Tips for your kid’s health check this school year

Student Health Care

Ensuring Your Child’s Health A Comprehensive Guide for Back-to-School Checkups As the new school has started, safeguarding your child’s well-being becomes paramount. In a world where health concerns loom large, it’s imperative to proactively equip your child for the exciting journey ahead. Discover essential tips and expert guidance for parents to ensure a comprehensive health assessment as their young ones embark on the school year ahead. See Your Paediatrician Schedule a visit with your child’s pediatrician. Ask about immunizations, boosters, and sports-specific exams required for kids before they can begin an athletics program. Regular check-ups with the pediatrician are crucial for monitoring your child’s overall health and ensuring they are ready for the school year ahead. Talk to the School Nurse Ensure your child’s school health team is well-informed if your child has any health conditions like asthma or food allergies. Take the time to discuss medication procedures and how they’ll be administered during the school day with the school Nurses. Effective communication with the school nurse can be a lifeline in case of emergencies. Schedule a Dental Checkup Don’t forget the dentist! If your child is overdue for a checkup or a cleaning, set up an appointment pronto. Also, if your young athlete sports braces, consider having custom-fit mouthguards made for extra protection during sports activities. Healthy teeth contribute to a happy and pain-free school experience. Get a Comprehensive Eye Exam Good vision is essential for learning. Prioritize your child’s vision with a comprehensive eye exam. Vision screenings should begin in the first grade and continue annually. This thorough checkup covers visual acuity and screens for potential eye diseases. If your child participates in high-risk sports like basketball or lacrosse, consult their eye doctor about protective eyewear. Get Back on Track with Sleep A good night’s sleep is essential for your child’s cognitive and physical development. Grade schoolers need a solid 10 to 12 hours of sleep each night, while teenagers require 8 to 10 hours. Getting into a healthy sleep routine at least a week before school starts will help to ensure a smoother transition. Adequate sleep boosts concentration, mood, and overall performance in school. Rehearse the First Day If your child feels apprehensive about the new school year, alleviate their concerns with a practice run. Familiarize them with their future classroom, introduce them to their teacher, and help them work through any worries. Don’t forget to emphasize the enjoyable aspects of school, like reuniting with friends and shopping for school supplies. Deal with Anxiety While a bit of nervousness is normal, be vigilant for signs that your child may be struggling with the return to school. Look out for changes in eating or sleeping habits, isolation, frequent emotional outbursts, or physical symptoms like headaches and stomach-aches. Reach out to the school counsellor, your paediatrician, or your workplace’s employee assistance program (EAP) for mental health support when needed. Your child’s well-being is top priority.  A Healthy Diet A nutritious diet is the foundation of good health. Ensure your child starts their day with a balanced breakfast that includes protein, whole grains, and fruits or vegetables. Pack healthy lunches and snacks that provide sustained energy throughout the day. Encourage your child to drink plenty of water and limit sugary drinks. Immunizations: Guarding Against Diseases Immunizations are a critical aspect of your child’s health. Ensure your child is up-to-date with their vaccinations, including any required boosters. Schools often have immunization requirements to protect against contagious diseases, so it’s essential to keep your child’s records current. Physical Activity: Keeping Fit and Active Encourage your child to engage in regular physical activity. Whether it’s organized sports, dancing, or simply playing outside, physical activity promotes healthy growth and development. Mental Health Check: Addressing Emotional Well-being Pay attention to your child’s emotional well-being. Open communication is key to addressing any concerns or anxieties they may have about school. If needed, seek support from school counselors or mental health professionals. Allergies and Medications: Be Informed If your child has allergies or requires medications, communicate this information clearly with the school and teachers. Ensure they have access to any necessary medications during the school day. Hygiene Habits: Avoiding the Spread of Illness Teach your child good hygiene habits, including proper handwashing and covering their mouth when coughing or sneezing. These practices help prevent the spread of illnesses in the school environment. Encourage Kids to Lessen Their Load Carrying a backpack that’s too heavy is a common cause of back pain for kids. Limit the weight to less than 10 pounds and make sure they’re wearing it across their backs, not slung over one shoulder. A rolling backpack is another option to consider, reducing the strain on your child’s back. Healthy School Habits: Building a Strong Immune System Encourage your child to maintain healthy habits at school, such as using hand sanitizer and avoiding close contact with sick classmates. A strong immune system is a child’s best defense against illnesses. Communication: Keep the Dialogue Open Maintain open communication with your child about their school experiences. Encourage them to share any concerns or issues they may be facing, whether related to health, academics, or social interactions. School Supplies: Safety First When purchasing school supplies, prioritize safety. Ensure that backpacks are ergonomic, lunch containers are BPA-free, and any necessary medical supplies are readily accessible. Emergency Preparedness: Be Ready for Any Situation Prepare your child for emergencies by discussing evacuation plans and emergency contacts. Ensure they know what to do in case of unexpected events. Dealing with Peer Pressure: Encouraging Healthy Choices Teach your child how to make healthy choices and resist peer pressure. Equip them with the skills and confidence to make informed decisions. Conclusion: Your Child’s Well-being Comes First Remember that your child’s health is of utmost importance. By following these comprehensive guidelines and tips, you can ensure that your child is physically and emotionally prepared for the challenges and adventures that come with the new school year. Prioritizing your child’s health is a gift that will benefit them not only…

