It’s back-to-school season. As we transition from the dog days of summer and back into the classroom, kids’ health is definitely on the curriculum.
From proper-fitting backpacks to immunizations to open communication, there are many ways to give young students the support their growing minds and bodies need.
Here are five more of our faves:
- Nutrition 101: Studies have shown that kids who eat a nutritious breakfast function better at school. But the healthy eating doesn’t stop with the morning school bell. When packing snacks, lunches, and beverages make better choices by limiting refined sugars, aiming for healthy fats, and choosing water over juice. Offer kids a colorful range of fruits and veggies and make it fun (even for picky eaters) with a variety of nutritious food options. You can supplement their diets with Sisu U-Cubes Multivitamin gummies to ensure they’re getting a full range of nutritional support.
- Be aware of bullying. Whether it’s physical, verbal, social, or virtual, bullying is a big issue that should be addressed promptly (whether your child is the bullied or the bully). If your child is being bullied, support their physical and mental wellbeing with action. Talk openly with your child about what is happening and how it makes them feel. Pay attention to any changes in their personality. Alert school officials. Monitor their social media or online interactions. Get help.
- Make sleep a priority. Good nights make for better days, so it’s important that your children get the sleep they need to rest and recover. Unfortunately, only one in four Canadian kids are getting enough sleep and this lack of sleep has a negative impact on their mental and physical health. Kids aged 5-13 should be getting 9-11 hours of shuteye each night while 14-17 year-old teens should aim for 8-10 hours. Check out these kid-friendly tips for supporting sleep health.
- Avoid allergens. Whether your child has a serious allergy or not, it’s important to support the health and wellbeing of all students in your school community. Many schools have a no-nuts policy to protect kids with life-threatening food allergies—which may mean PB&J is off the menu, but it’s a small sacrifice in the big picture. Since the new school year coincides with a new allergy season, it can be tough on kids who suffer from seasonal allergies or asthma. Keep an eye out for allergy symptoms like runny noses and watery eyes to help ward off a sinus infection or asthma attack.
- Look out for vision health. Good vision is an essential tool for good students. Kids may not always make the connection between vision issues and symptoms such as headaches, light sensitivity, poor concentration or difficulty reading, but as parents we can be vigilant with vision health by scheduling regular optometry check ups. Here are some clues to watch for if you suspect your child may need glasses.
