It’s that time of year when summer activities slow down, parents stock up on school supplies, teachers prepare classrooms and kids get ready to head back to school.
To help with that transition, parents should start by focusing on children’s health, pediatricians say.
That means making sure children are up to date on their vaccinations, getting them appointments for sports physicals and establishing good routines, said Dr. Brittany Bassitt, a pediatrician on the Immunization Practices Committee with Kaiser Permanente.
“We know that COVID is not going anywhere,” Bassitt said in a Zoom interview Wednesday. “It’s something that’s going to be hanging around in our community with variants that are still causing sickness and … pretty severe illness in certain populations, especially our very young.”
Bassitt said she recommends getting updated COVID-19 vaccines when they are available and flu shots to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death.
Influenza viruses circulate year-round in the U.S. but typically increase in fall and winter, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We’re getting back into the school year, and that means we’re around other kids. We’re getting exposed to things,” Bassitt said. “Make sure kids are washing their hands regularly and understanding those good hygiene practices as best they can.
“If you’re sick, stay home. Make sure you’re allowing your body the time to heal and you’re preventing the spread in the community.”
Establishing regular bedtimes and mealtimes can also help keep kids healthy.
“Getting back into that routine helps kids physically and mentally prepare for getting back into the school structure,” Bassitt said.
The optimal amount of sleep for children depends on age. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends kids ages 3 to 5 sleep 10 to 13 hours (including naps) per day, while ages 6 to 12 should sleep nine to 12 hours at night and ages 13 to 18 need eight to 10 hours of sleep.
“Make sure kids are getting back into the breakfast routine,” Bassitt said. “Starting their day off well is going to help with focusing and setting up their emotions to be at their best for handling knowledge and just the learning process in general.”
Sports physicals and wellness checks can help prevent sports injuries, but mental and emotional health are just as important.
Some 9.4 percent of children ages 3 to 17 — that’s 5.8 million kids — were diagnosed with anxiety between 2016 and 2019; 4.4 percent or 2.7 million were diagnosed with depression, according to the CDC.
To help with emotional and mental health, parents and guardians can create a place for open conversations to help kids navigate concerns, Bassitt said.
“Make sure kids are feeling that they are capable and ready to start the school year off successfully,” Bassitt said. “That just doesn’t mean physically. We want to make sure kids’ emotional and mental well-being are in a good place as well.”
