It’s that time of the year again! SEPTEMBER – back to school season! You’ve probably got the basics covered by now that school is back in motion. Pencils, check. Notebooks, check. Backpacks, check. But let’s face it, back to school season can be stressful for both parents and kids. Follow this checklist and discover the problems and solutions that impact the health of your star students, including overloaded backpacks, allergy awareness, healthy eating and sleeping.

Healthy Lunchbox
Small changes can make a big difference over time. Changing the way you pack your children’s lunches can make them healthier over the long term. You’re helping them appreciate what healthy food tastes like!

Prepare with Good Sleep Hygiene
Sometimes the long days of summer throw sleep routines out of whack. Your kids will be more alert and focused in class if you start to get them ready for their school schedule ahead of time. Set a new bedtime to get them into a new routine.

Dealing with Heavy Backpacks

Several experts say that carrying any more than 10-15 percent of a child’s body weight in backpacks can cause problems. Heavy backpacks can cause significant pain in children’s backs, necks, and shoulders. If lockers or keeping books in your child’s desk at school is not an option, then lightweight backpacks with waist belts and padded backs can help.

Staying Physically Fit
Kids need at least one hour a day to exercise. Making sure they get enough exercise is a matter of balancing their priorities.

Exercise not only increases strength in muscles and bones but it can even improve concentration at school.

Teach Them the Rules of the Road
As the school year starts, remember to teach your children about walking and bicycling safely. The Sidorova Inwood Team has also started a Slow Down for Kids campaign to start off the school year. Give us a call for more information!

Allergy Awareness
As we slowly begin to bid summer goodbye, we’re greeting allergies. Try talking with teachers, coaches, and other school staff about your child’s allergy needs.

Time for Glasses?
Nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and many other vision problems may create barriers to learning. Yet young children often do not tell their parents about their vision problems or even recognize that they have problems with their sight. A yearly eye exam can help. In the meantime, watch out for squinting, rubbing eyes, sitting too close to the television, frequently losing their place while reading, or closing one eye to see better.

Get more tips here!