Impact of ADHD in the US School Children

Impact of ADHD in the United States School Children

Health Care Tips, Student Health Care2 Comments

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a seemingly serious mental ailment which falls under the neurodevelopmental type. Children with ADHD have trouble being attentive and experience hyperactivity. They also face problems while dealing with emotions. This often affects their daily activities at school and at home. However, these types of children often give constant attention to certain kinds of tasks which they find interesting. How are children affected by ADHD? ADHD is characterized by poor concentration and kid pays less attention in school. ADHD affects the child’s social skills too. Few most common social challenges caused by ADHD are as follows:  The child gets too emotional, anxious and overreacts to situations: This is characterized by scenarios like the child loses mind control and becomes less aware of social situations. He/she gets provoked easily and may lash out physically and get into violence and associated crimes at a younger age. Parents and teachers can point out these changes in a child’s behaviour and instruct accordingly so that the child exercises better control over his emotions and associated actions. The Child often fails at making new Friends: Irritating behaviour is most common amongst children with ADHD. This way the child often faces trouble while trying to make new friends. They behave in a mindless way without thinking about how their behaviour negatively impacts others. They have poor listening skills, interrupt others while talking and fail to interpret what others say during a conversation. This results in pathetic communication. Role-plays which imitate social situations can help the child improve. The Child sometimes makes new friends but are unable to sustain the friendship: Kids with ADHD are demanding and intense most of the times. This high level of expectations results in losing friends easily because friends are unable to meet the expectation levels. Kids with ADHD are quite impatient in social situations and less sacrificing and lacks empathy. Motivating the child to take part in group games where the kid gets a chance to learn to give and take principles can help in this regard. The Child often struggles with good conversations: Kids with ADHD often derogates from most conversations. These kids easily get distracted from the conversation and engage the mind with unrelated thoughts. Recording the child’s conversation and pointing out instances where the child deviates from the conversation is one way of showing how ADHD situation can be cured. Once the kid understands the deviation, he can take steps to correct it. The Child is often portrayed as unreliable: Kids with ADHD often lack self-control, and this leads to situations where a child fails to make solid plans which get implemented. This often gets misinterpreted as unreliable nature and others start keeping low trust on the kid. This has a serious impact on kid’s motivation levels, especially during group projects. Making checklists on how to measure a child’s progress in group activities is a method of correction. How common is ADHD among kids? The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 11 percent of all children in the U.S. aged 4-17 has been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD) — that was roughly 6.1 million American children in 2016, a 43 percent increase since 2003. According to its 2015 report, the CDC says the total number of Americans — adults and children — with ADHD continues to rise — up from 7.8 percent in 2003 to 9.5 percent in 2007 and 11 percent in 2011. Why is ADHD raising in the U.S? Boys are nearly three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD (13.2 percent) than are girls (5.6 per cent). In adults, the rate is much lower (about 4.4 percent), but experts caution that this reflects only reported diagnoses; the prevalence of ADHD may be significantly higher since many adults, particularly women with inattentive symptoms, remain undiagnosed. ADHD is a growing concern in the US since this is quite common in children and parents. Following are the main reasons which are supposed to cause ADHD: What schools can do for ADHD affected students? Chemical Imbalances in the brain and associated organs which may be due to medications or injuries or other illnesses. Substance abuse during pregnancy which can impact the child’s brain development.  Nutrition imbalance and side effects due to pollutants and pesticides. There are many unknown environmental factors too which contribute towards raise in ADHD. Schools can discuss the concerns with parents and take decisions as to how the situation can be improved. If the child’s behaviour affects the ability to learn treatment plans can be discussed and crafted. Schools can also arrange medical camps with expert doctors who would suggest and prescribe medications and treatment programs. If there is a proper collaboration between parents, doctors and teachers ADHS can be diagnosed and prevented to a great extent.  Student’s overall performance and health status are monitored by schools using many advanced Digital health record systems like Eduhealth. Exact diagnosis, preventive treatments and medicine prescriptions can be managed easily in schools by adopting digital health record systems. Get in touch with us to know more! Source: https://www.additudemag.com/statistics-of-adhd/