ROME– As students return to classrooms, families are adjusting to earlier mornings, new routines, and greater exposure to germs.
Dr. Tiffany Turner, a pediatrician with Harbin Clinic Pediatrics Rome, says families can help children prepare by returning to several basic health habits.
“Families don’t need a complicated back-to-school health plan,” Turner said. “Returning to a few simple habits and routines can help children feel and function at their best.”
Reducing the Spread of Illness
Pediatricians commonly see more illnesses during the first few weeks of school. Children spend more time near classmates and may encounter germs they did not face during summer.
Turner recommends that children wash their hands before eating and after using the bathroom. They should also wash after coughing, sneezing, or returning home from school or another public place.
Children should scrub their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. That is about the time required to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.
When soap and water are unavailable, families can use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. However, adults should supervise young children while they use it.
Children should cough or sneeze into a tissue or the crook of an elbow instead of their hands. They should also avoid sharing water bottles, cups, and eating utensils.
Additionally, Turner encourages families to keep children current on routine vaccinations, including the annual flu vaccine.
Children should generally remain home when they have a fever or cannot comfortably participate in school. They may typically return after remaining fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. Other symptoms should also be improving.
However, families should follow the illness policy established by their child’s school.
“Handwashing, vaccination and keeping sick children home help protect the entire school community, not only the individual child,” Turner said.
Restoring a Healthy Sleep Schedule
Adequate sleep supports learning, memory, attention, behavior, emotional regulation, and children’s overall physical and mental health.
Parents can ease the transition by gradually moving bedtime and wake-up time earlier. Turner recommends beginning that adjustment one to two weeks before school starts.
Families should keep sleep and wake times reasonably consistent, including on weekends. A predictable bedtime routine may include reading, stretching, quiet music, or a warm bath or shower.
Parents should turn off screens at least one hour before bedtime. When possible, children should charge phones and other devices outside the bedroom.
A cool, quiet, and dark bedroom can also support better sleep. Families should limit caffeine and sugar during the afternoon and evening.
Regular physical activity may help children rest. However, Turner recommends avoiding intense exercise immediately before bedtime.
Families should consult their pediatrician before giving a child melatonin or another sleep aid.
Turner also encourages parents to contact their child’s pediatrician with concerns involving physical, emotional, or developmental health. A pediatrician can offer guidance and help families determine whether a child needs additional care.
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