How to prepare a child for the school year? Doctor's advice

The period of preparation for the new school year is an exciting time for both parents and children regardless of their age. How to prepare for school without stress and create conditions for healthy and productive learning? Together with Tatyana Rybakova, pediatrician (pediatrician) of the "Dobrobut" Medical Network, we answer these and other questions.

Children's medical examination before school: why and how is it carried out?

Before the beginning of the school year, the child must undergo a preventive examination, which makes it possible to prevent or detect diseases in time, to provide parents with information about the development and state of the child's health, to correct the diet, physical activity, etc. That is why doctors recommend regular medical examinations. Before visiting a pediatrician or a family doctor with a child, it is recommended to pass the following tests:

• general blood analysis to identify signs of anemia;
• blood sugar test for children who are at risk for diabetes;
• general urine analysis — to diagnose the presence of a urinary tract infection.

Please note: the glucose level is not checked in the general blood test, these are different analyses. Children must be healthy at the time of the tests. If the child is sick, certain blood parameters can be changed. In this case, the interpretation of the analyzes will be inaccurate. After the consultation and the results of the tests, the pediatrician or family doctor must provide them to the parents certificate required for school (form No. 086-1/о) about the state of health and the corresponding group engaged in physical education. If parents go to a doctor they have not visited before, you need to take them with you Map of preventive vaccinations. As the Ministry of Health informs, Calendar of preventive vaccinations determines the optimal vaccination time for effective protection of children from infectious diseases. Therefore, it is extremely important that the child receives vaccinations on time. If vaccination has not been carried out, it can be done according to an individual schedule drawn up by a doctor.Before starting school, it is recommended to visit a children's ophthalmologist, orthopedist and traumatologist, as well as a dentist once every six months. If the child has chronic diseases, so do those specialists who observe them. In the Medical Network "Dobrobut" there is an opportunity to consult a doctor with the help of an online consultation, as well as to schedule a visit to several specialists at once. This makes it possible to go through all the examinations and get the necessary certificates as quickly and efficiently as possible. For younger children, examinations and vaccinations can take place in the form of a game. Such an approach makes it possible to form the habit of regularly examining the child without fear of doctors and tests.

How to prepare for school psychologically?

Of course, it is very important to pass all medical examinations, but psychological readiness of children for school is no less important. The following tips will help you start the school day without stress.

• Organize the "school" mode of the day

A few weeks before the start of training, the elementary school gradually accustoms the child to the "school" routine of the day: he goes to bed earlier and wakes up earlier. Thanks to this, the child will wake up easier in the morning and feel more energetic during the day.

• Encourage the child to acquire new knowledge

It is important that the child enjoys the learning process. Therefore, before offering any activity (reading, drawing, spelling, etc.), make sure that the child is in a good mood and that it is really interesting to him. Gradually, he will develop an understanding that education is a useful and exciting process, and not just mandatory tasks and grades.

• Maintain a positive emotional state

To form positive associations with the school year in your child, talk to him about school as an exciting process. Ask what interesting things he learned during the day, with whom he communicated, etc. Create an atmosphere in which the child will be comfortable talking not only about positive impressions, but also about any discomfort, pain or other physical sensations or emotional experiences. Don't wait for him to tell you about it first. It is important for a child to receive understanding and support from parents, then it will be easier for him to experience any situation.

• Do not be afraid to consult a child psychologist

What to do when the child is constantly depressed, withdrawn or aggressive? Schoolchildren, especially younger ones, are very sensitive, so it is always necessary to be careful with children. The reason for unusual behavior may be the desire to attract the attention of parents, the process of adaptation to school, or even the syndrome of attention deficit and hyperactivity, which requires correction in the adaptation of the child to school. If the parents do not manage to establish communication with the child and find out about the reasons for the bad mood, in such cases it is possible to consult a child psychologist. The specialist will help parents better understand their child and establish a relationship with him.

Source: Shutterstock

• Support a culture of healthy eating

Proper and healthy nutrition plays a significant role in the healthy development of a child. From the first years of life, it is important to form the habit of consuming healthy products. For this house, place a plate with fruit and water in a prominent place. When the child is hungry, he will be able to snack on fruit and drink water - and he will be less likely to consume harmful sweets and sugary drinks at school. Also, make sure that the child has a bottle of water, fruit or nuts for a snack. With a balanced diet, the child will not need to take additional vitamins, because he will get all the necessary elements from food.

Remember to rest

Lessons, visits to sections and clubs — all this multifaceted development of the child. However, it is very important that the child rests between various loads and spends time in the fresh air. Encourage the child to be physically active - in the morning, the whole family does a warm-up or full exercise. This will help relieve tension, release energy and improve mood.

Buy the necessary things for school

Notebooks, a diary, stationery, a backpack, books... Getting a child to school at any age is not an easy task. For the child's wardrobe, choose items with the maximum content of natural fibers, especially sports uniforms and replacement shoes. During physical activity in synthetic clothes, the child sweats, so he risks overheating and catching a cold. Clothing with natural fabrics will ensure breathability and maximum comfort. Shoes for schoolchildren - seasonal, changeable and sports - should be the right size, as comfortable as possible, not rub and made of natural or high-quality synthetic materials. A child's foot is constantly forming, so it is important to choose shoes that do not prevent the feet from developing properly. One of the main attributes of school education is a knapsack. A high-quality backpack should be made of moisture-resistant fabric, and its straps should be adjustable in length and not stretch. Make sure that the child wears the backpack correctly, and the weight of the bag does not exceed 15% of the child's body weight. This will help avoid back problems. Remember: children imitate their parents in everything. And the future way of life of children depends on how parents take care of their health and comfort. Happy and productive school year!The material was published on the basis of the comments of the pediatrician (pediatrician) Tatyana Rybakova of the Medical network "Dobrobut"