Back to school could mean back to the doctor. Children will no doubt be sharing germs once they get back to class. They also will be back in sports and will betting getting used to new routines.
Dr. Lou Romig with After Hours Pediatrics says to keep kids happy and healthy during the school year, it all starts with getting enough sleep.
“Toddlers and schoolagers need roughly 10-12 hours of sleep a day. Pre-teens and teens need about 8-9 hours of sleep,” she says.
That can be hard coming off the summer, so try to get your kids in the routine now before school starts.
The brain needs fuel so make sure your kids are getting a good, healthy breakfast every day! Try to stay away from sugary breakfasts like cereal or pastries. Instead, opt for protein like eggs and bacon.
If your child will be participating in sports, Dr. Romig suggests checking in with your school’s athletic department to see what kind of protocol they have when it comes to keeping your kids safe on the field or in the gym.
“It’s a good idea to contact the coaches and the school to find out what kind of training they have. If they have trainers with the teams, find out what kind of rules they have when it comes to concussions,” says Dr. Romig.
It’s important to know what the protocol and treatment is for when a students hits their head or takes a fall in sports, especially if it’s a contact sport. That’s something the coach or trainer can tell you before your child ever even starts training.
Just like every Tuesday throughout the school year 8 On Your Side’s Avery Cotton will be checking around with different pediatricians in the Bay Area to let all of you parents know what they are seeing the most of in their clinics each week.
