Back To School: Healthy Habits For A Happy Return
Children heading back to school? Handy tips on building healthy habits for a happy daily routine
Like many families, if you have children then you’re painfully aware of the fact that this school year is going to look very different to any before. Regardless of your school’s policies and approach to the ‘new normal’ and whether lessons take place at home or in school, the fact is, it’s time for routine.
The challenge is switching those late nights, irregular eating patterns, dedication to gaming and general embrace of chaos for better habits. Whilst we all need to encourage children to be adaptable to change, we also want them to feel secure and happy in their education.
Abbey Road Dental fully recognises just how changeable times are for families and we want to help our patients get back into a school term routine as easily as possible. To help you, here are our top tips to create healthy habits for happiness this coming school year.
Have A Daily Routine, Regardless
Whether it is the weekend, your kids are taking part in online classes, or they are in school, try to have the same routine. Of course the content may change, but the overall routine should ideally be the same. At the very least this should involve getting up and going to bed at the same time. You can also include additional structures like dental hygiene, showering, eating and activities too if you know you want your kids to do them every day. By having a routine that stays the same every day, your kids will hopefully feel less stressed, they will be on time, and their body clock will be shifted to a school schedule.
Healthy Daily Habits That Don’t Change
In changeable times, your children may well feel stress and anxiety over their time in school. This can lead them to struggle to absorb information and do well in their education. To create security for them, in the same way you have during lockdown, always have healthy habits that endure. That could be a daily walk around the block before breakfast, or a smoothie you all make after school. It gives your children something that is good for them, together with some stability, regardless of what is changing elsewhere.
Zoning Helps
During lockdown you may well have created a dedicated school space for your child to use. Since the school holidays started, that dedicated space may well have been reutilised. Now is the time to recreate a dedicated space for work and homework. This helps the child to avoid being distracted by the home they have been so used to having fun in over the last few months. It doesn’t mean fun at home has to stop, but it allows your child to develop great productivity and focus when they are working by associating a quiet, organised space with work time.
Run Through All The Usual School-Prep Habits
Before school starts, or within the first term at least, there are lots of preparations that commonly take place. This can include:
- Buying new stationary
- Attending a checkup at Abbey Road Dental
- Getting any doctors appointments out of the way
- Getting a haircut
- Getting new uniform
Where it is safely possible, it is a really good idea to complete these tasks as usual. A checkup at Abbey Road Dental is especially helpful as it means your child can have their dental health assessed and any issues can be treated before they disrupt their schoolwork. If they have any outstanding dental issues, it is especially important they attend our NW8 clinic as soon as it is possible for them to do so.
Completing these tasks gives a sense of normalcy and also ensures you don’t miss any important appointments that contribute to your child’s overall wellbeing.
Make A Healthy Change
The move back to school time is as good a time as any to make healthy changes that may have fallen by the wayside during the school holidays and lockdown.
Tooth brushing may have been less focused, bedtimes may not be a thing at all, meals may be convenient rather than healthy, and exercise could be more present. Every family is the same – we have all been coping with a very strange scenario, and doing what it takes to get by.
Now though, things are somewhat normal again and we can all be healthier in some way. Health boosts our immune system, helps us to move better, sleep better, and generally thrive. Being healthy is also vital for your children when it comes to their growth, development and ability to do well in school.
Making healthy changes during a transitional period can be really helpful. Here are some new healthy habits you could think about making:
- Double-checking vital daily actions are as effective as possible, like brushing the teeth
- Switching unhealthy snacks for fruit, seeds and nuts, and adding colourful veggies to meals
- Moving more, perhaps walking to school or trying a new sport together as a family
- Getting more time in nature
- Cultivating a healthier home environment with more plants, and less clutter
All healthy switches are a great idea, but you may want to make small adjustments so as not to put too much pressure on the changes during this transition.
Build Healthy Habits As A Family During This New School Year
Things are not as normal and there will be challenges ahead as your child starts school again. The good news is that they are returning to school, their education and their social lives again which is really great news. Using our tips above, and your own creativity and adaptability, you can build healthy habits and adjust well to this new school year.
If you would like to discuss checkup appointments, or you need dental advice for your child, please do get in touch. We do have different procedures at the moment but we will try to help you in any way we can. You can reach us on our contact page, and we will get back to you as soon as we possibly can.