Back-to-school tips from Healthy Kids bloggers

With school right around the corner, we asked our Healthy Kids bloggers to give us their best back-to-school tips. Here's to a healthy, safe, and successful school year!

Talk about how it feels to start school again. Model how to appropriately express your feelings and manage anxiety. Anxiety can decrease your child's ability to use their brain effectively and can dampen learning in and out of the classroom. Check out this resource from Mental Health America for tips to help your child. –Sarah Levin Allen, Ph.D., CBIS, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

The start of school can be very hectic for the whole family. Try to keep the morning before school as stress-free as possible by planning ahead. Pack lunches and lay out clothes the night before to help keep yourself as well as the children calm. –Peter Bidey, D.O., Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

If you have an anxious child...Have your child make a mini-time capsule in order to learn the skill of testing out the veracity of her worries.  The day before school (but not too close to bedtime) have her record every single worry she has: "I won't be able to find my classroom," "my friends won't like me anymore," "the teacher won't like me" – any and all should be written down in sentence form on separate scraps of paper, folded carefully, and put in a jar that is sealed and then "buried" in the backyard, under the bed or in the back of the refrigerator.  A week later, your child can unearth the jar and take out each piece of paper and read it out loud, finding out for herself that probably none of them came true. –Katherine K. Dahlsgaard, Ph.D., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Children with food allergies who carry autoinjectable epinephrine need to provide the school with a food allergy action plan and unexpired epinephrine autoinjectors. Children with asthma need to provide the school with an asthma action plan and an unexpired rescue inhaler. –Magee DeFelice, M.D, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children

Many schools have minimal physical exercise, devise a plan to make sure your child is moving at least one hour three times weekly. –Gary A. Emmett, M.D., F.A.A.P, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Parents should make an effort to establish a relationship with their child's teacher early by reaching out, attending back-to-school events, and volunteering if possible. While many parents are busy, taking the time to foster a partnership with your child's teacher has far reaching benefits in academic achievement and positive behavior.    – Jessica Kendorski, PhD, NCSP, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Keep perspective. Your kids aren't doomed to a lifetime of failure if they get a detention, fail a test, or get cut from the team. Sure, those things make them sad and cause you embarrassment, but knowing they can survive setbacks and come back even stronger is a life lesson that is priceless. –Anita Kulick, Educating Communities for Parenting

Set realistic goals based on your child's unique needs, talents, and abilities. Do what's best for them, not what would fulfill your dreams. –Anita Kulick, Educating Communities for Parenting

To avoid potential medication mix-ups and errors: organize and supervise!  Use medication logs, pill minders, and color-coded stickers. Remind your children, even as young as three and four, to never take medication without asking, and to speak up if another parent or caregiver has already gave them their medication. Also, supervise children when they take medication and do not allow them to take them on their own. Do not set them out on a counter for them to take, especially if you have smaller children or pets. –Jane Miloradovich, PharmD, CSPI, Poison Control Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Be in the know if your child takes medication. Discuss your child's medication with your pharmacist or pediatrician. Know in advance what to do about missed or doubled doses. Be sure your child's records are up-to-date with their school and be aware of their policies on medications, especially if they are to administer your child's medication while at school. Find out who will be administering them and let them know what to do if there is an instance of a double dose. Also, keep the Poison Control Center number handy (1-800-222-1222). –Jane Miloradovich, PharmD, CSPI, Poison Control Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Talk about computer and cell phone rules. If you plan to give your child extra privileges to match their advancing grade, explain the responsibility that accompanies them. Continue to be careful; almost half of the victims in a national study of internet initiated sex crimes against children were 13 or 14, according to report published by the American Psychological Association. –Janet Rosenzweig, MS, PhD, MPA, Prevent Child Abuse America

Start the school year with healthy hydration. Swap the juice box for a cool new water bottle, and add some sliced fruit for flavor. Many juice boxes contain unwanted sugar and minimal nutrition, but infusing water with berries, oranges, or kiwi keeps the flavor without the unwanted calories.  –Beth Wallace Smith, R.D., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

We all know the importance of breakfast, and you can make back-to-school mornings less stressful for your entire family by preparing breakfast the night before. Think overnight oatmeal, a yogurt parfait, or a peanut butter and banana sandwich on whole grain bread. Need some new ideas? Check out these easy, great options to get the day off to a healthy start. .  –Beth Wallace Smith, R.D., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Focus praise and encouragement on your child's actions (hard work, dependability, initiative) rather than his or her traits (intelligence, appearance, talent).  For example, rather than "You are so smart!" try "I'm so proud of how hard you worked on that assignment." –Flaura Koplin Winston, M.D., Ph.D,. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Center for Injury Research and Prevention

Encourage curiosity as opposed to getting the right answer. We WANT our children asking questions, challenging the norm, and finding new directions. Getting 100 percent on the test is good, but not enough for solving our world's problems. – Flaura Koplin Winston, M.D., Ph.D,. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Center for Injury Research and Prevention

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