By Carol A. Cates, MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC
Chief Nursing Officer
Odessa Regional Medical Center
Can you believe that school starts again this week?! It just doesn’t seem possible that summer is nearly over. As you are finishing up the back-to-school plans with your loved ones, I wanted to remind you to include healthy choices into those plans. Including healthy life choices each year as part of their education routine, is going to teach them skills that will help them make healthy choices as adults, just like school teaches academic and social skills that allow kids to be successful as adults.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has a wonderful website, healthychildren.org that has great resources on nearly every topic you can imagine when it comes to the health of your child. They have several recommendations for every age group from pre-school to college on what to think about in terms of the health and safety of your kids as they start or return to school. Please visit their website for more information on not just back-to-school health, but other tips on making sure your kids stay safe and healthy throughout their childhoods.
The first day of school is a monumental event for young kids, and an increasing body of evidence is starting to show that kindergarten readiness is a major predictor of success throughout a child’s education and into adulthood. One of the best things you can do for your preschooler is to focus on skills that will help make them kindergarten ready. In terms of kindergarten readiness, one of the best things you can do for your child is to take the time to talk to them, read to them, and sing to them from the moment they are born. One of the programs that I am most proud about in our community is the
Power of Words and Early Reading (POWER) initiative, a collaborative effort by Permian Basin hospitals, school districts, authors, pediatricians, and community leaders, along with the Permian Basin Literacy Council, UTPB, and the Education Foundation to get books and information about the importance of reading to every child born in the basin and continue that education as a child progresses towards kindergarten. The goal of the POWER initiative is to make sure that every child in the Basin is kindergarten ready. If you would like more information about the POWER initiative, please contact the Permian Basin Literacy Council.
When it is time for the first day of school for both kindergarteners and older kids, there are several things to think about. The AAP has a first day of school checklist that can help. First, is your child registered? Many school districts ask that children start registering for school in the spring before they start classes. What time does school start and what is their daily schedule like? Make sure you are planning how your schedule may need to change to fit their school schedule. How is your child going to get to school? If they are biking, do you know the bike rules at school? If they are walking, who are they walking with? Does your child know the safety rules when it comes to strangers and traffic? Will they need to bring a snack? Are refillable water bottles allowed? What time is lunch and how much will it cost? What is the school dress code? Does your child need to bring supplies? Do they need a backpack or other type of bag to carry books and supplies, and will they have a place at school to keep their belongings? Have you filled out all the health forms and emergency contact forms needed to keep your child safe at school? If you child needs to take medications at school, have you made arrangements according to the school policies? What is the after-school plan for your child and is your child aware of their part in that plan? Does your child know how to reach you in an emergency, and do they have your phone number(s) and address memorized? Planning ahead for those questions will help your child navigate the first few days of school more smoothly.
Finally, the AAP recommends these tips to help kids have a safe and healthy school year. Remember the basics of sleep exercise, and nutrition. Each of those things will help your child function better at school. Stay up-to-date with check-ups and immunizations. Absences are linked to lower school success. Make sure you are paying attention to your child’s mental health and let them know its okay to talk to you about how they are feeling. Talk to your kids about racism, bullying, and kindness. Racism and bullying are major contributors to absences and kindness is linked to reduce stress. Talk with your kids about electronic and social media use including the positives and negatives. Create a media use plan for your family that balances the time kids use devices with other activities.
I hope you and your kids have a safe and healthy 2024-2025 school year.
