Ten tips for a Healthy Back-to-School (socialmoms)….

School is beginning and Social Moms and Transitions Lenses have teamed up with bloggers to give you some healthy tips to get your kids ready for back-to-school!! Here are my healthy tips for BACK TO SCHOOL:

#1 Take your child in for their well child visit. I know a lot of people don’t like to take their kid to the doctor unless there is a  clear cut reason (sickness), but those check-ups are important. They allow your doctor to keep tabs on your child and catch any problems while they are small! Also, this is a great time to make sure their immunizations are up to date.

#2 While at the doctor, you can get your child’s eyes checked. Your child may not even realize that he/she can’t see well, and an eye exam might catch a problem before their school work suffers.

#3 Feed your child a well-balanced breakfast EVERYDAY! Nothing is worse than feeling hungry when you are trying to concentrate on something else. The school day is long and your child may not eat lunch until later. Make sure they are eating a healthy breakfast that will keep them feeling full.

#4 Prepare your child for the new school year. This one may seem a bit vague, but I think it is really important to help your child feel comfortable with the new year. Make sure they know where their classroom is. Make sure they feel comfortable at school. I had a really difficult time in elementary school because I was so worried about tiny things that didn’t seem important to anyone else. I want to make sure to alleviate any fears or worries that my child has so she has a great experience in first grade!

#5 Start the bedtime routine BEFORE the first day of school. We all know summertime equals a later more relaxed bedtime. It might be a difficult transition for your child to go to bed early in order for him/her to get enough sleep, so it should be started early so they can get use to it.

#6 Pack a healthy lunch or make sure they know what they can get in the cafeteria that is healthy. I would suggest packing the lunch the night before so you aren’t in a hurry the morning of school. That way you have enough time to include a well balanced meal that your child will eat.

#7 Keep a watch out for signs that your child is distressed. School can be difficult for some children, especially when it is a new year with a new teacher and new friends. Make sure your child knows that they can talk to you anytime about ANYTHING!

#8 Give your child vitamins. In my opinion, vitamins can only be helpful. I know sometimes my kids don’t get all they need from just the food they eat, so vitamins are definitely a must in our house.

#9 Help your kids with germ-awareness . I am a huge germ-a-phobe, and while I don’t want this to rub off on my kids, I do want them to be aware of the many ways germs are shared. Remind them to wash their hands often and to not share drinks and such with their friends.

#10 And while we are at it, PLEASE do not send your child to school when they are sick! It isn’t good for your kid, and it isn’t good for the other people at the school

Give your kids a healthy start and hopefully it will last throughout the whole year!!

*I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Transitions Lenses blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.