5 Ways to Promote Back to School Wellness and Healthy Habits

School season has arrived, and students once again congregate in classrooms. But returning to the rigor of daily homework and lessons can be a time of high stress and anxiety, often leaving child wellness by the wayside. As fall begins, the threat of illness rises, especially for children, parents should keep in mind these five ways to encourage healthy habits and ensure student wellness during the transition from summer to school:

Maintain a balanced diet. Nutrition is one of the most crucial aspects of proper child development. The CDC reports that obesity is prevalent in 18.5% of children age 2-19 and many of the easy, fast and overly processed foods provided in school lunches can lead to weight gain and sluggishness. Students frequently become so overwhelmed with assignments and co-curriculars that they pay less attention to what they consume daily, so it is important to monitor for healthy nutrition. The USDA recommends a focus on fruits and vegetables, varied proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy products for meals and after-school snacks to increase a child’s energy and vitamin intake, maintaining wellness and boosting their immune system.

Don’t stay up too late. Most children and adolescents need between 8 and 12 hours of sleep each night which can be hard to obtain when they often lose sleep due to busy after-school schedules and nightly overuse of electronic devices. Set a routine before bed that allows time away from textbooks and technology so children can relax before turning in. Sleep is essential to overall health as it maintains high levels of energy and cognitive function for long school days.

Engrain good habits to prevent the spread of germs. The classroom is a breeding ground for germs. Increased personal contact and within buildings that have been unoccupied all summer can trigger allergies and a chain reaction of illness, making healthy germ habits essential. Sharing is not always caring; make sure your child knows what is safe to share with other students, this excludes things like lip balms, makeup and drinks. Have students bring their own snacks and a refillable water bottle so that that can steer clear of universal fountains and vending machines. And of course, covering one’s sneezes and washing one’s hands are the baseline for germ prevention and help keep viruses away from students and their homes.

Always check for lice. Lice are an inconvenient reality of going back to school and something that you should monitor for vigilantly in order to catch early and prevent their spread. Children are often affected by head lice when they return to school because of higher rates of exposure and close contact with other students. It is important to take precautions to mitigate the risk of contracting lice while partaking in recess, sports or other activities. If your child has lice, be sure to keep them home from school until they have been treated and remind them to avoid head-to-head contact and not to share combs, brushes or towels.

Get updated vaccinations. Many states require students to be vaccinated before returning to class. In preparation for the fall semester and the incipiency of the cold and flu season, making sure children and adolescents are up to date on their vaccinations can ensure they start class on schedule, ready to learn without the risk of preventable disease.

We all hope to stay healthy this year, but if you do get sick and find your symptoms worsening, you can always visit your local CareWell Urgent Care center. No matter the symptoms, CareWell’s team of physicians can treat almost any acute illness.