Tips for Supporting Your Student for a Healthy and Successful School Year

Keeping parents and kids healthy is a top priority for the 2024 back-to-school season. Here are some friendly tips to help your family stay in tip-top shape during this exciting time:

Boost Immune Systems with Smart Supplementation

Consider adding some immune-boosting supplements to your family’s
routine:

  • Vitamin C: This antioxidant powerhouse can help ward off common colds.
  • Vitamin D: Especially important if your kids don’t get much sun exposure, vitamin D supports overall immune function.
  • Probiotics: These beneficial bacteria help maintain gut health, which has been proven to improve immune function.
  • Glutathione: Glutathione improves inflammatory and immune responses to help keep kids healthy.
  • Zinc: This essential mineral supports immune system function and cell growth. It’s commonly found in immunity supplements for children.
  • Elderberry: Many immune-boosting supplements for kids contain elderberry extract, believed to support the immune system.

Remember to consult with your pediatrician before starting any new supplement regimen for your children.

Prioritize Sleep and Establish Routines

Setting up routines for your child or children can help them thrive at school and throughout their lives. Heading back to school means a flood of new things all at once: new classes, new teachers, new classmates, and new after-school activities. Routines give children a sense of control and safety because they help them learn what to expect and how to prepare for the day ahead. Routines also help kids develop life skills that will benefit them beyond school.

A well-rested family is a happy, healthy family:

  • Explain the routines to your child. Then, have them repeat them back to you to show they understand.
  • Put a chart on the wall. A visual of your daily routines can help everyone in the household see what needs to happen and when. Set consistent bedtimes and wake-up times, even on weekends.
  • Create calming bedtime routines to help everyone wind down. Bath, story, snack, and snuggles set the stage for a restful sleep.
  • Aim for age-appropriate sleep durations – most school-age children need 9-11 hours per night.
  • Go slow, adding one or two new habits at a time. Making gradual changes to your family routine will give you the best chance of building lasting, positive routines.
  • It’s OK if your routine needs to change—that’s life, but be sure to tell your child about the change—well ahead of time, if possible.

Fuel Bodies and Brains with Nutritious Foods

Adjusting to a meal and snack routine is a big part of getting ready for back-to-school. This involves buying new lunch kits, stocking up on healthy snacks, brainstorming healthy school lunch ideas, and considering fitting in nutritious but easy suppers on school nights.

A balanced diet is vital in maintaining health:

  • Breakfast is Important! Starting the day with a protein will give your child good building blocks for the rest of the day to keep their energy level high and alert in class.
  • Pack lunches with a variety of food. Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Since kids can be fickle, let them chime in on what they want to eat. Bento boxes, tortilla wraps, and dried fruits are healthy and kid-approved.
  • Choose water over sugary drinks to keep everyone hydrated. Dehydration can lead to a system overload, which can cause thinking to become cloudy, energy to diminish, cell activity to become sluggish, and elimination to stagnate.
  • Prepare healthy after-school snacks to maintain energy levels. When your kids get home from school, have healthy “power” snacks available. These can include finger- sandwiches with vegetables, whole wheat wraps, hard-cooked eggs on an English muffin, bananas, and peanut butter.

Practice Good Hygiene

Teach and reinforce these habits to minimize germ spread:

  • Proper handwashing technique – at least 20 seconds with soap and water
  • Covering mouth -coughs and sneezes with tissues or elbows.
  • Avoid touching faces -especially eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Children need regular baths or showers. You can include one at the end of the day as part of their bedtime routine.

Create a Healthy Home Environment

Set the stage for wellness at home:

  • Use air purifiers to reduce airborne allergens and germs.
  • Keep a regular cleaning schedule to minimize household germs.
  • Stock up on health-supporting items like tissues, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant.

Incorporating these tips into your back-to-school routine will prepare your family for a healthy and prosperous school year in 2024. Remember, consistency is vital; small, daily habits can make a big difference in overall health and well-being. Here’s to a great year ahead!