Tips for a Healthy School Year

In those busy weeks before the first day of school, many parents sandwich a quick visit to the doctor for their child between clothes-shopping trips and last-minute runs for school supplies. And, of course, that's all happening while your family is trying to soak up the last days of summer. However, pediatricians say there's more to getting your child healthy and ready for school than just filling out medical forms and scheduling booster shots. To give your children the best possible launch, you need to take a look at their overall health and start now to get them physically ready to meet all the challenges of a new school year.

1. getting enough zzzs

By far, the most important school health issue for most kids is getting enough sleep  --about 10 to 11 hours a night for elementary school-age children. That sounds simple, but the trouble is, it's not always easy to make your child's sleep patterns mesh with his new school schedule.
When parents work late, children's bedtimes often get pushed back to create a window of family time. How can you argue with that? But to make sure your child can make it through the day without dozing at his desk, night-owl families need to start gradually shifting their schedules a few weeks before school starts, advises Donald Schiff, M.D., professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. "You can't wait and say, 'Oh, my gosh, we start school tomorrow. You have to get to bed early tonight.' "
Don't be surprised if your child comes home from school exhausted, especially in the first few weeks, says Greg Prazar, M.D., a pediatrician in Exeter, NH. "It's a huge adjustment for children," he says. "Lots of kids will need a nap after school to help them revive." If your child doesn't want to sleep, settle for 30 to 45 minutes of quiet time  --with no television.

2. testing eyes and ears

You can't expect a child to learn if she's having trouble seeing the blackboard or hearing the teacher. So have your pediatrician screen for vision and hearing problems during your child's back-to-school checkup.
"If your pediatrician does not have the equipment for visual and hearing screening, you're not getting a complete assessment," says David A. Cimino, M.D., director of adolescent medicine at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL. "Parents ought to insist on that." Some pediatricians prefer to send patients to ophthalmologists and audiologists for more sophisticated eye and ear checks. (Don't try to cut corners by going to a local chain  --their quick tests may miss important development problems in young children.) Make a note to ask your doctor what type of screening she recommends, then be certain to get it done long before school starts.
Remember: You can't assume your child has 20/20 vision just because he never complains about not being able to see; children with vision problems may not realize the world isn't blurry to everybody else. If your child often has headaches, tilts his head to one side to read schoolwork, or holds objects unusually close or far away to view them, it could be a sign he has a vision problem.
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