Media release from Atrium Health Floyd:
As children return to the classroom, families are adjusting to earlier mornings, new routines and increased exposure to germs.
“Families don’t need a complicated back-to-school health plan,” says Dr. Tiffany Turner, Harbin Clinic Pediatrics Rome. “Returning to a few simple habits and routines can help children feel and function at their best.”
Help prevent the spread of illness
Pediatricians commonly see an increase in illnesses during the first few weeks of school as children spend more time in close contact with classmates and encounter germs they may not have been exposed to during the summer.
Parents can help children reduce their risk of becoming sick or spreading illness by encouraging them to:
- Wash their hands with soap and water before eating, after using the bathroom, after coughing or sneezing, and when they return home from school or another public place.
- Scrub their hands for at least 20 seconds, about the time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.
- Use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol when soap and water are unavailable. Young children should be supervised.
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the crook of their elbow rather than their hands.
- Avoid sharing water bottles, cups and eating utensils.
- Stay current on routine vaccinations, including the annual flu vaccine.
Children should generally stay home if they have a fever or do not feel well enough to participate comfortably in school. They may typically return after being fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication and when their other symptoms are improving. Families should also follow their school’s illness policy.
“Handwashing, vaccination and keeping sick children home help protect the entire school community, not only the individual child,” says Turner.
Reestablish a healthy sleep routine
Adequate sleep supports children’s learning, memory, attention, behavior, emotional regulation and overall physical and mental health.
Parents can help children transition back to a school schedule by:
- Gradually moving bedtime and wake-up time earlier one to two weeks before school begins.
- Keeping sleep and wake times reasonably consistent, including on weekends.
- Establishing a predictable wind-down routine, such as reading, stretching, listening to quiet music or taking a warm bath or shower.
- Turning off screens at least one hour before bedtime and charging devices outside the bedroom when possible.
- Keeping the bedroom cool, quiet and dark.
- Limiting caffeine and sugar during the afternoon and evening.
- Encouraging regular physical activity while avoiding intense exercise immediately before bedtime.
Families should speak with their pediatrician before giving a child melatonin or another sleep aid.
Questions or concerns about your child’s health
Your child’s pediatrician is a trusted resource for questions about their physical, emotional or developmental health. No concern is too small. If something doesn’t seem right or you’re unsure what to do, please reach out. Your pediatrician is available to listen, offer guidance and help your child stay healthy throughout the school year.
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