7 ways to help you teach school bugs a lesson
Want to avoid new-term sniffles and tummy troubles? Put these habits firmly into place, says LIZ CONNORS
SEPTEMBER is always a busy month for parents and youngsters. After weeks of enjoying the unstructured freedom of the summer holidays, it’s time to get back into the swing of the new school year.
While you’ll likely have already organised new school shoes, fresh exercise books and replenished pencil cases, there are some additional things you can do ahead of the first day back, to help keep common classroom health issues at bay.
Here are seven back-to-school health tips...
CHECK FOR HEAD LICE
ACCORDING to research, around a third of UK primary school children contract head lice at one point or another, so make sure you thoroughly check your child’s hair before they go back to the classroom, to stop an unwanted outbreak on the playground.
Use a fine-toothed comb to part the hair and then shine a bright light onto their scalp. If your child is unlucky enough to have caught lice over the summer break, you’ll notice small, sesame seed-sized insects moving around, or nits – the lice egg cases – attached to individual hairs.
Even if your little ones are currently lice-free, it’s worth keeping an eye on any excessive head scratching during term time and implementing weekly comb checks to make sure they haven’t picked them up.
OVERHAUL THOSE PACKED LUNCHES
WHEN children go back to school, it can be easy to get wrapped up in the chaos of daily routines and forget about basic things like nutrition. September is a really good time to change bad habits and ditch the crisps, fizzy drinks and chocolate bars from packed lunches (there’s nothing to say those things can’t be enjoyed as treats – just not on a daily basis).
Swap sweets for dried fruit, include a serving of crunchy vegetables, use wholemeal bread for sarnies and if your child doesn’t like the taste of plain water, swap sugary drinks for homemade, fruit-infused water.
If you’re struggling for ideas, there are lots of Instagram accounts with healthy lunches to copy, try
@kidlunchbox and @weelicious.
GET A GOOD HAND-WASHING HABIT
FLU viruses can survive for up to 24 hours on hard surfaces, and one of the main ways to fight the spread of germs and prevent sickness in September and beyond is for everyone in the family to practice good hygiene. Make sure kids learn to wash their hands after going to the loo with warm, soapy water for as long as it takes to sing the ‘happy birthday’ song in their head.
BOOK IN FOR AN EYE TEST
MOST of what your child learns at school is through vision, so make sure they’re not squinting or struggling to see the blackboard.
Eyesight usually keeps on developing up until the age of seven or eight, so it’s good to get into the habit of getting a check-up every September – although the optician will let you know if you need to visit more frequently.
VACCINATE
AHEAD of the new school term, check with your GP surgery that your child is up to date on all of their jabs.
From flu shots and HPV vaccines to three-in-one tetanus, diphtheria and polio boosters, your GP can let you know what jabs your child is eligible for, according to their age.
BOLSTER THEIR IMMUNITY
ANOTHER great way to help ward off coughs and colds in the classroom? Give kid’s immune system a helping hand by making sure they’re getting their five-a-day of fruits and vegetables, as part of an overall balanced diet, and more than eight hours of sleep a night.
It’s a good idea to also help keep stress levels down by providing a suitable and calm environment for any homework tasks, and plenty of free time to switch off afterwards.
WATCH THEIR BACKS
A WORRYING one third of kids have suffered from back or neck pain at some point, according to the British Chiropractic Association.
One obvious cause is simply the weight of today’s schoolbags with research showing they are up to double the size of those carried 10 years ago.
Choose a rucksack with adjustable straps so that the weight is evenly distributed. If your child uses a one-strap bag, make sure they wear it across their body and alternate shoulders.
Lighten the load by repacking bags nightly with only what they need for the following day.