Back to Life – Back to Reality
Soul to Soul must have composed their iconic song in September. “Back to life, back to reality, back to the here and now” could be the anthem of families returning back to school. Indeed the back to school sales begin at the end of July, reminding us that summer bliss is short lived. It is not all doom and gloom though, and in fact, a return to the books can be accompanied by a return to return and, with it, a return to good health.
I recently came across an infographic that was put together by John Hopkins (hopkinsmedicine.org) entitled Back to school health: tips for parents. There were some stark reminders around the four domains of health we should be mindful of when returning to school.
- Nutrition – 17% of youth in North America are obese. 40% of daily calories for children are empty calories. A return to routine can be a good time to add in more nutrient dense fruits and vegetables.
- There are some risks they advise to look out for, such as head lice and bullying, as kids return to school. In addition, they advise watching for risks such as scoliosis when children go through a growth spurt – misalignment of hips and shoulder can be flags to alert to this. Poor vision can go unnoticed so regular check-ups with your optometrist are vital.
- Making sleep a priority is the third tip and something we have discussed in this space, especially as it relates to overuse of screen time.
- They propose being a partner in your child’s educaton, health and wellness as they return to school. Be aware of, and honour, your child’s likes and dislikes, there strengths and struggles, and their preferred learning style.
Rather than being dreaded, a return to life, reality and school can be an opportunity to pay attention to all these realms.
Dr. Bhooma Bhayana is a family physician in London and the mother of two young men and proud grandmother of three! She continues to find wonder and enjoyment in family practice despite more than 30 years on the job!
