Back-to-school season is such an exciting time. It marks the beginning of a new chapter for students, filled with opportunities to learn, grow and discover new things. Alongside pencils and notebooks, ensuring that students’ health is prioritized is crucial for a successful start to the school year.

Parents can focus on their children’s health by following these health tips.

• Develop a healthy sleep routine. During summer break, rules around sleep tend to get a little laxed. Help get students back on track by ensuring they are getting enough sleep each night.
  – Preschoolers (3 to 5 years old) should get 10 to 13 hours, including a nap.
  – School-aged kids (6 to 12 years old) should get 9 to 12 hours of sleep.
  – Teenagers (13 to 18 years old) should get 8 to 10 hours of sleep.
• Ensure children are up to date with their well-child exam and immunizations. Sutter Health Plus covers well-child exams at no cost share. This may include performing hearing and vision exams, checking their health and wellness and administering routine immunizations.
• Healthy bodies support active minds. Provide students with a nutritious breakfast to start their day and ensure they have opportunities for exercise and play throughout the day. Make sure they have healthy lunch and snack options to fuel their energy and support a positive learning environment.
• Encourage handwashing throughout the day. Back-to-school also means flu season is right around the corner. Ensure kids are washing their hands or using hand sanitizer before eating snacks or lunch and after using shared objects, such as a computer, pencil sharpener or after using any shared spaces.
• Check in on children’s mental and emotional wellness. School environments can play a pivotal role in shaping a child’s emotional and social development. By providing a nurturing atmosphere at home where children can feel safe to express themselves, seeking support and developing coping skills will help better equip them when they need to navigate challenges. Sutter Health Plus members ages 13 to 22 have access to Scout, an award-winning program that features tools and techniques for emotional and mental wellness online or through a mobile app — at no extra cost. Members can get started today at scout.sutterhealth.org using the access code in their Welcome Book or by calling Member Services at 855-315-5800.

Giving children a healthy start this school year helps aid in their academic success and overall development. Get started on back-to-school checklists by scheduling a well-child exam through My Health Online, Sutter’s secure patient portal.