citizensmemorial.com 7 WELLNESS Get your kids ready for the first day Are your kids prepared for the new school year? Are you? Here’s a handy checklist of preparations to tackle before school starts. HEALTH PREP Get vaccinations up-to-date. Immunizations can protect your child against serious childhood diseases. Check with the school to find out what vaccinations it requires. Arrange for a sports physical if your child plays sports. Most sports require it, and it’ll give you peace of mind knowing that they’re physically able to play. TO-AND-FROMSCHOOL PREP Review your child’s route to school in advance. Drive the route so your child knows what to expect. Or bicycle or walk the route with them. Set up carpooling shifts. If you prefer to drive your child, find other parents who are safety minded. Talk to your child about bus stop, bicycling and walking safety. Make sure they know about crosswalk, biking and walking protocols. AT-HOME PREP Transition to and earlier sleep/wake schedule. A good night’s sleep will help your child concentrate, retain information and prevent mood swings. You can start with short changes, like 15 minutes earlier, until their schedule is back on track. Create a study area. Prepare a well-lit place where your child can do their homework. Make sure it’s a quiet space without electronic distractions. Choose a suitable backpack. For safety’s sake, a filled backpack should weigh no more than 10% to 20% of your child’s body weight. Adjust the backpack so the bottom meets your child’s waist. You can also consider a rolling backpack. Talk to your kids about bullying. Bullying is linked to a range of educational and emotional problems. Make sure your child knows: » To seek a trusted adult for help if they are bullied. » How to respond nonviolently to bullying. » That you’re monitoring their texts and social media accounts for bullying behavior. » That it’s never OK to bully someone, even if encouraged by others. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Sleep Foundation BEFORE-ANDAFTER-SCHOOL CARE PREP Arrange for caretaking. If you need help before or after school, look into responsible school programs, off-site institutions, or caretakers at your home or theirs. Your back-to-school prep list
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