Healthy Back-to-School Tips

Kids don't worry about their new backpacks leading to chronic neck and back problems later in life, or what safety rules to follow on their way to and from school. It's up to you to keep them safe and healthy. Follow these smart strategies to head off common school-related health and safety problems.

Learn your school's medication policies

Before the school year starts, know your school's rules about handling and dispensing medicine, in case your child is well enough to go to school but needs to take medication during school hours. Talk to the nurse or person in charge of giving medication at your school. Give them information in writing, including the name of the drug, reason it's prescribed, dosage, times when it should be taken, possible side effects, prescribing doctor's name and telephone number, and emergency contact information. Deliver the medication yourself, in its original container, to the right person.

"Your child must be clear on the medication instructions as well, so he or she knows things are being done properly. Also, your child should be aware that sharing prescription or over-the-counter medication with another student could lead to an accidental overdose, as well as suspension or expulsion from school.

Also, remember to refill the medication when one week's supply is left.

If your child is diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or is emotionally or physically disabled, work with teachers and staff at your school to develop an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for your child. This plan can include information on special equipment and seating, how to complete missed homework assignments, and other services to address your child's needs.

You should also meet with teachers and administrators if your child has a chronic illness, has not done well in school, has difficulty adjusting to new situations, or has problems at home, such as a divorce or death in the family.

Be a weight-watcher with your child's backpack.

Children who carry backpacks the wrong way can develop chronic back and neck problems later in life. Here are some backpack tips:

• Make sure your child's backpack weighs no more than 5 percent to 10 percent of body weight. If it's more than that, the weight causes your child to awkwardly bend forward. Make sure bulky or pointy items are backed away from the area that will rest on your child's back.

• Encourage your child to use both shoulder straps. Carrying a heavy pack over one shoulder can cause neck and muscle spasms and lower back pain.

• Buy a backpack with padded, adjustable shoulder straps, and individualized compartments that can ensure a book won't squash your child's lunch.

Instead of a backpack, consider buying your child a small luggage bag with wheels and a handle.

Safety, safety, safety

Whether your child is catching the school bus, walking, bicycling, or driving to school, make sure you plan and review safety rules and the route to and from school with your child.

For teens who can drive, parents should know when they are driving to school and school events, who is with them, and when they are returning. They also should be reminded to wear a seat belt (in some states it's now illegal not to), and not drive while listening to loud music or talking on a cell phone.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) further reports the following risks associated with teenage driving. When teen drivers have passengers, 16- to 17-year-olds have a 40 percent increased risk of crashing with one, double the risk with two and almost four times the risk with three or more teenage passengers. School lunch policies allowing teenagers to drive away from school to eat leads to higher crash rates. And when evening comes, nighttime driving becomes high risk - most fatal nighttime crashes occur during the three hours before midnight.

A review of Graduated Licensing Systems (GLS) for teen drivers found a 26 percent to 41 percent reduction in total crashes, 4 percent to 43 percent reduction in injuries and a 35 percent reduction in hospitalizations for 16-year-old drivers.

Related Articles Back to School Center: Is Your Child Ready for School? Is Your Child Adequately Immunized to Begin School? Learning Disabilities in the School-Aged Child

External Sources The AAP Checklist: A+ Back-to-School Tips for Parents, Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics AAP Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention. Committee on Adolescence. The Teen Driver American Chiropractic Association

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.

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