August is when parents prepare their kids to head back to school. As you pack backpacks and gather school supplies, remember to keep the larger picture in mind when it comes to your children’s health, too. 

Sleep, schedules, and other healthy habits can help your kids and your family stay focused and make the most of the school year ahead. Here are some tips to help you get started.

Get Plenty of Sleep

It’s difficult to get kids back on a sleep schedule after a summer with less structure. But it’s worth the effort. This is one of the most critical aspects of ongoing health. In Georgia, school starts on average at 8:09 a.m. 

That means your child needs to be up and out the door early to be in their seat, ready to go, on time. That also means significantly earlier bedtimes during a season when the sun sets late. 

Aim for 9-12 hours of sleep for grade-schoolers and at least 8-10 hours for teens. Sleep schedules are important here, too. Start shifting a couple of weeks in advance. Re-establish bedtime routines. Make sure rooms are dark and cool to encourage better sleep quality.

Set Up Daily Rhythms

Going back to school opens up the possibility of establishing other routines that can benefit your kids beyond a good sleep pattern. Consistent wake-up times are a good start. 

Eating breakfast and dinner at regular times is also important. Set up daily windows for homework and establish screen-time limits. Make sure that bedtime routine is predictable and screen-free, as well.

The University of Utah points out that a good back-to-school routine can help children confront the stress and life changes that come with going back to school. It gives them a consistent, predictable cadence that can keep them moving in the right direction every day.

Work on Other Healthy Habits

The back-to-school window is a great time to introduce several other healthy lifestyle habits that can help your kids thrive. Here are a few other healthy habits to start this year:

• Healthy eating habits: Consistent routines make it easier to be intentional when you eat. Aim for well-balanced meals, especially a balanced breakfast.

• Regular exercise: With kids sitting in classrooms again, make sure they are getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.

• Limited screens: Screens are a part of life, but that makes parental screen-time management important. Avoid screens before bed and set time limits to prevent excessive use.

  
  

Using the Back-to-School Season to Improve Family Health

As men and women learn to care for themselves better, they should extend that self-care education to their kids, as well. Along with the basic back-to-school considerations, like updating wardrobes and making sure vaccine schedules are up to date, look for ways to use the last couple of weeks of your summer to establish healthy habits in your kids.

Encourage better sleep. Build healthy rhythms. Look for any area where you can invest in a healthy lifestyle habit that can help your family flourish as you get back on track and start the school year.