Ready or not, back-to-school is upon us. Along with the fun and excitement of a new school year can come exposure to illnesses.
With the right precautions in place, kids can increase their odds of staying healthy so they can avoid missing school days.
While it’s not uncommon for kids to have occasional sick days, attendance is also crucial to school success. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that students who miss too many school days are more likely to struggle academically.
“From vaccination to good hygiene to proper sleep and nutrition, families can take many steps to help keep kids healthy,” says Sarah Bauwens, a Family Medicine Nurse Practitioner at ThedaCare Physicians-Appleton North.
Vaccines
“Staying on top of immunizations is a crucial way to help keep kids well,” Bauwens says. “Vaccines protect kids from serious diseases, prevent outbreaks within schools and contribute to overall healthier communities.”
Children receive an early series of vaccines from birth through 18 months and require boosters as they get older. Wisconsin state law requires school-age children to have certain vaccinations to attend class.
“It’s important for kids to complete on-time well-child checkups,” Bauwens says. “Your child’s family medicine or pediatrics provider can help ensure they’re up to date on vaccines.”
In addition to the required series of vaccines, health care organizations recommend the annual flu shot for children ages 6 months and older.
You can view your child’s immunization record using MyThedaCare or through the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.
Hygiene
“Good hand hygiene can go a long way in stopping the spread of illness,” Bauwens says.
Encourage kids to wash hands throughout the day, especially after using the restroom and before eating. As your child grows, their teachers will help reinforce good hygiene habits.
Remind kids to wash hands for 20 seconds, or about as long as it takes to sign two rounds of “Happy Birthday.” Young kids may need supervision as they continue to develop handwashing habits.
Hand sanitizer may help prevent the spread of colds and respiratory viruses, but not stomach viruses, Bauwens says. Wash with soap and water to help halt the spread of “stomach bugs.”
“Teach children good habits around sneezing and coughing as well,” Bauwens says. “Sneeze or cough into your elbow — or ‘chicken wing’ — not your hands. You can also sneeze into a tissue and throw it away, following up with handwashing.”
Good Nutrition
“Healthy eating is vital for a child’s growth, brain development and immunity,” Bauwens says.
Encourage your child to eat a variety of foods. Ensure they get plenty of protein, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and fruits and veggies. Getting adequate nutrition through meals and healthy snacks also helps kids focus on learning.
When it comes to sharing food at school, use caution. While kids might enjoy swapping or sharing lunch items, it’s not the best idea.
“Students can cross-contaminate and spread allergens to students who cannot tolerate certain foods,” Bauwens says. “It’s also easy to pass saliva and viruses when you share a plate or a snack with someone else.”
If your student must share, it’s best to do so only with small, wrapped and unopened snacks and to accept only the same.
Healthy Sleep
“Poor sleep can derail learning,” Bauwens says. “We all know how hard it is to be ‘on’ at work after tossing and turning. A child will not do well at school if they’re groggy.”
Inadequate sleep can lead to problems with concentration and behavior. It also can make it hard to complete homework later or to participate in after-school activities.
“Screen use has only made the problem worse,” Bauwens says. “The blue light that screens emit can negatively impact sleep. Screen time also stimulates the brain and makes it hard to settle down.”
Limit young kids to an hour or less of screen time outside of school each day, and have them stop screen use at least an hour before bedtime. For older kids and teens, keep devices stored outside of their bedroom at night.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend the following sleep guidelines for kids:
- Preschoolers (ages 3-5): 10-13 hours (including naps)
- School-age children (ages 6-12): 9-12 hours
- Teenagers (ages 13-17): 8-10 hours
When to Keep Kids Home
“While it’s important for kids to attend school regularly, some situations call for a sick day,” Bauwens says. “We also want to be mindful of others and stopping the spread of contagious illnesses.”
Keep your child home if they’re experiencing:
- Fever: Fever is a common symptom of many illnesses and can indicate an underlying infection. If your child has a temperature of 100.4°F or higher, it is generally recommended to keep them home until they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- Cold and flu: Respiratory illnesses like colds and flu are highly contagious. If your child has a runny nose, persistent cough, sore throat or body aches, it’s best to keep them home until their symptoms improve.
- Stomach issues: Vomiting and diarrhea can signal a stomach virus or food poisoning. Children with these symptoms should stay home until they’re symptom-free for at least 24 hours.
- Infections: Certain infections, such as strep throat or pink eye, require treatment with antibiotics. Pink eye is highly contagious, and your child must be on antibiotics for 24 hours before heading back to school.
- Head lice. This is another contagious condition that needs immediate treatment. This is especially the case if the child has live lice on their scalp. Children may return to school after treatment with an over-the-counter or prescription lice-killing product.
“If your child often complains of vague symptoms such as a headache or stomachache, this can indicate an underlying anxiety rather than a physical illness,” Bauwens says. “Talk with your child about what they’re feeling. Consult your child’s physician or advanced practice clinician if the issue continues.”
Successful School Year
With the right strategies and habits in place, kids of all ages have a better shot of avoiding illness.
“Remember, your child’s primary care provider is here to help with any questions or concerns that may arise,” Bauwens says. “We wish kids and families a healthy and successful school year.”
