Summer is coming to an end and now it’s time to get ready for a new school year. If you haven’t already, make an appointment for a well child visit with your child’s doctor and make sure your child is up to date on all the recommended vaccines, including COVID-19. Set aside some time to talk with your child about the new school year. Let them have a chance to talk about their feelings and see what they look forward to this school year. It may put their mind at ease to talk about what they are worried about so you can reassure them that being nervous is normal. You might even have some funny stories to share from when you were in school!
Make a Back-to-School Checklist (for more details, see Checklist for the First Day of School - HealthyChildren.org English | Spanish)
- Get a monthly calendar, mark important dates, and post it on your fridge so that everyone can stay organized.
- Make an appointment with your child’s doctor for their check-up and vaccinations. If your child does not have health insurance or you cannot afford immunizations, the OC Health Care Agency provides free immunizations for infants and children ages 2 months to 18 years at our clinic in Santa Ana. Visit:
- OC Health Care Agency: Immunization Clinic (Free and Low-cost Shots/ Vaccines) English | Spanish | Vietnamese
- To learn more about all the vaccines your child will need to start school or child care:
- Check-in with the school/school nurse for medical needs, health forms, and to turn in your vaccination records.
- Make sure your emergency contact forms are up to date and you know the school’s emergency procedures. Does your child know how to contact you?
- Plan how your child will be going to and from school safely. See Walking and Biking to School: Keeping Kids Safe English | Spanish.
- Find out if your child needs to bring snacks or lunch to school or what the food options are at school. Many children qualify for free or reduced price food at school; this may also include breakfast. Ask your school if you qualify and about any forms you may need to fill out to apply.
- Find out if your child needs to bring supplies to school each day and make sure they have something comfortable to carry the supplies in.
- If you can, take your child to visit a new school or classroom before the first day of school. Some schools have orientations or tours. You could also consider taking your child to the school to see the playground before the first day of school.
- A week or two before school begins, start adjusting their bedtime earlier to help them ease into school time routines. Find a nighttime routine - kids need consistency and time to unwind from their busy day. Turn off all screens (TVs, computers, laptops, tablets, phones, video games) at least 1 hour before bedtime. Create a Family Media Use Plan and include bedtime boundaries. The nighttime routine may also involve taking a bath/shower, reading a bedtime story, and brushing teeth.
The Night Before The First Day of School
- Make a healthy lunch the night before; make sure to add a protein and a fruit or vegetable. See Back to School Food Safety Tips when preparing lunches for your child.
- Lay out school clothes the night before. Let your child pick out their own clothes to make the first day of school a little more special.
- Most importantly - Have the kids go to bed on time! The American Academy of Sleep Medicine¹ recommends that children 6 to 12 years of age should sleep 9 to 12 hours in a 24 hour period. Not enough sleep can lead to poor behavior, learning difficulties, and other health problems.
- Set an alarm to help your child get up in the morning.
On The First Day of School
Make sure your kids:
- Eat a healthy breakfast. Children who eat a nutritious breakfast do better in school, have better concentration and more energy. Some schools provide breakfast for the children through the free and reduced price lunch program, but if not, make sure the breakfast contains some protein. Sugary cereal can cause a mid-morning slump.
- Brush their teeth.
- Grab their backpack and don’t forget their water bottle!
With your checklist complete, plenty of sleep and some preparation the night, your morning should be a lot easier. Let’s get the school year started!
References
¹American Academy of Sleep Medicine English
²HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics): Back-to-School Tips for Families: English | Spanish
³HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics): Checklist for the First Day of School: English | Spanish
