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Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Expert advice for a stress-free back-to-school season for North Texas families
Summertime fun is coming to an end for most North Texas students, with many returning to school over the next week and others already back in classes. The first few weeks of school bring with them a lot of adjustments for both students and their guardians. Dr. Sana Haq, a board-certified family medicine physician who runs her own practice in Farmers Branch, said the first step in getting kids ready for back to school is a health check that includes an eye exam and a hearing test, plus a sports physical if a child is in an athletics program. She mentioned that schools can provide some of these during the year. Haq said another important tip for parents is getting kids, especially younger kids, in the practice of washing their hands so they can avoid school germs. 'With back to school comes back to school germs, and a lot of kids get sick,' Haq said. 'Washing your hands is the best thing you can do — teaching proper hand washing techniques, and then, before you eat, try not to touch other people's things or put toys or school supplies in your mouth.' There is a lot to do to get ready for school: getting school supplies, shopping for clothes, setting up routines and planning for meals. Here's how to make the most of it. ⚡ More trending stories from our newsroom: →See all the North Texas references in new 'King of the Hill' →Who serves the best ice cream in Fort Worth? →New pizza parlor coming to Alliance Meal prepping for school 'Have a game plan for how you're going to feed your kids,' Haq said. 'I usually end up making a list of things that my kids like to eat, that is easy for them to eat at school.' Haq said that school lunch breaks can go by quickly when kids are chatting with friends and suggested quick, easy-to-eat, protein-dense lunches to make up for any missing nutrients from breakfast. Dr. Nicole Schneider, a board-certified clinical child and adolescent psychologist at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, noted that she recognizes nutrition can be a challenge that varies from family to family, since culture and finances play a significant role in eating practices. 'If a family is able to ask their child what they might be interested in, even taking them to the store and saying, 'We have to choose something for breakfast,' [that's good],' Schneider said. 'There's yogurt, there's this, there's that, picking some sort of nutritionally dense items and seeing what the child might be interested in.' Schneider said she understands that some families do not have the capacity or resources to accommodate grocery requests from their children — but that's where communication comes in. 'Even just having a conversation [about] here's what we have at home, we need to figure out something that you can eat so you are getting sufficient nutrients that will last you throughout the day,' Schneider said. From her experience as a parent, Schnedier says that sometimes parents can be very creative when it comes to getting their kids to eat. 'Sometimes people think breakfast foods are like eggs and cereal and toast, but you could eat cold cuts for breakfast,' Schneider said. 'You could eat almonds. There's nothing to say you can't eat those. If a child is willing to eat something like that, that is high in protein — I think we can absolutely honor that, and that's a good way for them to feel like their preferences are being prioritized.' How can parents help facilitate healthy sleep habits? While the most significant adjustment is usually sleep, and with the prevalence of screens, most kids are not getting enough sleep, according to experts. According to the National Sleep Foundation, parents should: Talk with children about how using tech and screens can impact sleep Set time limits around screen use, especially at night Supervise content at night: avoid stimulating or upsetting material Implement early, regular and relaxing bedtime routines without screens Model appropriate nighttime screen use yourself Schneider warned that her sleep hygiene guidelines aren't typically popular with teenagers, but are essential habits for their health. 'This is often an uphill battle, but it is really, really important,' Schneider said. 'They can think of sleep like the language kids speak, like getting a good charge on your phone. Your phone does not function when it's at 1 percent, and we don't function when we don't get sleep.' Schneider said that it's best to start getting kids on a sleep schedule one to two weeks before school starts, if possible. 'I would say, go to bed at your normal bedtime, and then try to wake up at your scheduled wake-up time,' Schneider said. 'And then the next night, you should start to feel tired earlier. And you still might have some fatigue, kind of for the first week or so as you try this. But that will try to help ensure that you're not having enough fatigue at school, where the stakes are higher.' How to help kids with back-to-school anxiety Some school anxiety is normal for kids of all ages, Schneider said. Having a series of discussions will help clue parents into any issues that need more conversations or if there is something clinically concerning that should be looked at further. 'I would really encourage a parent to really listen and find that balance between validation and normalization, right? Because it is normal to feel kind of jitterish before school begins,' Schneider said. Schneider said that it's important parents don't over-normalize, but also listen and address any specific concerns their kids have. During the discussions, parents can try to hone in on where the anxiety is coming from and try to help ease some of that anxiety. '[Things like] what to do if you're in a classroom and you don't know anyone in the class, or what can you do if you do have to ask the teacher for help because you don't understand the assignment,' Schneider said. 'So I think practicing and role play can help with not only mastery, but growing that confidence and hopefully helping the child realize that 'I can get through it, I can tolerate this anxiety, and hopefully move to a place where I'm feeling less stressed.'' She also emphasized that parents shouldn't overaccommodate kids' requests to stay home from school due to anxiety, as this might make it harder to return to school. ' I would say, ripping the band-aid off and sort of gently saying [something like] 'You have to go to school, but afterwards, we're going to go to Dairy Queen,' or 'We're going to have a dance party,' Schneider said. 