It’s almost that time of year again, when school is getting back in session. Covid has thrown many parents and children off their normal back to school routine, but as schools are re-opening, it’s more important than ever for parents to ensure their child is healthy and ready to go back to school. Things such as annual physicals and vaccinations will likely need to be done before school starts, so doing those things a few weeks before school is a good idea. You can access the documents you need through our patient portal or call us to schedule your child for a wellness exam at your convenience.

Here are some health tips for making your child’s transition back into school this year easier on everyone.

1. Set up and stick to school routines and times even during the summer. Ensuring your child showers, brushes their teeth, and goes to bed on time can help them get enough sleep when they have to get up earlier. Easing them into this routine throughout the summer will help keep your kids on track and contribute to their success. You may want to set limits on screen time or have your children give you their phones before they go to bed to discourage them from playing with it and affecting their sleep. Encouraging a “quiet” time before bed can also help ease them into a good night’s rest, and you can do that by reading a story, playing a game with the family or by doing breathing and meditation exercises at least an hour before bed. 

2. Pack and provide healthy lunches and snacks for your child and encourage them to eat a healthy breakfast before school so they have good energy and can focus on their classes that day. Try to wake everyone up earlier so that you don’t have to rush them through breakfast and out the door, and give them time to do everything they need to before school.

3. Schedule a back-to-school shopping trip a couple weeks before school starts to get your kids what they need to be successful in school this semester. Buy quality backpacks and school supplies so that halfway through the semester you don’t have to replace supplies and risk interrupting your child’s education. Also, if your school requires it, don't forget to purchase facemasks for your child to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Give us a call or use our patient portal today to get all of the required vaccinations and physicals before school begins!

NOTE: Before you can access your patient portal, you will need to register with an account in order to use it. Step by step instructions for that are located here.

We also have an app so you can manage your child’s care on the go from your mobile phone. Instructions for downloading and using the app are located here.

We look forward to seeing you and your children soon and wish you a happy and safe back to school season!