The end of summer means going back to school, or starting school for the first time, for many children. While it is often a welcome time for many parents after a long summer of having the kids in the house all day, other parents become a little anxious when they consider what challenges their children will be facing like school avoidance or dealing with bullies…etc.

Topics and issues you should review as your child goes back to school include:

Immunizations
Many schools are being rigid about not allowing children to attend school who do not meet their current immunization requirements. Preparing early and getting your child immunized can prevent a rush to your pediatrician to get shots.

What shots does your child need to attend kindergarten or the first grade? Kindly check our website www.mychildguide.net or call our hotline 2356 for more details 24x7. You can also sign your email either directly through the website or through the hotline to receive our immunization reminder.

School performance problems

There are many reasons for children to underperform at school, including a lack of motivation, problems at home or with peers, poor work habits or study skills, emotional and behavior problems, learning disabilities (such as dyslexia), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and other medical problems, including anxiety and depression. It is important to find the reason for your child's poor performance, especially if she is failing, and come up with a treatment plan so that she can perform up to her full potential.

Another reason to get your child help is that children who do poorly at school may be under a lot of stress, and will develop different ways to cope with this stress. Some may externalize their feelings, which can lead to acting out or becoming the class clown. Other children will internalize their feelings, and will develop almost daily complaints of headaches or stomachaches. A thorough evaluation by an experienced professional is usually needed to correctly diagnose children with complex problems.

Medical problems

Above all, make sure your child's emergency telephone number card is accurate and kept current. If you move or change a number, correct it the next day. The child's physician and dentist also need to be listed.

The school nurse and/or school secretary also needs to know what medications your child takes. Even if the child takes the medication only at home, the nurse should know. If the child is to take the drugs at school, they must be in the pharmacy bottle, clearly marked.

Any health problems should be made known to the school. Allergies are a good example of conditions the school has to know in advance.

As many as one in 20 children can't see out of one of their eyes, this is a difficult observation for a parent to make. Vision testing by your pediatrician is recommended because kids who can't see well can't perform as well in school.

Transportation safety

How will your child get to school? Will he take the bus, walk, or will you or a friend drive him? Each of these modes of transportation have their own safety risks that should be reviewed. Taking the time to make sure your child has a safe route to school, knows how to cross the street and has a safe place to go if a stranger approaches him, will help to make sure that he gets to school safely.

Afterschool

It is a good idea to regularly talk with your child about how school is going. Regular communication will help you to recognize problems early, before they get out of control and when it is easier to intervene. Break-time is when children are most likely to be unsupervised and when problems are likely to occur, so asking open ended questions about what happens during these times may help you to recognize problem behaviors. Such talks can also guide your kid on how to make good friends as well as helping him stand to negative peer pressure.

What will your child do afterschool? Structure his time when he is home alone. Be clear about any chores, homework, or other things that he is supposed to do.

Child backpack

The American Academy of Pediatrics also advises that parents not strap a jumbo backpack on their children; never more than 20% of the child's body weight. Some children even prefer a rolling backpack like the wheeled suitcase their parents take on business trips. Make sure the backpack has wide straps and a padded back.