Summer is winding down and it’s time to get back to school! Summer vacation was fun, but now it’s time to get a head start on the new school year. How can you make sure you have a happy and healthy school year? There are many things you can do to ease the transition from summer vacation to school year. Besides all the school supplies, new backpacks and lunchboxes and of course back to school clothes, getting your child’s health in order is also very important.
The first thing you should do of course is make sure your child’s immunizations are up to date. Every state has different requirements, but generally there are certain immunizations required before your child starts child care, kindergarten, 7th grade and college. Check with your pediatrician to make sure all your child’s shots are up to date.
Schedule your child’s checkups for the summer. A well checkup, the eye doctor, any specialists your child may need to see, should all be scheduled over summer break. This way, your child doesn’t have to miss important class time for routine care. It is a good idea to get your child’s eyes checked over the summer, that way if they need glasses they can get used to them before the school year starts. It is also necessary to get any chronic medical condition taken care of, as most schools require forms to be filled out if medication is to be taken at school.
Getting your child on a good sleep schedule can also ease the transition. Summer time often comes with loose bedtimes and children tend to get up much later then they have to during the school year. If your child is acclimated to the earlier bedtime and earlier wake time it can make the school year much smoother.
In the summertime even our eating habits may become more relaxed as we are on vacation often and tend to indulge more in foods we might not eat during the year. Getting back on track with healthy options can help you and your child have a successful year.