As families are busy with the return to school, Island Health’s Public Health team is reminding parents and caregivers to take proactive steps to support their children’s health and well-being, ensuring a strong start to the school year and in life.
“It’s normal for children to feel both excitement and anxiety at the start of the school year,” says Island Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Carol Fenton.
Parents and caregivers can support children by:
- Taking time to talk openly and validate their feelings.
- Model being calm to help children co-regulate
- Establishing consistent routines for sleep, meals, and homework.
- Making opportunities for physical activity and time outdoors.
“Anxiety can become more serious and persistent,” says Dr. Fenton. “If anxiety is getting in the way of day-to-day activities, like going to school or spending time with friends, then it’s time to talk to a doctor or mental health professional.”
Supporting children’s physical health is also important to prepare them for being back together with all their classmates. With recent cases of measles reported in B.C. and abroad, it is especially important to ensure children’s immunizations are up to date.
“Measles spreads easily through the air, especially in places where people gather closely—like schools,” says Island Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Christina Kay. “With students back to class, and many families having travelled over the summer including to areas where there are measles cases, we should ensure children are fully immunized to protect them from vaccine-preventable illnesses that can cause serious illness, long-term disability and even death.”
One in 10 people who get measles are hospitalized.
Children and youth are eligible for vaccines protecting them from more than a dozen diseases including polio, chickenpox, meningitis, and human papillomavirus (HPV). To book an immunization appointment or check your child’s records, visit the Island Health immunizations webpages or a local public health unit. Immunization records can also be accessed online through the Health Gateway.
Handwashing remains one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of illness in schools. Parents can help by teaching children to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Most kids know they should wash their hands before and after eating, after blowing their nose and after every trip to the bathroom, but they should also be washing their hands after gym class and playing outdoors and first thing when they get home from school or other outings.
It’s good practice for children to also learn to:
- Cough or sneeze into their elbow sleeve or a tissue.
- Refrain from touching their eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Refrain from sharing any food, drinks, cosmetics, or unwashed utensils.
- Use their own water bottle and not share it to avoid the spread of disease.
While hand and respiratory hygiene protects from the outside, food fuels children from the inside. Erica Camfferman, Public Health Dietitian, says nutritious food is important for learning.
“Hunger can be very distracting. It can be hard to focus and pay attention and can lead to irritability. Students who are well-fed are more engaged, ready to learn, and have improved physical and mental health,” Camfferman says.
Camfferman says an ideal lunch include foods from all three food groups - vegetables and fruit, whole grains, and proteins. She recommends preparing ahead of time.
“Prep fruits, veggies, muffins, or proteins like roasted meat on weekends,” says Camfferman. “Making lunches the night before reduces morning stress and keeps things simple.”
“Involve your kids in preparing lunches to help them enjoy their food. Let children help pick lunch items at the store, wash produce and assemble their meals—even at a young age. This builds long-term food skills, increases exposure to healthy foods, and fosters positive eating habits for the rest of their lives.”
Keep food safe to help prevent foodborne illnesses, such as salmonella. Remember to wash all fruits and vegetables before packing them into a lunch box. Use an insulated lunch bag with freezer packs to help keep cold foods cold. A thermos should be used for hot foods, especially meat, seafood, or eggs.
Services and more information
- Hand hygiene tips
- More information about immunizations
- Find lunch ideas
- More resources for school-aged children and caregivers
For more info and services including immunizations, youth may visit their nearest local youth health clinic/centre.