Come September, kids will have to go back to school after a long summer break. From playing around the house and taking a day trip to the beach, kids will be expected to focus on classes and other extra-curricular activities. While adjusting to the first month of school, parents are advised to take the necessary measures to make sure their kids are in good health all throughout the year.

Health must be the first and foremost concern for parents. Here are some health tips to consider this back -to-school season.

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1. Vaccine

Before the school year starts, your children should be vaccinated. You can seek health advice from the healthcare provider or your paediatrician. You should consider getting a flu vaccine annually if your child is more than 6 months old.

2. Bedtime

For kids, a healthy sleeping habit is preferable. They need to get the right amount of sleep to stay focused with their classes throughout the day. While adults need about eight hours of sleep each night, children and adolescents typically need more than eight hours. Your kids need to wake up early for school, so ask them to sleep early every night. Make this a routine 2 weeks before the school start.

3. Practice Good Hygiene

To avoid getting sick, a good hygiene must be observed. As a parent, it’s your duty to set a good example. You can teach them how to wash their hands after using the restroom and before going to lunch or eating a snack. Ask your children to bring a hand sanitizer which they can use. Ask them to not share food from other kids nor drinks.

4. Healthy Diet

Perhaps this is the most important tip for parents. Always allot time to prepare your kids’ lunch box. You can stock up on healthy food such as fruits, vegetables, whole grain bread and healthy meat. You can pre-pack these and just cook the easy ones every morning. Presentation is everything. Make their lunch boxes creative to entice them to eat those fruits and veggies.

5. Manage stress

This may be stressful for both kids and parents. However, you need to avoid stress that can lead to other illnesses. Talk to your children and let them open up to you about their problems. You should take the time to relax, play, and spend time as family.

6. Be prepared for emergency

If your kid has a chronic condition which can result in a bus emergency, be ready. Make sure you coordinate with the school nurse for any emergency plan as early as the first day of class.

7. Eat breakfast

Children who eat nutritious breakfast can do better in school. Breakfast gives them energy to do their job. Make sure they eat their breakfast and make their daily diet protein-rich.

8. Get the menu from school cafeteria

Menu in the school cafeteria should be posted on the website of the school. Get advance information and plan the days when your child can bring his lunch to school.

9. Inspect the school’s environment

Don’t just look inside the school. Look the other food establishments outside the school which includes vending machines, stores, and other snack carts. They should meet the nutrition standards set by the local authorities.

10. Avoid studying fatigue

Alleviate neck fatigue, brain fatigue by encouraging your child to close the book for a few minutes to take a walk in between study time.

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Did you find these tips useful? Share your tips in the comments below.

Also, here are some ‘Quick & Easy School Recipes’ to try.