(August 3, 2009)  It seems like summer just began, but the start of another school year is just around the corner. Marjorie McKinney, Central Intermediate School Counselor, said parents play a major role in helping their kids get off to a good start in the coming school year.

“Parents set the tone,” Mrs. McKinney said. “If you act excited and confident about the upcoming school year, your children will too. Involve your child in back to school preparations. Take your child with you to shop for school supplies. Give older children a budget and let them choose their own supplies. If their school attire varies from what they’ve been wearing all summer, go through their clothes to identify those that still fit.”

The start of the school year is also an excellent time to check your child’s immunization record and make an appointment with your child’s doctor if additional vaccinations are needed. Current recommendations for the chicken pox vaccination are that children receive two immunizations, since the single vaccination used initially proved ineffective at preventing the chicken pox. In a couple of months, this year’s flu shot will be available, and a shot – or the nasal spray alternative for some older children – is typically recommended for healthy children over the age of six months.

“This is also a good time to get caught up on vision or hearing exams if your child hasn’t had them recently,” said Mrs. McKinney. “About one in every 20 children cannot see clearly with at least one eye. Children with vision problems don’t know how they should see and often don’t complain about problems. Instead, they try to compensate for poor vision or poor sight in one eye. The bottom line is that kids who can’t see well can’t perform as well in school. And, don’t forget a trip to the dentist. More than half of all children between the ages of 5 and 9 have at least one cavity or filling.”

“Perhaps the best thing you can do to help your child say healthy is to encourage good hand washing habits,” Mrs. McKinney continued. “Many illnesses passed around schools could be avoided by good hand washing. Help your child develop the habit of washing his or her hands after using the restroom, before eating and throughout the day. Use soap and warm water and take time to lather-up before rinsing. Observe your child to make sure he or she washes the entire hand, since many children skip the pads of the fingers where the majority of germs can be found.”

Mrs. McKinney also provided these tips to help your child succeed in school:

• Familiarize yourself and your child with pick-up and drop off points (for bus riders). If you will drive your child to and from school, check out the school’s processes and identify a back-up plan if you cannot be there on time. Arrange before and after school care if necessary.
• Confirm bus routes each year with your child’s school to make sure your route hasn’t been changed or discontinued.
• If the school offers an open house or time to locate classrooms before the official start of school, try to take advantage of this opportunity to lessen first-day jitters.
• Inform the school if your child has physical restrictions that affect participation in physical education activities and brief the school nurse or school secretary on any health conditions or medications your child takes regularly.

Whether your child is going to a new school or returning to the same school, make sure your emergency contact numbers are up-to-date.

• If your child has asthma, be alert to warning signs of an attack. A recent study noted a 46% spike in asthma-related emergency room visits among grade school children at the start of the school year.

Check the school policy on asthma inhalers. If necessary for your child’s safety, ask your child’s doctor for a letter stating it is medically necessary for your child to keep the asthma inhaler with him/her for immediate access.

• Talk to your child about school. If they are scared or uncertain, give them a chance to talk about it. Focus on the positive, not the negative.

Once school starts, remain available to provide a ready ear if your child needs to talk or is concerned or worried about something.

• If your child will carry a backpack to school, weigh it. The fully loaded backpack should never exceed 20% of the child’s body weight. Choose a backpack with wide straps and a padded back.
• Make a habit of reading to or with your child every evening. Reading is probably your child’s most valuable key to learning.
• Teach your child how to organize their activities and study materials. Set up a regular schedule for school-related activities like homework and sports activities, but allow time for relaxation. It’s as important for your child as it is for you.
• Plan activities for weekends or school breaks that you and your child can look forward to. It’s good for both of you and helps take the focus off waiting and wishing for the end of school and next summer.

“One of the most important things you can do to help your child succeed in school is to make sure they get enough sleep,” Mrs. McKinney concluded. “Start moving bedtimes and wake up times to your school routine a week or two before school starts. Younger children and teens often need 10 hours or more of sleep a night, and children of all ages need at least eight hours of sleep a night. Sleep affects how your child thinks, feels and functions and plays a major role in academic performance.”