back to school | Georgetown Pediatrics

Every morning when you send your child to school, you are putting her into the educational, social, emotional and physical care of other adults. This can be intimidating at times, but it doesn’t have to be.

The vast majority of teachers are in classrooms because they want to be, because they care about the students and love the material they teach, and because they want to make a difference. They spend time in the classroom trying to instill in youngsters the love of learning. And they spend time outside the classroom preparing lessons, grading work, and keeping the mountains of records and paperwork required by the school system.

Most of all, they want every child—your child—to be successful. That success is far less likely without your support.

Speak positively about your child’s teachers. If you hear complaints from your young student, listen with an objective mind.
Establish a relationship with a teacher. If you can volunteer at the school, wonderful. Your schedule may not allow that, so find other ways to be in touch.
- Stay connected. Most teachers and classrooms have a website. Send the teacher an e-mail when you appreciate something he’s done for your child or if you have a question. If there’s ever a problem, you will have built a positive base for your relationship, and the problem will be easier to deal with.
- Attend parent-teacher conferences. These are important for everyone concerned: student, teacher, family. You will learn things about the classroom and how your child interacts with adults and classmates, and will come away with a much more rounded picture of the education process in that particular class.
- Make appointments. Don’t wait for a conference if you have questions or concerns. Face-to-face meetings are helpful and teachers want to be available to you. They will want to hear from you sooner rather than later.
- Reinforce at home what’s happening in the classroom. From spelling tests to chemistry homework, from learning how to talk out problems with fellow students to deciding what to eat for lunch, the teacher and you are on the same team.
- Of course, if there is ever concern about inappropriate or illegal activity by a teacher or any other adult, notify the authorities immediately.

Teachers are on the front lines of helping your child develop in age-appropriate ways. Support them, connect with them, and thank them.

Now that your child is back in school, the sometimes easy-breezy days of summer have turned hectic with schedules, deadlines, homework, complex relationships. For the next few weeks we’ll be running a series about things to keep in mind during the school year ahead.

Today we start with how best to insure a healthy year at school.

You already know the best way to stay healthy, but it bears repeating: prevention is always the best medicine. Here are some pointers.

Checkups. Has your child had her annual well child checkup? If not, now is the time to schedule it. The doctor will look at health history, height and weight, and will discuss age-appropriate health topics with you and your child. If you have a specific concern (social behaviors, learning difficulties, chronic ear infections, etc.) to discuss, you’ll want to let the office know when you call for the appointment to make sure they schedule a longer visit for you.
Immunizations. Yes, we harp on this a lot, but it’s for good reason. Immunizations protect children, families, and even whole communities from dangerous diseases. The state requires that you keep certain ones up to date; we have others we recommend. Check with our office (or on the patient portal) for your records.
Exercise. Sitting all day at school, then coming home and sitting in front of the TV or at the computer and homework desk is not good for your kid. He needs to get moving. Don’t expect physical education classes to provide all the exercise he needs. Unstructured play is good for all children, and organized sports are a great way to learn things like discipline, teamwork and a sense of accomplishment.
Germs. Let’s be honest. There’s no way to avoid germs at school. Uncovered coughs and sneezes, shared desks and close quarters give viruses all sorts of opportunities to infect students. Some exposure is good to develop immunity, but keeping hands clean is a great way to stave off colds and flu. Send hand sanitizer to school in your children’s backpack, and remind them to clean their hands before eating and after they use the restroom. Every time. Don’t share drinks or eating utensils. And, while we’re at it, remind them not to share combs, brushes or hats, which is the most common way to spread head lice.
Sleep. A good night’s sleep is an essential ingredient in the learning process. Sleep also helps mood and strengthens the immune system. Set a regular bedtime and stick with it, making sure your child or teen has an age-appropriate amount of sleep.
Balanced diet. Eating right feeds both body and brain. This webpage at the American Academy of Pediatrics site lists several of their articles regarding diet. Don’t forget we have a dietician on staff who can help you come up with an action plan for your young athlete, picky eater, diabetic, or can help you plan easy lunches and snacks to pack for school.

Keep these things in mind throughout the school year and they will help your child have a successful and healthy school year.

Georgetown Pediatrics

Caring for your children.

Tag Archives: back to school

Back in School, Part 3: Teachers

Back in School, Part 1: Staying Healthy