Back to School Happy and Healthy

ByABC News
August 29, 2002, 1:01 PM

Aug. 30, 2002 -- The end of August signals not only the close of summer, but also the beginning of the school year, which can be a major cause of friction between parents and children.

TV commercials show parents dancing through the aisles as they purchase pens, pencils and notebooks for their kids who look on despondently. But the misery can cut both ways as parents battle with children who are adjusting to new sleep schedules, doing homework and following stricter routines.

With a little planning, experts say that the transition can be almost painless.

Establishing Routines

The first major area of conflict revolves around getting rest. "Sleep time is frequently an area of contention between parents and children," says Dr. Herman Gray, chief of staff at Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit. "Kids always want to stay up later than parents want them to."

But getting too little sleep can make your little ones grumpy, unable to focus and may compound feelings of anxiety over the start of school.

In a perfect world, one month before the start of school the bedtimes for all kids everywhere would start to get earlier and earlier so that kids can make the adjustment gradually. In the real world, a few parents may be looking at the start of school in a few days with no adjustment in sight. Even then, a little bit of schedule tinkering can go a long way.

"If parents have a shorter time, they can still start doing it now even if it's just a weekend," explains Pete Stavinoha, a child psychologist at Children's Medical Center of Dallas, Texas. "What you don't want to do is let your kids sleep until 10 on Saturday and Sunday if they are starting school on Monday."

Lunch Time

With what many pediatricians characterize as an epidemic of childhood obesity making headlines, encouraging healthy eating is one part of a crucial equation for maintaining a healthy weight. Packing a healthy lunch for your child can help them make healthful choices, but don't forget their input.