Newark, NJ-- When equipping your child with notebooks, pens, and a new set of clothes for the first day of school, don’t forget about his/her health. Nwando Anyaoku, M.D., MPH, is Division Chief and Director of Pediatric Ambulatory Services at Children's Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, suggests that parents help their children to transition back-to-school with a clean bill of health.
“Children will get a smart start to the academic year if parents have a back-to-school checklist of health issues that they address with their kids and with the pediatrician,” says Dr. Anyaoku.
The following are some suggestions from Children's Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center:
- Have your child’s vision screened. It is important for children to have an annual vision screening because younger children are not always aware that they can’t see as well as they should. If your child wears glasses, be sure the prescription is current.
- Be equipped for sports. For children who wear glasses, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends one-piece wrap-around polycarbonate sports frames for all contact sports, including soccer, field hockey, and basketball. Children also need sports frames for gym.
- Have your child’s hearing tested. Most states now mandate hearing tests for babies. However, many school-age children have not been tested. If your child is listening to the television or music at a loud volume, or tends to favor one ear over the other when listening, it may be a sign of hearing loss.
- Are your child’s immunizations up-to-date? The last thing you want is for your child to be turned away from school because he or she was not properly immunized. If you have recently moved from another state, check with your child’s pediatrician to see if your child meets the new state’s regulations.
- Does your child receive medication on a regular basis for diabetes, asthma, or another chronic problem? School nurses and teachers must be made aware of your child’s needs, especially if they are the ones who administer the medicine. Be sure to speak with them about these procedures before school begins, and work out an emergency course of action just in case.
- Does your child eat breakfast? Studies show that children who eat breakfast are more alert in class. Also, be sure that your child is having a balanced, nutritious lunch, whether it is one you send or one provided by the school cafeteria. If your child is allowed to bring a snack, try to avoid junk food and focus more on fruits and other healthful food.
- Is your child apprehensive about the new school year? It normally takes about a month for children to adjust to new situations. A new school, fear of a class bully, or taking a school bus for the first time may cause anxieties. If after a few weeks, your child continues to be anxious, bring this to the attention of his or her teacher so that you can find out a solution.
- Do you suspect a learning disability or dyslexia? If you think that your child is not processing information as he or she should, speak to the teacher or the learning center in your child’s school. Your suspicions should be noted to the teacher as soon as possible.
- Are your up-to-date emergency phone numbers on file? Make sure that the school and your child know how to reach you or another caregiver at all times. The school administration and teachers should always know how to reach you if there is an issue that needs to be discussed.
Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Children from birth to 21 years benefit from the full pediatric and adolescent medical and surgical services provided at the Pediatric Health Center at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. More than 15,000 pediatric patients annually are treated at the Pediatric Health Center.
For a referral to a pediatrician or pediatric specialist at Children’s Hospital at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, please call 1-888-724-7123 or visit www.barnabashealth.org.
DATE: August 13 , 2008
CONTACT: Beth Salamon, Public Relations (973) 322-4926
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