Healthy Back-to-School Basics for a Happy School Year

It's back-to-school time again!  Being a student is hard enough without illness and injuries making things worse.  There are a lot of ways you can help your child to have a happier, healthier school year.

Backpack
At every age, children are expected to have a bag to carry their papers to and from school.  Backpacks are perfect for this.  They are roomy, compartmentalized, and available in a wide array of styles at a variety of costs.  In addition, backpacks are designed to be worn over both shoulders so that the weight of the pack is evenly distributed.  Of course, that is one of the first things children should be reminded of – backpacks need to be worn properly.  If slung over one shoulder, they can cause strain that leads to back problems.  This is only acerbated when kids pack too much weight into their bag.  Wheeled bags are no improvement either as they often have to be lifted, again causing issues with the back.  Encourage your child to only bring home what they need for homework and to wear their backpack correctly to avoid back pain. 

Nutrition
Children need to eat breakfast in order to have a good start to the day.  Ideally, this breakfast should include some form of protein, as the energy from protein is released more evenly than that from carbohydrates.  If you have a child who doesn't like to eat first thing in the morning, try something like a smoothie that won't feel so heavy to them.  If all else fails, send them off to school with a breakfast bar.  Lunch is important too.  If your child takes lunch, try to ensure that it is healthy and appealing.  If they purchase lunch at school, they must be taught to make good food choices, even when you aren't around.

Transportation Safety
Traveling to and from school shouldn't be ignored either.  Whether your student walks, rides a bike, drives, or rides the bus, there are safety concerns that they should be aware of.  No matter what, they need to be conscious of their surroundings.  If walking, it is best if they are with a group.  This would be advisable for biking as well.  And every time your child rides a bike, they should wear a helmet.  Those driving need to be responsible and obey traffic laws to avoid accidents.  If riding the bus, they need to stay in their seat and avoid distracting the driver.  Not thinking about safety at these times can lead to accidents and potentially severe injuries.

Sleep
As a parent, you need to make sure your child does their homework, but at the same time you also want them to be involved in extra-curricular activities.  However, the importance of a good night's sleep cannot be ignored.  Sleeping in on the weekend doesn't make up for missing sleep during the week.  Encourage your child to get eight hours of sleep every night (more if they are younger) so that they can be in top form every day.

These simple strategies can help protect your student from unnecessary injuries.  They also aid in keeping your child from becoming run down and thereby more susceptible to illness.  After all, isn't school hard enough without having to worry about those things?