Back-to-school health and safety checklist: A reminder of the things that might have slipped your (very busy) mind
Back-to-school season is a busy time for Daisy Howard, a mother of three — but she has everything under control. New clothes, shoes, and school supplies for her children have been purchased or added to her shopping list, and their sports physical forms are already completed. Howard isn’t too concerned about bumping up the kids' bedtime since they kept a decent sleep schedule throughout the summer. Her daughter, soon-to-be ninth grader, isn’t worried about heading to a new school, but Howard admits she does worry about older classmates picking on freshman.
Board-certified internal medicine and pediatric physician Jennifer McBride, MD has been helping parents get their children back to school for years. Parents often worry their child will experience back-to-school jitters, which Dr. McBride says is completely normal, especially for those starting a new school.
Dr. McBride recommends taking advantage of back-to-school night to ease those jitters. “It allows students to visualize their classrooms, practice opening their locker and meet the teachers," she said.
Organizing a playdate with your child's classmates before school starts can help too. Dr. McBride said getting together with the same kids they'll see when they go back to school gets them excited to return.
Dr. McBride says if parents notice their child withdrawing, or find it next to impossible to get them on the bus or in the classroom, they might be dealing with anxiety. If that’s the case, she recommends parents schedule a time to talk with their child’s pediatrician about ways to help.
Other back-to-school health and safety tips include having a conversation with your child about Internet safety, especially if your child’s school issues a device that’s new to them. Electronics have become a part of school now, and while school-issued devices typically have software to keep students off inappropriate sites, Dr. McBride says older kids have been known to find a workaround. To be aware of what your child is doing on the computer, Dr. McBride recommends allowing computer usage in common areas of the house only, not behind shut doors. “It’s important to be able to pop up and see what’s on that screen at any moment,” she advises.
Dr. McBride supports giving children a bit of autonomy by allowing them to walk, bike, or ride scooters to school. However, she emphasizes that no one should assume all children know when it’s safe to cross the street — or even that they should stop and look both ways. Dr. McBride recommends walking with your child to school to show them what safety steps you expect them to follow. And of course, if your child is on something with wheels, have them wear a helmet.
Finally, Dr. McBride asks for patience. Not with your child, but with the team at your pediatrician’s office. She said doctors and staff work as quickly as they can to fill out and sign the flurry of forms required at the start of the school year, but if your child has not had a well-visit checkup within the year, the office cannot complete the form without an appointment. “We understand you have a deadline, but we have a responsibility to be accurate.”
Over the years, Dr. McBride has noticed that the most commonly overlooked part of back-to-school prep isn’t physicals — it’s establishing a consistent sleep routine. Click here for her advice, which goes beyond picking a bedtime.
As for Daisy Howard, she’s not only excited for her children to head back to class to continue learning and see their friends, but jokes that it’ll also be nice to see lower power and grocery bills. Parents across the metro can relate.