'Something to celebrate the child's bravery, I think, is really important.' Haq said that for younger kids, especially those going to school for the first time, it's essential to visit their teacher and classroom beforehand if possible. This might also be a good opportunity to familiarize themselves with the bathrooms and how things work. This will help kids feel more comfortable before they are there full-time. She said that setting the ground for how to behave at school and expectations helps kids know what to expect when school starts. This time can also be difficult for parents sending their child off to school for the first time. However, Haq advises parents to remain positive when discussing school with their kids and to encourage them. '[Tell your kids things like] 'You're so big now, you're going to be doing bigger things and trying new things,'' Haq said. 'And we might not know what they'll look like, but with practice, we will get good at them — you'll learn them.' Another conversation experts say parents should have with their kids is about screen time, especially how to stay safe online. Haq said having age-appropriate conversations about communicating with friends online, and what to do if they get questionable messages or are shown inappropriate pictures by classmates, is important. It's also important for kids to know they can talk to their parents about these issues. '[Let them know that] if their friend shows them something or tries to involve them in something, they're not going to be automatically in trouble,' Haq said. 'It's important that they can tell you in a safe space without you judging them and just trying to help them out in those tricky situations.' How to help kids through after-school meltdowns Schneider suggests having a routine after school that allows for some downtime, which gives kids a chance to unwind before dinner and homework. 'Maybe there's something positive, something reinforcing when they return home from school,' Schneider said. 'Sort of as a way to say, like, 'Good job, you got through the day.'' Haq also noted that just as parents need a little downtime after work, each kid has different needs after school. Some kids need a healthy snack and quiet time alone, while others need a simple craft or activity to transition them to their evening routine. What are your family's biggest challenges or concerns right now? Finding child care can be tricky for younger parents. Others find themselves also caring for aging parents, the so-called 'sandwich generation.' Almost everyone is feeling the squeeze of higher prices. If you have any questions or story ideas about parenthood, please contact us here. 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Zawya
27-03-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Ministry of Health and Prevention: Combating obesity is a strategic health priority, overseen by a highly skilled national team
Organising workshops on managing childhood obesity as part of "Comprehensive School Health" project in collaboration with the World Health Organization. Agreement signed with Novo Nordisk Pharma Gulf to launch the national scientific guide for obesity management and weight control. UAE, Dubai: The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) has launched several initiatives over the course of the past year 2024 in collaboration with the World Health Organisation to support the National Program to Combat Obesity and tackle childhood obesity. The ministry also signed a landmark agreement with a renowned company to develop the national scientific guide for obesity management and weight control. To complement these efforts, training workshops were held to enhance staff skills and standardise protocols for early monitoring of obesity indicators. The Ministry emphasised that combating obesity is a strategic priority for the UAE's health system. Following the government directives, the ministry is stepping up efforts to improve public well-being and raise awareness about the lasting impact obesity can have on individuals, families, and the wider community. As part of these efforts, health authorities continued to implement nationwide programmes that promote physical activity from an early age, support balanced nutrition in schools, and provide comprehensive care for women during pre-pregnancy and prenatal stages—all while fostering healthier dietary habits across the nation. Supporting initiatives and programmes The Ministry of Health and Prevention also collaborated with the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean to host two specialised workshops: 'Health-Promoting Schools' and 'Essentials of Effective Health Communication for Managing Childhood Obesity'. Both fall under the ministry's 'Comprehensive School Health' project, aimed at embedding health education into the fabric of school life. MoHAP has also signed an agreement with Novo Nordisk Pharma Gulf to launch the national scientific guide for obesity management and weight control, a fundamental part of the country's National Strategy for Preventing and Managing Non-communicable Diseases. In parallel, the ministry conducted a series of training workshops aimed at strengthening the competencies of school health personnel. These sessions explored ways to enhance data accuracy and reliability and establish unified protocols for the collection and analysis of early obesity indicators among school-aged children nationwide. A supportive environment for health His Excellency Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector at the Ministry, stressed that tackling obesity—especially among children—is one of the health sector's top priorities. 'We're working to build a society where healthy living becomes second nature by creating an environment that supports wellness at every level, through the combined efforts of individuals, policymakers, government and private institutions, the media, and even food producers. In addition, the ministry is collaborating with partners from the health and education sectors to develop a national guide for food and beverages provided in schools.' He stressed that health awareness must be integrated into everyday school life, highlighting ongoing efforts such as the health-Promoting Schools programme and the Masar Initiative, which aim to instil a culture of well-being among students, adolescents, and healthcare providers. In addition to these efforts, the ministry will continue to roll out public awareness campaigns as well as community-based initiatives throughout the year. The upcoming National Health and Nutrition Survey, Dr. Al Rand noted, will measure obesity rates among adults and children across the country—data that will help shape future health programmes and national strategies.
