A healthy school year starts before the first day of class. The American Medical Association (AMA) shares six tips to help families prepare children for a healthy return to the classroom. 

 

  1. Pack nutritious food: When packing your child’s lunch and snacks, include a variety of healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, lean or plant-based proteins, and whole grains. Try to avoid highly processed foods, such as processed meats and sugar-sweetened sodas and juices. Read nutrition labels carefully and choose foods lower in sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars.
  2. Make sleep a priority: A good night’s sleep is essential to overall health. School stress, illnesses, and other factors can keep kids from getting enough sleep. Set a consistent sleep schedule and bedtime. Teens should aim for 8-10 hours of sleep per night, and children ages 6 to 12 should get 9-12 hours. Keep cell phones out of the bedroom to improve sleep duration and quality. If your child has persistent sleep issues, talk with their doctor to determine whether a sleep disorder is involved and whether treatment is needed. 
  3. Get the MMR vaccination: The United States is seeing the highest number of measles cases in more than 30 years. Measles spreads very easily, often before you realize that you — or the people around you — are sick. Measles is an extremely contagious, airborne virus that can cause severe health complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling, blindness and even death, especially in babies and young children. The MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent the spread of measles, mumps and rubella and to keep children from getting sick. There is no treatment for these infections, so vaccination is the best defense. Nearly everyone who doesn’t get an MMR vaccine will get sick if exposed to measles, mumps or rubella.  
  4. Limit screen time: Excessive screen time can harm mental and physical health and increase feelings of loneliness. Replace screen time with activities such as after-school clubs, sports, playdates, reading, quality family time, and sleep.  
  5. Protect their smile: Establishing good dental routines, including brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits, helps make these habits stick and keeps kids smiling. Poor dental hygiene is linked to health complications later in life. 
  6. Prevent the spread of norovirus: Norovirus is highly contagious and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or both. It can spread quickly in schools. It is the leading cause of foodborne illness, but it is preventable. Cleaning frequently touched surfaces and modeling good hand-washing habits help prevent the spread of norovirus and other gastrointestinal germs. If your child develops GI symptoms, keep them home from school for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop to prevent spreading the virus to others. 

For more back-to-school health information, visit the AMA website at https://www.ama-assn.org. 

“Backpacks, notebooks and pencils are classroom essentials — but one of the best school supplies you can give a child is a healthy start,” says AMA President Willie Underwood, III, MD. “Prioritizing physical and mental health helps students arrive ready to learn, grow, and thrive throughout the year.”