Healthy Tips to Kick-start the New School Year

As the summer starts winding down and Fall approaches, it’s time to start getting kids of all ages ready for school. As children rejoin their classmates on the playground and in the classroom, they need to be in good health to hit the ground running!

That means at the top of every parent’s to-do list should be checking in on the health and wellbeing of their child. Getting your kids back to school ready involves more than shopping for school supplies and new clothes. Caring for their health will ensure they are physically and emotionally prepared to return to school. To kick-start, the new school year, consider these healthy tips.

TEACH GOOD HYGIENE HABITS

The most effective way to avoid spreading germs is proper hand washing. Encouraging your kids to sing the alphabet or the Happy Birthday song from beginning to end will teach them how much time should be spent on this task. Everyone should wash the fronts and backs of their hands and in-between fingers. Hand sanitizer is a good alternative when soap and water aren’t available, and teaching them to sneeze into the crook of the elbow or sleeve will help prevent spreading germs.

VISIT YOUR HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONER

An annual check-up will ensure your kids are healthy and virus-free before returning to school. Make sure their immunizations are up-to-date, too. Every state requires vaccinations for public and private school children at different grade levels.

GET BACK INTO THE ROUTINE

Shift your kids back to a school-year bedtime routine at least a week before school starts. This is also an excellent time to stop playing electronic games and watching TV and begin reading or playing quiet games an hour before bedtime to help with the transition.

PROVIDE HEALTHY MEALS

Provide healthy meal options for your kids, including breakfast. Students who eat breakfast are more alert during class than those who don’t. Plus, the high-nutrition foods and adequate rest will help fight infections.

Vitamin-Producing Probiotic Bacteria

STAY HYDRATED

Keeping your kids hydrated with healthy drinks like water and nut milk has many benefits. It will help prevent fatigue, improve mood, aid digestion, and enhance brain function.

Avoid sugary drinks such as soda, sports, and energy drinks, as they are often packed with sugar, caffeine, and other unwanted ingredients. Too much caffeine can increase heart rates and blood pressure, interrupt sleep, and cause nervousness and irritability.

MANAGE ALLERGIES

Managing your kid’s allergies at school is integral to caring for their health. Seasonal allergies affect as many as 40% of U.S. children, causing many to miss school. Even if they don’t miss school, allergies can get in the way of a productive school day.

Symptoms like fatigue, headache, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, and itchiness can get in the way of attention and concentration. Food allergies are prevalent, too.

If your child has allergies, talk with your child’s teacher and school nurse about how to manage them during school.

STAY ACTIVE

Your kids have probably been active all summer, and it’s essential to keep moving. Kids typically sit most of their school day, so incorporating sports and exercise into their daily routine will keep them focused, improve behavior and boost positive attitude.

If possible, enroll your kids in after-school activities. Enjoy a family walk or bike ride and encourage them to keep moving. If you engage in physical activity, they will follow along.

Exercise Promotes Beneficial Bacteria! – Postbiotics Produced by Workouts

NURTURE GUT HEALTH

Your child’s gut health is vital for several reasons; it contributes to their metabolism, immunity, and overall physical wellness and can also affect mental health. Because certain essential bacteria live and thrive in your gut, you’ll want to keep them as healthy as possible by eating a nutritious high-fiber diet and using a high-quality probiotic supplement that delivers restorative postbiotic metabolites.

CALM WORRIES AND ANXIETY

Separation anxiety, social anxiety, fear of not fitting in, or feeling the pressure to stay on top of grades and activities is a growing concerns for children. Make sure your kids know their teacher, class schedule, and any other changes they might encounter. Planning a tour of the school and classroom or a meet-and-greet with the teacher is an excellent way to help your kids acclimate before the first day.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT SCHOOL BACKPACK

These days, backpacks are heavier than ever. The wrong type of backpack and wearing it incorrectly can lead to back pain. Along with cool colors and designs, choose a pack for your kids that will be comfortable and won’t cause pain. Also, show them how to wear their backpacks correctly to prevent back problems.