As we start a new school year with many unknowns, it's normal for parents to have a lot of questions about how to keep their family safe and healthy. Dr. Michelle Kenney from Northeast Pediatrics understands this all too well, and she wants to provide parents with a few tips on how to care for your students during this time.
First and foremost, make sure that you're setting your kids up for a successful day by ensuring they have a good night's rest and have a fulfilling breakfast. Teenagers should be getting around 8-10 hours of sleep each night, while younger children should aim to get 10-12 hours. This allows their bodies to reset and for them to stay focused the next day. Additionally, try to work in some good proteins and fats in a child's breakfast so they're full and not distracted by hunger early in the day.
During this time, we also want to make sure that we're encouraging students to wash their hands often and social distance when possible. Where social distancing isn't possible, children should wear a mask to help protect themselves and others. To help alleviate some of the current stress, make sure your family is setting time aside not just for homework but also for dinner together and catching up on what is going on in everyone's lives. This allows you to connect with each other.
Finally, make sure that your children are up to date on all their immunizations. This is one of the best ways to protect their little bodies from preventable diseases and is extremely important with students gathering in schools.
If you have questions or concerns, contact our Northeast Pediatrics office at 660.627.2229! We're here for you, Northeast Missouri!