It’s that time of year again where parents are running around preparing for the upcoming school year. Stores are offering sales on essentials such as pencils, notebooks, and computers. Let’s not forget the new school clothes because kids are insisting that they have the latest outfits and sneakers for that first day impression.
However, might I add that these tangible items are important, but there are many more things to consider when preparing our kids and teens for back-to-school. Transitioning from summer break to the structured environment of school presents unique challenges and opportunities to promote healthy habits.
Health recommendations for children and teens as they head back to school include physical, mental, and emotional well-being, aiming to support their success in and out of the classroom. The first step is to ensure kids have a preventative visit with their provider once a year. It is at this visit that immunizations can be discussed and reviewed to make sure they are up to date.
For instance, children entering kindergarten typically need MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), IPV (polio), and DTap (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis). These vaccines generally complete the series that began when they were infants. For teens, tetanus boosters, the meningococcal vaccine, and the HPV vaccines are generally given around this time.
In addition to providing immunizations, performing a physical exam is typically done as well, especially for athletes. Reviewing the growth chart and determining if the child or teen is at risk of obesity, checking their vision/hearing, and screening for scoliosis are included in the evaluation. It is also during this time that nutrition is discussed.
Children/teens should be eating a well-balanced diet that includes fruits, veggies, protein, and minimal sugar. Just because the bottle says “100% juice” does not mean that it does not contain a lot of sugar. Most of these juice drinks have 30-50 grams of sugar per serving. Milk and water should be the beverages of choice for children/teens. Remember, children/teens are still growing and need milk for healthy bone development.
Teen years are challenging in many ways. Teens may appear as adults on the outside, but their emotional intelligence has not quite reached adulthood. Outside influences from friends, intimate relationships, and substance use are widespread regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.
Therefore, prior to the school year, providers should be spending some one-on-one time with these teens assessing for substance abuse, intimate partner violence, depression, and eating disorders. This is also a great time for the parents to share with the provider if they have noticed a change of behavior with their teens because those subtle changes could be warning signs of stress or anxiety.
These back-to-school physicals also provide a space to discuss the importance of hygiene. Think of schools as germ-laden environments where one virus, bacteria, fungus, or parasite in the classroom can spread like wildfire.
Good hand washing, knowing how to properly cover your cough/sneeze, and reinforcing that it is not ok to share water bottles or wear someone else’s hat should be discussed during this time.
Back-to-school preparation can be stressful and expensive. However, it is important not to forget to prepare children and teens mentally, physically, and emotionally. A proactive approach to pediatric health not only supports academic achievement but also lays the foundation for lifelong well-being.
Denise Hooks-Anderson, MD, FAAFP can be contacted at yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com