Back-to-School
It’s back-to-school time! After a fun, healthy, and very hot summer (120° in Las Vegas anyone?), its time to transition back to the classroom. Whether this is your child’s first venture into such an environment, or they are entering their final years at a school, the transition back-to-school can be stressful and a bit anxiety provoking. Here are some tips from the AAP to help make this a smooth transition:
Sleep
Create a routine and stick to it! Try to make this transition before school starts, ideally 1-2 weeks beforehand. Lack of sleep is linked to decreased academic achievement and increased absenteeism.
Avoid electronic devices 1-2 hours before sleep. The stimulation of these devices delays sleep onset and decreases sleep quality.
Getting to and from school
Practice makes perfect. Whether they will be in your car, in someone else's car, on the bus, walking, biking, or arriving by some other means, practice this a few times before the school year begins. Talk with your children about this plan so there are no surprises when it is put into action.
Carpooling: ensure you or whoever is driving your child has appropriately sized restraints (car seat, booster seat, etc). Remind them of parking lot safety- please be aware of your surroundings while exiting the car and getting across the parking lots!
School bus: just because the bus is equipped with a stop sign and bright flashing lights does not mean everyone else is paying attention! Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop. Make sure the driver sees you. And wear the seat belts if your bus has them!
Walking/Biking: practice, practice, practice! Review the rules of the road for pedestrians/bicycles. Ride in bike lanes with the flow of traffic. And of course, wear a helmet!
Children under the age of 10 probably shouldn't be walking to school by themselves. Consider organizing a “Walking school bus” in neighborhoods where there are several families sending children to the same school.
Food
Like sleep, breakfast is going to be imperative to set your child up for a great day at school. Have plenty of nutritious options and try to get a serving of protein in before heading to school.
Try to find out what is available inside and outside the cafeteria. Many kids qualify for free or reduced price food, and many schools have plans that allow you to pay for meals through an online account or card. Check with your school for these options.
If allowed, send your child with a water bottle and encourage them to avoid soda. One can of soda/day increases the risk of obesity by 60%!
Backpacks
We all remember carrying backpacks full of heavy textbooks. This is a common cause of musculoskeletal pain (especially low back pain) in children and adolescents. Make sure your child’s has wide, padded shoulder straps and make use of all of those compartments! They are there for a reason. Put the heaviest things in the back (closest to your child). Check the weight of the backpack and try to clean it out weekly to get rid of any unnecessary weight.
Bullying
Recognize that this is a serious problem. If your child tells you about a situation you think may be bullying, acknowledge their feelings and talk to them about it. Teach them to respond by standing tall and staying calm. Teach them to be firm and say things such as “Please do NOT talk to me like that.” or “I don’t like how you are talking to me.” Teach them that it's ok to walk away, and encourage them to feel comfortable reporting such behavior to an adult.
I hate to say it, but it may be our own children who are the bullies! It’s got to be someone’s kid, right? In this case especially, we need to be the positive role model and try to teach them empathy by talking about how they might feel if the roles were reversed. Praise their good behavior.
Either way, the school needs to be aware of bullying and a plan needs to be put in place to address these concerns.
Lastly, please track their social media interactions. Cyber-bullying is a massive problem. Children are getting accounts younger and younger, and their brains just aren’t ready for this. Try to delay any social media until at least 14 years old, and when they have it, make sure they are using it in a healthy manner.
Homework/studying
Create a home-environment conducive to homework and studying. Make sure to provide your child with ample time and help them organize their homework. This means planning time around other extracurriculars and creating boundaries/rules regarding TV and other electronics.
School should be a place where children feel safe to learn, to grow, and to develop into the people they want to be. There are so many ways we can help our children during this transition time. Pick a few to focus on early on and ask for feedback from your children and their teachers on how they think the year is getting started!
