It’s that time again! Time for the kiddos to head back to school soon. August is usually crammed full of us trying to squeeze in the last fun days, trips, and activities for the summer. But it also finds us preparing for the fall to come. Whether you have school-aged children, or you are sending your young adults off to college this fall, this back-to-school checklist will help you ensure they are ready and prepared for a healthy school year!
Check with your child’s pediatrician or family doctor and see when they are due for their annual check-up. If you don’t have a primary care physician for your child or young adult, now is the perfect time to find one and get them in for their initial visit before the school year begins.
If you don’t have health insurance, they are plenty of options to get your children covered. Reach out to us and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction!
Make sure those immunizations are up to date! If you don’t have a well-child visit before the school year begins, you can always check to see if they are in need of any immunizations before the school year begins. This is always an excellent time to get a copy of their updated immunization records that the school will need for their files.
We are offering two Immunization Clinics for children 5-18 at the Health Department to help prepare you for the 2023-2024 school year.
August 18th & September 8th
8 AM – Noon; 1 – 3:30 PM
Call 517-264-5226 x2 to schedule
Your child should be seeing their dental provider twice a year for cavity checks, gum health, cleaning, and overall dental well-being. If there was snow on the ground the last time you went, it may be time to schedule a visit before school starts!
Mental Health Support and Resources
The transition of going back to school can bring emotional or psychological challenges. Students may experience stressors related to academics, social interactions, or just adjusting to a new routine.
Providing support and resources to promote positive mental health can help students have a successful and healthy start to the school year. If you don’t have a mental health provider to help you navigate these waters, we can help!
That first week of school can be a doozy if you don’t prepare properly. Gradually shift your sleep schedules to align with the school routine. Start going to bed and waking up earlier a few weeks before school starts to ensure you are well-rested and prepared for those early mornings.
Re-establish that morning routine that allows everyone enough time to get ready, have breakfast, and organize for the day ahead. Teamwork makes the dream work!
Did your school give you a summer reading list? Do you know where that list is?
It’s important keep your mind engaged, even while on summer break! Visit your local library and check out some books. It’s not too late to fill out that summer reading list, or even just read for fun! Find books that interest your child and expand their minds.
Your school should supply you with a back-to-school supply list. Make sure that you get the following:
Hand sanitizer – For their desks, their backpacks, and anything else you can think of! Also, consider buying a large bottle for their classroom. You can never have too much hand sanitizer! While it does not replace good handwashing with soap and water, it does work when you aren’t around a sink and are around germs.
Tissues – Again, for their desks, their backpacks, their gym backs, their lockers, and the classroom. More importantly, teach them how to use them! (and use sanitizer afterward!)
Reusable Water Bottles – It’s important to stay hydrated and using a reusable water bottle not only saves you money, it reduces plastic waste.
College Medicine Cabinet – If you are sending your precious grown-up children away to college, make sure they have the medicine cabinet supplies they need to make it through a school year. Pain, allergy, and cough & cold medicine. Bandages and antibiotic ointment. And work out a plan for any prescription medication.
Calendar
Create a calendar system now – whether print, digital, or on a whiteboard so you can keep track of school and extracurricular activities. This will help you manage time effectively and reduce last-minute stress. Utilize technology to set reminders, alarms, and notifications to help you stay on track with your schedules. Communicate with your family so everyone is aware of each other’s commitments and can support one another.
Plan and prepare healthy lunches, snacks, and evening family meals in advance to save time during busy school days. There are some great resources online on meal prepping on the weekend to make meals for the week or even making freezer meals for a month at a time.
This is also a really great time to check out your first aid supplies and restock them as necessary.
The first time a virus hits your whole family is a terrible time to find you don’t have the necessary supplies you need. Take inventory of what you have, throw out anything expired, and stock up for the year.