Daily Dose: AAP's 12 Tips to Prep Children for Back-to-School Season

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Patient Care brings primary care clinicians a lot of medical news every day—it’s easy to miss an important study. The Daily Dose provides a concise summary of one of the website's leading stories you may not have seen.

Last week, we reported on 12 tips published by the American Academy of Pediatrics to prepare children for back-to-school season.

The tips

1. Schedule a back-to-school physical that includes any necessary vaccinations.
2. Start a dialogue about if and how your child uses social media.
3. Create a safe, judgement-free zone for your child to discuss tough issues with you.
4. Ensure your child eats a healthy breakfast that contains protein.
5. Provide proper supervision for morning drop off and after school.
6. Set a consistent bedtime. If your child has electronic devices, make sure they are turned off before bedtime.
7. Create a homework-friendly environment at home that consists of a workspace that is quiet and promotes study.
8. Establish a household rule that the television and other electronic devices stay off while doing homework; supervise computer and internet use.
9. Help your child organize their homework via checklists and timers.
10. If your child is struggling with a certain subject, speak with their teacher for recommendations on how to help.
11. If your child would benefit from special education services, submit a request to the school for an Individualized Education Program evaluation.
12. Contact a pediatrician if you notice changes in your child's mental or behavioral health, as well as changes in sleep, weight, and eating habits.

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