Check out our back-to-school wellness guide for parents! We know how chaotic the first day can be, but taking care of these things can help your child have a healthy start to the new school year.
It’s the first morning of the new school year. One kid’s shoes are missing, the other just announced their lunchbox smells like old cheese, and your coffee’s still on the kitchen counter—somewhere. Sound familiar?
The back-to-school transition isn’t just about new schedules and sharper pencils; it’s about keeping everyone—yourself included—healthy and grounded. Let’s dive into the back-to-school wellness guide for parents who want fewer meltdowns and more manageable mornings.
Resetting Sleep and Energy
The fastest way to sabotage the first week of school is to treat bedtime like it’s still summer. Instead, start adjusting sleep routines 10 days before school begins. Move bedtime earlier by 15 minutes per night, and aim for lights out by 8:30 p.m. for elementary-age kids.
In the morning, ditch screens until after breakfast and try a protein-packed start. Greek yogurt, scrambled eggs, or a peanut butter banana smoothie beat sugary cereals for energy that lasts until lunch. Tired brains don’t make great learners or great listeners.
Also, pay attention to hydration. Send kids to school with a full water bottle and set a reminder to wash it every two days. Mold and bacteria love a dark, damp straw.
Teeth, Backpacks, and Sick Days
Dental checkups tend to fill up fast in August. Book appointments by August 15 to beat the rush, and be proactive at home, too. There are several easy ways to help kids with preventative dental care that don’t require power struggles twice a day. Fun toothbrush timers and flossing songs can work wonders.
Backpacks are another overlooked wellness trap. As noted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, a child’s backpack should weigh no more than 15% of their body weight. Look for padded shoulder straps and encourage weekly clean-outs to avoid carrying last week’s library books forever.
Sick days are inevitable, so plan ahead. Create a “flu season station” stocked with thermometers, children’s fever reducers, and hydration aids. Keep school contact numbers and pediatrician info printed and posted on the fridge; it’ll save you the panic of hunting through your phone while holding a feverish kid.
Wellness Beyond the Basics
Not every health concern is physical. Ask your kids once per week how they’re feeling about school—emotionally, socially, academically. Open-ended questions like “What part of your day made you smile?” can lead to real conversations.
Involve kids in prepping lunches on Sunday afternoons. This is a great time to talk about healthy choices, and it reduces complaints when they’ve had a say in the snacks. And don’t forget movement: aim for 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Family evening walks are great decompression time after a long school day.
Don’t Forget Yourself
The back-to-school wellness guide for parents isn’t just about kids; it’s also about the adults who pack the lunches and sign the field trip forms. Parents often skip their own checkups until something breaks. Schedule your physical now, before calendars fill up.
I especially loved the reminder to prep sleep routines early. It’s such a helpful way to ease the chaos and keep everyone grounded.
This is some fabulous advice. My kids are both in college, but I remember these days. Being prepped the night before helped a ton. We are NOT morning people.
These are great tips. The sleep one was always hard for my kids but it made a difference.
The school year can be very taxing, especially those first few weeks. It is good to have some strategies to get through it and stay as healthy as possible.
Loving this back to school post so much and I can relate. I do hate the stress of the BTS season…. But love that they’re back to school. 🙂
This guide is so spot on! The reminder about washing water bottles and watching backpack weight is gold. And I really appreciate the gentle nudge to check in on our own wellness too.
The first few days leading to back to school can be tough for us parents. This guide is super helpful and health and wellness for both parents and child is so important!