleep. Ages 6-9 years need 10 hours of sleep and pre-teens need 9 hours of sleep.
- Good nutrition is essential for growing children to help them learn. If your child is buying their lunch, find out the cost so you can provide the correct amount of money.
- Be sure to notify the school of any food allergies your child has.
- Children should have 60 minutes of physical activity most days.
- Check to see if the school has a dress code and if your child needs to bring a change of clothes for PE class.
- Backpacks are a great way to carry school supplies. But it should be packed lightly, have wide padded straps and back with multiple compartments. Be sure that both straps are used.
- Remember to review traffic safety, such as crossing at the cross walk and obeying traffic signals and signs.
- Know what time your child will arrive home from school. Make sure that they know who to check in with and who their emergency contact person is.
- Help your child to organize what they need to bring to school each day. Write down important information that they need to know about the school day such as time that classes begin and end, teachers’ names and classroom numbers.
