WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES AUGUST 16, 2018 19
BACK TO SCHOOL
The proactive parent's checklist
for back-to-school success
A new school year is quickly
approaching, and while you
probably have supply lists and
bus schedules in hand, there are a few
other things parents should tackle to
get a head start on the back-to-school
season. Prepare kids for the best
school year yet by handling these
important tasks that sometimes are
overlooked during the hectic summer.
ROUTINES
Before the school year starts, begin
building a routine so children can adjust
properly. This means structuring
activities so kids know what to expect,
including healthy meals at the same
time each day and a regular bedtime.
Getting enough sleep is critical to
students' well-being and ability to
learn, says Dr. Suresh Kotagal, pediatric
sleep expert at Mayo Clinic Children's
Center. He suggests establishing
a bedtime routine before school starts
to help children fall asleep and get a
good night's rest. He adds that children
rest better if they skip caff eine aft er
dinner, get regular exercise, turn off
electronic devices an hour before
bedtime, and silence phones so text
messages or alerts don't disrupt sleep.
VACCINATIONS
Dr. Robert Jacobson, Mayo Clinic
Children's Center pediatrician
and vaccine specialist, advises
parents to ensure their child has
recommended vaccinations and to
be aware of changes to those recommendations.
He suggests parents
contact their family physician or
visit the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention's online registry to
stay informed of the recommended
school admission vaccine requirements
for their child.
For example, children can now
be vaccinated for human papillomavirus
(HPV), at age 11, rather than
having to wait until they are 16 years
of age. What's more, some vaccines
are now more easily administered.
Jacobson says, "We've combined the
measles-mumps-rubella vaccine with
the chickenpox vaccine so a single
dose will cover all four of those
diseases."
MEDICAL RECORDS
If your child is starting a new school
or aft er-school program, you may be
required to supply medical records
or vaccination forms. Doctor's offi ces
should be able to supply this to you at
no charge simply by calling or stopping
by and fi lling out a request, just
make sure to allow a week or more for
processing.
By reviewing this record you can
also verify if your child is up-to-date
on vaccinations and wellness visits.
"It's very easy to fall behind and a simple
phone call to your primary care
practitioner will assure you that your
children are up-to-date or whether
you need to make an appointment,"
says Jacobson.
ANXIETY
Heading back to school is exciting
and a little nerve-wracking. For some
children, it can fuel anxiety, which
parents can help get ahead of by taking
proactive measures.
"Some kids are more anxious than
others, and transitions like going
back to school can be more diffi cult
for them," says Dr. Stephen Whiteside,
psychiatrist with the Mayo
Clinic Children's Center. "Talking to
them and preparing them ahead of
time by doing things such as visiting
the schools and meeting teachers can
be benefi cial."
BULLYING
One reason a child may have anxiety
about heading back to school
is he or she experienced bullying
previously. Mayo Clinic Children's
Center psychologist Dr. Bridget
Biggs says bullying comes in many
forms: physical, verbal, emotional,
social and online. Biggs says creating
a culture of respect in and out
of the classroom is key to bullying
prevention.
Before school starts, ask your
child about their concerns. Learn
about what happened and discuss
how to respond if it happens again
in the new school year (for example,
walk away or get help from a trusted
adult or peer). Build up your child's
self-esteem so they have confi dence
to handle diffi cult situations. Finally,
reach out to teachers to build a team
mentality.
By taking a few proactive steps now,
both parents and children can be well
prepared for the start of a great new
school year. For more tips on back-toschool
and pediatric health, visit us at
mayoclinic.org.
Courtesy BPT