To go back to school is not only about the pens, notebooks, and other new stuff. There are lots of other things to learn and consider. Perhaps, the health of the children is of greater concern. So, what should be done to take care of the children’s health as they go back to school after vacation? The following article will speak about the major health concerns among the children going back to school and the safety tips to protect the children from them.

Dealing with lunch boxes:

Children are going to spend their most part of the day at schools. And, the most important meal of the day (lunch) is to be taken at schools. If the lunch boxes are not properly filled, then the children will be put at major health risks related to food. So, a piece of advice for the parents is that changing the way they pack the lunches will make them healthier in a long run. As such, they are recommended to fill the boxes with colorful vegetables and fruits. Also, instead of filling the bottles with unhealthy sodas, switch to water. Overall, it’s always good to add more fibers to their diets to help them stay fresh all through the day.

Staying current with immunizations:

As people might be aware, polio was one of the deadliest childhood diseases in the U.S. The introduction and implementation of vaccine for polio were able to wipe out the problem completely. Likewise, vaccinations for the other diseases will be promising to save children from unwanted pain and illness. This is why parents are always advised to stay current with the immunization schedules for the children. At the same time, parents should also get vaccinated as early as possible in the academic year. To know more about vaccination schedules, it’s always better to have a consultation with the healthcare provider.

Not missing the flu shots:

Yes, already the mention has been done for immunizations. However, the flu shots are to be mentioned here separately because every year children are at high risk of contracting the flu virus from school. This illness would greatly impact the children’s learning. Also, at times, these viruses can be deadly too. Therefore, to decrease the risk of the children from contracting the flu virus, parents must make sure that they get them flu shots properly. According to the information posted by CDC, everyone above six months of age should get their flu shots every year to keep the virus at bay.

Watching out physical fitness:

At the school going age, children would require at least an hour of physical exercise. This is very important in keeping up with their weights and healthy sleeping patterns. In the United States, the number of childhood obesity cases is increasing from year to year. One of the major reasons for the increasing number of childhood obesity cases is the lack of physical activities. Parents must make sure to set limits on their TV-watching, video games, and other similar activities and must encourage them to carry out some low-energy physical activities. This way, the children won’t feel stressed out.

Educating the road rules:

Being a parent, it’s important for each and every one to educate the children about walking and/or bicycling safely on roads. It has been reported that more than 4,500 pedestrians and more than 700 bicyclists are injured in the car crashes every year. In most cases, children of ages 5 to 14 years are found to be injured in these crashes. Therefore, it is very important to educate the children about the significance of walking on the sidewalk wherever available. In addition, they also need to be educated about the traffic signals and about crossing the roads at intersections. These would help prevent unwanted accidents and/or injuries.

Fighting the backpack pains:

Backpack burdens appear to be one of the major problems among school children. According to health experts, carrying more than 10 to 15% of the children’s body weight on their backs would cause some serious health issues. These would lead to pain in their necks, backs, as well as shoulders. More particularly, female children are prone to back pain due to the overburdened backpacks. In order to curb these problems, parents are advised to provide their children with lightweight backpacks with padded backs and waist belts. It’s also a good idea to use both the shoulder straps.

Beating the heat:

For most students in the U.S., the starting of the school year will be the hottest time of the year. Children who are continuously exposed to heat without necessary precautions may fall prey to various illnesses. The best way to protect the children from heat is to make sure they are properly hydrated. For children of ages 4 to 8 years, about two quarts of water is needed per day. This amount will increase for the higher age groups.

Finally, parents should remember that going back to school should not put the children at risks for health issues. The health problems they face will be a hindrance to their academic performance. So, parents should prepare for their child’s health well in advance to avoid unwanted pain and discomfort!