August 02, 2016 | Clinics / Uncategorized
By: Dr. Juan Gabriel Martinez
♫ It’s the most wonderful time of the year!♫ No, the holidays aren’t here, it’s time for our kids to go back to school! It’s also time to turn off the videogames and put away the constant sound of Netflix and YouTube. For parents, it’s finally time for some peace and quiet at home.
If your children are anything like mine during the summer, they are staying up late and waking up just in time for lunch. Their eating and sleeping schedules are all out of whack. One thing’s for sure, they are not going to go back to normal just because the school bell rings, so here are some things you can do to help your child have a successful start to an awesome school year.
1. As soon as you can, start your children on a school-night schedule. That means taking a bath, brushing teeth, reading books and getting into bed on time as if they had already started school. This is a must to get their internal clocks back on track. Most children need approximately 8-12 hours of sleep a night to be well rested, so set a good bedtime schedule to provide them with much-needed rest.
2. Turn off those phones and tablets at least an hour before bedtime. Studies show that the lights coming from these devices can actually trick the brain into thinking it is still daytime. This means the mind is not ready to sleep. This turns into difficulty falling asleep and children waking up tired and possibly snoozing during class.
3. Get your children in to see their doctor and dentist if it’s time for their check-ups or sports physicals. Getting them in now means they don’t have to take time off from school later in the year.
4. Wake your children up early enough to have a good breakfast. The old cliché of “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day” is actually true. Studies show that children who start the day with a healthy breakfast have better attendance, higher school performance and fewer behavioral issues. Breakfast fills up your kid’s fuel tank after eight hours of rest, energizes the brain and prepares them for a day of learning. For more information on healthy breakfast foods, talk to your doctor or see one of our nutritionists. We are always here to help!
Success in school starts at home. Ensure a great school year for your child with proper nutrition, adequate sleep, a positive attitude toward learning and communication with your child’s teacher. Have an awesome school year and don’t forget, if you ever need additional help or have questions that need to be answered, you can always call and schedule an appointment with us!
For more information, please email info@mphc-az.org
Dr. Martinez has always wanted to practice medicine so he could help those with a lack of proper healthcare. He has been with Mountain Park since 2014. When he’s not working he loves spending time with his family and getting out into the community and helping people understand how to manage their health.
