Back to school health tips
We asked our health care experts for some tips on going back to school.
Put vaccinations at top of back-to-school checklist
Children entering school need proof of immunization for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella. “Many parents forget that children still need immunizations after age 2,” says Dr. Richard van Wylick, medical director of the Children’s Outpatient Centre at Hotel Dieu Hospital. Also recommended by the Canadian Paediatric Society are vaccines for chickenpox, pneumococcal infections and meningococcal diseases such as meningitis and serious blood infections. The meningococcal vaccine, says van Wylick, could be the best parting gift to a child leaving for university or college. “Young adults who live in dorms or hang out together in large groups are particularly at risk for meningitis, which can be prevented by the vaccine.”
Take a load off their backs
Keep that new backpack from turning into a portable locker. If a child is carrying more than 10 per cent of her body weight in a backpack, then she’s carrying too much, says Dr. Joan Stevenson, a professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University and a researcher in the Human Mobility Research Centre at Kingston General Hospital. “Heavy backpacks can have a bad effect on children’s posture and gait, and set them up for neck and back pain,” she says, noting that a kid who leans forward while wearing a backpack needs that pack adjusted. “Be sure the pack has well-padded shoulder straps. But the real trick is to get your child to carry less – to leave the sneakers and extra books in her real locker at school.”
Tuck in fruit, not juice
When you’re packing lunches, remember that even a healthy drink like orange juice can pack on pounds. “One cup (250 ml) per day of unsweetened orange or apple juice adds up to 11 pounds of weight per year,” says Elizabeth Duke Gibbs, a dietician in the Diabetes Education and Management Centre at Hotel Dieu. “A single cup of regular pop per day adds up to 10 pounds of weight per year. A lot of kids drink two to four cups of these drinks per day, resulting in a potential weight gain of 20-45 pounds in a year. If your child loves juice, a good guideline is to have only 1/2 cup of real juice per day, along with 3 cups of white milk and lots of water.” Duke Gibbs adds that it’s always best to eat fruit instead of drinking it!
Protect their precious ears
Does your teen find homework easier with Coldplay blasting in his ears? Dr. Andre Tan, head of the ear, nose and throat department at Hotel Dieu, says the iPod generation is increasingly at risk for noise-induced hearing loss, an irreversible condition that creeps up unnoticed. Portable music players have a long battery life and the ability to hold thousands of music files, which means they can be used for hours on end. “More than 8 hours exposure to 90 decibels (dB) – the sound of an electric razor – can cause hearing loss,” says Tan. “The top volume of MP3 players can range from 108 to 125 decibels and many kids crank their music up that high and for long periods of time.” Tan’s advice: Set limits on volume and length of use, and avoid bud-style earphones—they generate more direct sound into the ear.
Know how to spot unhealthy anxiety
Some young kids stepping foot into a new classroom are understandably anxious, says Dr. Nasreen Roberts, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Hotel Dieu. “They might complain of a tummy ache or headache,” she says, “but the sensible parent will acknowledge the ache, reassure the child and follow a regular drop-off/pick-up routine. By the end of the first week of school, all is usually well.” However, a very small percentage of children suffer from Separation Anxiety Disorder. “These are the ones who generally tend to be very cautious about change. They’ll still be clinging to the parent three or four weeks into the school year. That's a problem.” The disorder is treatable, she says, and the sooner the better. “It’s much easier to treat a 5-year-old than a 15-year-old to confront his fears. You don’t want your child to go into adolescence carrying more and more anxiety.”
