school days

Back to school
YOUR HEALTH DR GITA MATHAI

It is that time of year again. Stressed out parents are standing in serpentine queues in front of book, shoe and clothing stores as they attempt to cope financially, emotionally and physically with the dawn of another school year. The transition from “Cartoon Network” holidays to “tuition filled” school days is traumatic. Without adequate and timely preparation, stress levels in parents and children can skyrocket.

There is usually a whole month before a new session starts. So take some steps at least a week before school begins.

Establish a routine. Wake the child up at 6 am and encourage 20 minutes of aerobic physical activity. Running up and down on the road in front of the house will wake up all “sleepy heads”, ensuring that they are “alive and kicking” for the rest of the day. This also sharpens the intellect, improves memory, boosts academic performance, instils discipline and reduces stress.

Unfortunately many schools do not have structured compulsory PT or games periods, especially in the higher “examgoing classes”. Games periods, usually scheduled only twice a week, are often usurped for “annual day” practices or to complete the academic syllabi.

Get the immunisation card verified. Even the most meticulous parent can get caught out with an incomplete immunisation card in these days of “package immunisation deals”. The schedule is complex with combined shots, varying intervals between doses and boosters that finally finish in the 16th year.

Many ailments acquired in school — like jaundice, typhoid, chicken pox, measles, German measles and mumps — are preventable with timely and adequate immunisation. This reduces the number of “lost” school days. Jaundice (hepatitis A and B together) requires five injections. Typhoid boosters have to be given every three years. The newer pneumococcal vaccine protects against pneumonia and repeated ear infections. The meningococcal vaccine prevents a type of brain fever. Influenza vaccine too is available.

Organise teeth, eye and ear checkups. Visual defects and hearing are correctable impediments to academic excellence. It may be a simple blocked ear as a result of wax build up or something more sinister. Poor eyesight, uncorrected with the proper prescription glasses, may result in difficulty in reading alphabets, numbers and copying from the board.

The school bag should be a backpack with padded straps that fit well on both shoulders. The weight of the school bag should not be more than 10 per cent of the total weight of the child. Greater weight alters the centre of gravity, which can cause loss of balance and also result in accidents.

School uniform material should not be of more than 40 per cent polyester (the rest being cotton). This is suitable for our climatic conditions. Undergarments and socks should be made of pure cotton and washed daily. Sweaty socks, “air dried” and worn again, can cause fungal infections of the feet. Shoes should be made out of natural material like leather or cloth. Damaged, torn, worn out, ill-fitting (too large or small) shoes can damage growing feet irreparably.

Transportation to and from school should be safe. Packing 20 or more children into a vehicle (other than a bus) is not a pleasant, safe or advisable way to commute.

Television viewing should be restricted to two to three hours (a movie) on Saturdays. Watching 2-3 hours of cartoons and other mind numbing channels on a daily basis can result in academic underachievement.

These apart, ensure that the child eats a balanced breakfast. Milk (200ml) is not a substitute and should be given after breakfast. If the child refuses to eat, 1 ounce (30gm) of cooked ragi (or finger millet), with milk and sugar added, can be given as a substitute.

A preferably home cooked nutritious snack, like carrot halwa, peanut barfi, kesari, bhajis, samosas and bondas, should be given at “breaks”. Carbohydrate-overloaded, salted, preservative-laden packaged eats or “instant” snacks should be avoided.

Many children attend tuition straight after school. A banana and another snack should be eaten after school is over and before this grind starts. A tired, hungry child will find it difficult to concentrate. Also, a child needs approximately 1.5 litres of water for a school day.

Have realistic expectations from your child. Each child is different, with talents and interests that are individual. There is no point in trying to fit all children (even siblings) into the same common mould. Failure to perceive this causes stress and depression in parents and children alike. Before berating and blaming a child for academic underachievement, reflect and introspect.

Attend all parents-teacher meetings regularly. The regular physical presence of concerned parents prevents bullying, ragging, victimisation and favouritism. Volunteer to help with annual days, plays and sports days. Teachers will remember your actions and your child will benefit.

School days should be remembered as “fun days” and not fear and tension filled “bamboo stick” days!