Six Back-to-School Health Assignments

Six Back-to-School Health Assignments

08.01.12
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Have a helpful back-to-school idea? Share your tips and win a FREE pedometer, courtesy of Continuum Hospitals of New York and the Live Well New York program.

Budget your family’s time. 

Develop a system to keep everyone on the same page, such as a whiteboard calendar, where you can keep track of everyone’s practices, games, appointments and responsibilities at home. Keeping a large, visible reminder of deadlines and duties is a great way to reduce stress and anxiety during the busy school year. 

Encourage after-school activities. 

Encourage your kids to get involved in activities outside of school.  Joining clubs or playing sports is a great way to make friends and fit in exercise. Before they sign-up, make sure they have enough time set aside for homework and family responsibilities.  

Clean out the closets.  

Fall is the perfect time to refresh your kid’s closet. Have them try on stuff they already have, and set aside clothes they’ve outgrown to donate to projects like re-fashioNYC. Then hit the mall, and help them pick out some stylish and comfortable clothes for the fall and winter months.

Get schooled on lunch options. 

If you’re considering the school’s hot lunch option, do a little research on what they have to offer. Once you know what’s available, encourage your kids to choose healthy items, and set up a calendar outlining lunch for the week. If you’re packing your child’s lunch, be sure to include whole-grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy and lean protein.

Here’s a sample of a healthy brown-bag lunch:

  • Whole-wheat bagel sandwich with turkey, lettuce, tomato and low-fat cheese
  • Carrot sticks with hummus
  • Low-fat yogurt with fresh berries
  • Skim or 1% milk

You can also learn about the NY Coalition for Healthy School Food.
 

Re-establish bedtime.

If your kids have been staying up late all summer, a sudden curfew can be a rude awakening. Slowly work earlier bedtimes back into the routine several weeks before school starts. Likewise, encourage your kids to wake up a little earlier each day during that span. The gradual adjustment will benefit their body and mind, making weekday mornings less groggy for them, and less stressful for you. 

Visit the doc.

Before your kids hit the books, schedule a routine check-up as early as possible. Speak with their physician to stay up-to-date on immunizations and address any other health concerns you have going into the school year. Also, remind your kids about basic health practices like thorough hand washing before the busy year begins.

Does your child have all the current vaccinations? Check out Back-to-School Vaccines for a full list.

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