5 Back-to-school Health Tips for Parents

Many parents dread the return to school after the holiday break. Not only do you have to wake up early to get the kids ready for school, but you also have to buy school supplies. What are your plans to ensure they stay healthy during the school year? To kick things off, consider these health tips to help kids prepare for the school year.

1. Encourage Handwashing to Eliminate Germs: Good handwashing habits help keep kids healthy by preventing the spread of infection, colds, flu, and other diseases. You can teach your kids to wash their hands by assisting them in practicing the 20-second handwashing rule, before eating, after using the toilet, and after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezing.
2. Healthy Food Choices: Maintaining a healthy weight is critical to their health; an overweight child is at a high risk of high blood cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Because most kids consume the bulk of their calories at school, it is critical to encourage and teach them to consume more fruits, vegetables, grains, lean meat, and oils in controlled portions.
3. Limit Sugary Drinks: They are every child's favorite beverage, yet we all know they cause more harm than good. On the other hand, water is a good  no-calorie substitute for sugary drinks. Teaching your kids to drink enough water is a good habit to instil in them for a long time.
4. Plan for Emergencies: As you prepare your kids for the school year, you must prepare a documented emergency care plan with the school teacher and authorities. The plan should include any medications your kid has to take and any helpful devices he or she uses, such as inhalers, wheelchairs, or assisted communication devices. This helps the school administration prepare for any type of emergency while you are away, especially if they are enrolled at a boarding school.
5. Connect with your kids at school and home:  Good communication with your kids about what happens at school and with their friends will help you guide them through matters such as sexual health, drug prescription usage, and physical violence.

Have you benefited from these tips? Please share with us how you plan to prepare for the school year, and don't forget to keep up-to-date with their vaccination schedule to protect them from infections.

Finally, you can check our back-to-school categories for Children’s Vitamins & Supplements and Personal Items that may need as they resume the school year.

For health advice, speak with a HealthPlus Pharmacist via our webchat or chat with us at 0817-200-5332. Also, follow us for more health tips.