Planning for school? Doctors say put a focus on health
As summer break is set to end for tens of thousands of students across Greater Cincinnati, doctors say now is an important time to consider measures to protect children’s health as they return to the classroom.Ohio public schools require students to be protected from 10 vaccine-preventable diseases, including chickenpox, pertussis, polio and tetanus. Health officials noted a significant drop in vaccination rates among kindergartners last school year and stressed the importance of reducing the risk of children contracting preventable diseases during school.Doctors are particularly concerned about measles, which has seen the most cases in the U.S. in 20 years, resulting in more than 1,000 illnesses and three deaths, which occurred mostly in unvaccinated young people.”So, I might be a board-certified pediatric infectious disease doctor, but I’m also a mom, and I vaccinate my kids against these germs because I know that this is such an important part of their health,” said Dr. Felicia Scaggs Huang, director of pediatric infectious disease at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.Doctors also recommend scheduling yearly physicals and considering annual flu or COVID-19 vaccines in early fall to protect children ahead of the flu and cold season when cases typically spike.Health officials are also highlighting the importance of getting back to a healthy sleep routine, especially after weeks of late nights and fun in the sun. Sleep is especially important for children’s mood, attention and academic performance.Scaggs Huang says it’s important to start adjusting sleep and wake-up routines in 15-minute increments each night until reaching the ideal schedule for school and bus times. Doctors emphasize that children and teens have different sleep needs. Preschoolers should get 10 to 13 hours of sleep, school-age kids between nine and 11 hours, and teens should aim for eight to 10 hours.For younger children who resist bedtime, engaging in a quiet, sleep-inducing activity can help establish a routine.”These slow changes can make that start so much easier and less stressful than changing everything,” Scaggs Huang said. “The day of first day of school, if your kid isn’t ready to go to bed right away — I have a kid that hates bedtime — encourage them to do a quiet, sleep-inducing activity if they’re not ready to fall asleep right away.”Activities like reading a book or singing a lullaby can be beneficial. For teens, discussing the importance of good sleep habits can help prepare them for the upcoming school year, which is just around the corner.
As summer break is set to end for tens of thousands of students across Greater Cincinnati, doctors say now is an important time to consider measures to protect children’s health as they return to the classroom.
Ohio public schools require students to be protected from 10 vaccine-preventable diseases, including chickenpox, pertussis, polio and tetanus. Health officials noted a significant drop in vaccination rates among kindergartners last school year and stressed the importance of reducing the risk of children contracting preventable diseases during school.
Doctors are particularly concerned about measles, which has seen the most cases in the U.S. in 20 years, resulting in more than 1,000 illnesses and three deaths, which occurred mostly in unvaccinated young people.
“So, I might be a board-certified pediatric infectious disease doctor, but I’m also a mom, and I vaccinate my kids against these germs because I know that this is such an important part of their health,” said Dr. Felicia Scaggs Huang, director of pediatric infectious disease at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.
Doctors also recommend scheduling yearly physicals and considering annual flu or COVID-19 vaccines in early fall to protect children ahead of the flu and cold season when cases typically spike.
Health officials are also highlighting the importance of getting back to a healthy sleep routine, especially after weeks of late nights and fun in the sun. Sleep is especially important for children’s mood, attention and academic performance.
Scaggs Huang says it’s important to start adjusting sleep and wake-up routines in 15-minute increments each night until reaching the ideal schedule for school and bus times.
Doctors emphasize that children and teens have different sleep needs. Preschoolers should get 10 to 13 hours of sleep, school-age kids between nine and 11 hours, and teens should aim for eight to 10 hours.
For younger children who resist bedtime, engaging in a quiet, sleep-inducing activity can help establish a routine.
“These slow changes can make that start so much easier and less stressful than changing everything,” Scaggs Huang said. “The day of first day of school, if your kid isn’t ready to go to bed right away — I have a kid that hates bedtime — encourage them to do a quiet, sleep-inducing activity if they’re not ready to fall asleep right away.”
Activities like reading a book or singing a lullaby can be beneficial. For teens, discussing the importance of good sleep habits can help prepare them for the upcoming school year, which is just around the corner.
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