Show Me the Ozarks August 2022

Reduce Back-to-School Stress for Your Family By Dr. Kathryn Garrett, Freeman Health System Pediatrician

F or your child, a new school year can mean new adventures, new friendships and new things to explore. Transitioning back to the structure of school after the relative freedom of summer vacation can be a little less exciting, though. Here are some tips to help kids and caregivers alike make the back-to-school season a little easier: • Reset sleep schedules. If your family’s bedtimes slid back a little over the summer, now is the time to reset that schedule. A couple weeks before school starts, start transitioning to earlier bedtimes and waking up earlier. Children need 10-12 hours of sleep each night, so ensure their bedtime is early enough for them to get that amount of sleep before they need to wake up for school. • Manage your mornings. Mornings can be hectic any time of the year but especially when starting new routines. Keep stress levels down and make sure nothing gets lost in the shuffle by preparing for what mornings will look like when school resumes. This could mean doing a trial run as a family one morning or making a list or chart of what tasks need to happen each morning that your child can use as a guide. • Take advantage of open houses. Your school’s open house is a great opportunity for your child to become familiar with their new classroom, meet their new teacher and check out anything else that might be new to them this year. • Talk about going back to school. Build a feeling of optimism but don’t create unrealistic expectations. Give your child the chance to discuss any excitement or nervousness they may feel and reassure them those feelings are normal. There are likely other children in their class who feel the same, and their teacher will help everyone feel as comfortable as possible. • Get up to date with your child’s healthcare. This is a good time to check with your pediatrician to make sure your child is up to date on vaccines, checkups and sports physicals before school starts. If you have a specific concern about this school year, call your child’s school one or two weeks before school starts. Staff will be there already, and they want your child to have a great year, too! For more back-to-school tips, visit healthychildren.org for American Association of Pediatrics recommendations. Visit freemanhealth.com/ pediatrics for more information about pediatric services at Freeman Health System.

August 2022 • www.showmetheozarks.com • 85