If your family is anything like mine, then summer throws your normal school year routine right out the window.  Of course, our kids aren’t heading out to class but that’s not the only thing that changes at my house. Sleep schedules, bedtime routines, meal times, reading time, eating habits and some semblance of a dress code…all of these things seem to take on a life of their own at my house come Summer vacation.

My kids still need to get wake up early so that I can drive them to day camp, but let’s face it, it’s camp and wandering in late in your flip flops is just fine. Meal times and schedules slide around and I even find myself allowing ice cream to sneak in more frequently during the week.  It is Summer, after all, and the ice cream and the fresh corn and the cookouts with smores, well aren’t they just a necessary part of childhood?

So, with summer slowly winding down, what is the best way to gradually start transitioning our children, and ourselves, back into more of a routine that will prepare us for back to school? Take a look at WebMD’s Ask the School Nurse for some practical advice that may not have crossed your mind while you were relaxing on the beach.

For those of you with young children, the end of summer has come and your children have headed back to school.  It is a time not only for looking forward to so many new things, but also for some new worries and anxieties for parents and children. We know that our kids will be worrying about their new teachers and how much homework they will get and if they will make friends. We worry about those same things for them along with safety and health concerns…and in the worry and anxiety department, for me anyway, the list goes on and on.

One of my biggest challenges as a parent has been learning to let go of some of the control. When dealing with children, we all know that the more you insist on keeping tight control of every little detail, the more frustrated you will become. Just like we can’t keep our toddlers from being covered in ice cream when having their first cone ( I tried), we can’t prevent them from experiencing many of life’s pitfalls. I remember after my son started walking, and then wanted to run everywhere but wasn’t completely steady. I would hold my breath, certain that just one mistep and Ben would trip and either break an arm or leg or fall on his face and crack a tooth or break his nose. In my mind, we were always one step away from the emergency room. I had to learn to relax so that my kids could relax and enjoy the park and the playground with abandon instead of feeding off of my worries. My husband has successfully convinced me over the years that suffering some cuts and bruises, and even some broken bones is just part of the journey. Our kids need to fall and learn how to pick themselves up and let that be an ongoing metaphor in their towards adulthood.

Since food seems to be an ongoing topic with me, this whole concept of not exerting too much control but rather just offering guidance also comes into play with the food choices that our kids will be making as they return to school. Once kids are eating school lunch and playing at other children’s houses, they will have choices to make and we need to equip them to make the best choice, without making them crazy. Having struggled as an obese child myself, I have worked hard to stress health and nutrition with my own kids rather than talk about dieting or numbers on the scale. Like so many other aspects of parenting, this is a fine line to walk. I recently read a New York Times article which I found helpful in defining the line when it comes to our kids and healthy eating habits. I hope you find it helpful!

School is right around the corner and with a new school year comes colds, flu and germs. Here are a few easy ways to help keep your kids as healthy as possible when they head back to school.

1. Can Your Child See and Hear? Ensure that your child has the best chance at a great education by having his vision and hearing checked before schools starts.
2. Immunizations. Many schools require that your child have a physical and be immunized before beginning the new school year. Be sure that you know your school’s requirements and have get your child the appropriate vaccinations.
3. Sanitize. Stress to your kids NOT to put their hands in their eyes or mouths. Encourage your kids to wash their hands before meals and after they visit the bathroom and use hand sanitizer when needed.
4. Avoidance. Teach your kids to avoid other sick children.
5. Share with Care. Tell your kids not to share drinks or snacks with other kids.

With a little common sense and a lot of reinforcement, back to school doesn’t have to mean a trip to the doctor’s office.