Back-To-School Tips to Get Your Child Super Healthy

Tips to Get Your Child Super Healthy

Back-to-school can be one of the most exciting and stressful times in a child’s life. It is vital for parents to establish routines early on in the school year for doing homework, performing chores, obtaining physical activity, eating healthy meals, waking up, and going to sleep. Start early in making small adjustments to a child’s wake-up time for school, such as going to bed 5-10 minutes earlier each night for a week or so, would serve a child with special needs best considering the routine that he/she has most likely been in throughout the summer.

“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.”

-Sydney J. Harris (American journalist)

Attending a New School

I recommend at least one trip to visit the school and teachers before classes begin to help alleviate stress.

Be prepared

Both parent and child should make sure the backpack is prepared the night before on a regular basis (with the exception of lunch) to best prevent forgetting books, binders, supplies, homework assignments, etc.

Health and Safety

Children need to feel that the environment that they are going to is a safe one. Health and safety emergencies should be communicated and rehearsed with children with disabilities. Emergency contact information available in their backpack at all times. Immunizations need to be up-to-date and any medical concerns should be discussed before the start of school with the school nurse and administration.

Keep Organized for Academic Success

Helping a child stay organized throughout the school year is very important for their academic success. This will most effectively eliminate daily battles from occurring. Check to make sure that a child has written his/her homework into an assignment planner and that the homework has been completed. This will help keep a child on track and accountable for their work.

Stock your home with healthy foods.

Kids will eat what is readily available; have an abundant amount of fruits and vegetables along with foods such as whole grain cereals and breads, nuts, milk, eggs, chicken and fish. This is beneficial for a child’s neural activity and will reduce overall stress.

Routines promote long-term success

The most important point to realize is that children need a routine that allows them to be successful. Imparting time frames on how long they are allowed to use multi-media (computer, cell phone, television, etc.) a day and when they can use it, in addition to when they should be doing homework and in what location of the home, are important decisions that should be made early on in the school year. A balanced, consistent daily schedule will facilitate long-term success for the child with special needs.

Related: Omega Fatty Acids’ Super Healthy Super Powers to Aid A Child

Related: Having a Super Healthy Summer

Related: Eat Your Medicine

This post originally appeared on our September/October 2010 Magazine