With the back-to-school season just around the corner, parents and guardians have a lot to prepare to ensure their children start the academic year healthy and ready to succeed. From booking well-child checkups to organizing nutritious meals and setting sleep routines, the to-do list can be overwhelming. To make things easier, here are some helpful tips to get you and your child school ready.

✅ Routine pediatric check-ups

These will help promote your child’s health promotion, prevent disease, and detect potential problems early, ensuring they are physically and mentally prepared for school.

✅ Vaccinations

Staying current on vaccinations is key to protecting children from fast-spreading infectious diseases. Healthcare professionals recommend the following: Diptheria/tetanus/pertussis, Hepatitis A & B, Human papilloma virus, Influenza, Meningococcal, MMR, Pneumococcal, Polio, Rotavirus, Varicella (chickenpox).

✅ Nutrition

A balanced diet is key to a child's growth, energy, and focus on school. Nutritional needs vary by age, so it is important to provide age-appropriate meals. Encourage hydration, limit sugary snacks and drinks, offer balanced meals with fresh foods, provide nutritious snacks, and ensure your child starts the day with breakfast for better health.

✅ Sleep

Adequate sleep is vital for a child’s mood, learning, and behavior; lack of sleep can lead to attention issues, behavior problems, and poor academic performance. Establish a consistent bedtime routine, encourage 8-10 hours of sleep, create a quiet, dark, cool room, limit screen time before bed, and consider using red light to promote better sleep quality.

✅ Handling bullies

Bullying harms a child’s mental and emotional health. Parents must take it seriously and teach children effective ways to handle bullies such as seeking help from school officials, staying calm, assertively saying "stop" and walking away.