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Getting Ready for the Beginning of School
School age children all around the country are preparing for the
first day of school. Some children are entering school for the
first time or are moving to another school. The first day jitters
can be hard on children. The American Academy of Pediatrics has
some health and safety Back-to-School suggestions that can be
helpful.
Backpacks:
* When choosing a backpack for your child, be sure it has wide,
padded shoulder straps.
*Heavier items should be packed in the center of the backpack
and the total weight should not be more than 10% – 20% of
the child’s body weight. For example, if your child weighs
50 pounds, their backpack weight should be no more than 5 to 10
pounds. Heavy backpacks can strain shoulder muscles and cause
the spine to curve.
*Backpacks should be worn over both shoulders and not just slung
over one.
Obesity:
*Obesity is a huge issue with our children these days. Watch for
menus to be sent home by your child’s school. If your child
takes their lunch to school or they choose to eat the school’s
lunch, be sure the meal is healthy and contains many fresh fruits,
low-fat dairy products, water and 100% fruit juice.
*Vending machines should be stocked with appropriate healthy choices.
* Teach your child to read labels. Did you know that one can of
soft drink contains as much as 10 teaspoons of sugar and approximately
150 calories? Drinking one soft drink a day can increase your
child’s chance of obesity by 60%!
* Encourage your child to choose low-fat milk, 100% juice, or
water as an alternative.
* Model this behavior for your child and watch the changes occur.
Transportation:
Transportation to and from school is a great issue for many families.
The choice of riding the bus, walking to school, riding a bicycle,
or riding in a car is a decision each family will have to make.
Whatever mode of transportation that is best for your family,
be sure to observe some safety guidelines.
* Teach your children that if they are riding the bus, to wait
for the bus to completely stop before entering the street. Always
be sure your child can see the driver so the driver can see them.
* If your child is walking to school, do they have a walking buddy
or do you walk them? Is the route to school and back home safe?
Are there adult crossing guards? Be sure your child has bright
colored clothing or coats so motorists can see them clearly.
* Your child may ride their bicycle to school and, if so, a helmet
is a must! Teach your child they are to ride on the same side
of the street as the cars are traveling. Children must be taught
the hand signals when riding a bicycle in order for drivers in
vehicles to know when the child is turning or changing direction.
Bicycle riders must obey all traffic signs and signals.
* If children are traveling to school in a car, seat belts must
be worn. In Kentucky, that is the law for any passenger in a moving
vehicle. Check your state’s law in regard to safety belts.
Your child may still require a booster seat if they do not meet
certain guidelines. Many children in elementary school should
still be in a booster seat due to their weight and height. The
shoulder strap should lie across the chest and shoulders, not
the neck or throat. The lap belt should be snug and over the thighs
and not the stomach and the child should be tall enough to sit
in the back seat with their back against the seat with legs bent
and feet hanging down. All children less than 13 years old should
sit in the rear seat of all vehicles.
These are just a few health and safety tips to get you prepared
for that first day of school, whether it is truly the first day
of kindergarten or the first day of fifth grade. Keep your child
healthy and safe and the school year will be a good one!
For more information on back to school tips, visit the American
Academy of Pediatrics at www.aap.org.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (www.naeyc.org
and search for “back to school” or “school readiness”)
also has some research on School Readiness that you might in interested
in.
