Steps To A Healthy, New, Academic Year

As we prepare to make our ‘back to school’ purchases and draw up development plans for the new academic year, I want to remind you that this is a good time to focus on some simple measures to improve our children’s strength and stamina as well. It will be fruitful to reflect on the health and fitness challenges your child has faced in the last academic year and mindfully chart out a better course this time. We are raising kids in an era with good standards of healthcare and the emphasis is now on preventive measures in the form of health checks and screening tests. So let us think ahead to ensure a healthy academic year for our children.

Reviews with Doctors

 

Do remember to schedule appointments with your Paediatrician and dentist in the first half of the last month of the summer break. Time them in such a way that you can do all necessary investigations and have a strategy for management ready before school starts.

It is good to verify and update your child’s vaccination status with your physician. Children with asthma and chronic illnesses will benefit from flu vaccines. Particularly children taking the board exams can take optional vaccines like typhoid and chicken pox vaccines as a precautionary measure. The Centre of Disease Control (CDC) and the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) have websites addressing all vaccination queries and concerns.

Check if your child’s weight, height and nutritional status are optimal. Both under nutrition and childhood obesity are concerns today. Each has associated issues for concern. For instance obesity may coexist with diabetes and high cholesterol levels in the blood. Sometimes there may be an underlying treatable condition like a deficiency of thyroid hormone. Being underweight requires a screen for infections and worm infestations.

Deficiencies to be corrected