BACKPACK SAFETY
When worn improperly, backpacks can cause a significant amount of lower back pain and strain, even in young children. While rolling backpacks offer an easy solution, older kids (especially middle schoolers), often refuse to use them. If this is the case with your child, remember that a standard backpack should have a padded back and padded shoulder straps. This will significantly minimize any discomfort that can result from carrying a heavy load. A heavier backpack will cause your child to bend forward in an attempt to support the weight on his/her back rather than shoulders, and can lead to muscle imbalance that may turn into chronic back and neck problems. To avoid any excess weight, help your child empty the backpack of any unnecessary items each night and encourage well-organized packing. Backpacks should never weigh more than 10 to 15 percent of the your child’s body weight. If you find that the backpack is consistently too heavy, speak with your child’s teacher(s) about leaving heavier books at school and bringing home only what is necessary.
Most importantly, your child should wear BOTH shoulder straps; slinging a backpack over only one shoulder causes a disproportionate shift of weight to one side and can lead to neck and muscle spasms as well as chronic lower back pain. Make sure the backpack features adjustable shoulder straps as well so it can be fitted to your child’s body. If the straps are too loose, the backpack will dangle awkwardly and cause discomfort and even spinal misalignment.
Talk to your child about proper backpack use and remind him/her that wearing a backpack incorrectly is dangerous and can cause chronic problems and long-term damage.
CLOTHING
Try to avoid dressing your child in excessively loose articles of clothing or dangling accessories that could easily catch in car or school bus doors and playground equipment. Anything of this nature on or around the neck including drawstrings on hoods and scarves can be extremely dangerous, so avoid these completely.
Look for sturdy shoes with good heel strength. Podiatrists recommend high quality sneakers or flat shoes, and not flip-flops. To ensure shoes fit properly, there should be a thumb’s width between the end of the big toe and the end of the shoe. Proper footwear will keep your child comfortable throughout an activity-full school day and minimize the possibility of foot injury. When buying shoes for your child, don’t sacrifice fit and support for trendy styles as many foot problems experienced by adults begin with ill-fitting shoes worn during childhood.
Try to encourage your child to dress age-appropriately for added safety and comfort.
TRAVELING TO AND FROM SCHOOL ?
Young children should always be supervised by an adult when walking to school or waiting for the bus. As your child gets older, he/she will want to travel without an adult. Before allowing this, make sure you are comfortable with his/her level of responsibility and try to find another child in the neighborhood with whom he/she can walk to school or ride the bus.
Teach your child never to talk to strangers or accept rides or gifts from strangers. Remember, a stranger is anyone you or your children don’t know well or don’t trust.
Whether your child is walking, biking, or riding the bus to school, teach him/her to obey all traffic signals, signs, and traffic officers and to be extra careful in bad weather.
Be sure that your child knows his/her home phone number and address, your work number, the number of another trusted adult, and how to call 911 for emergencies
School Bus
Review these basic rules with your child before he/she takes the school bus:
• Do not play in the street while waiting for the bus.
• Wait for the bus to stop before approaching it from the curb.
• Carry all loose belongings in a bag or backpack and never reach under the school bus to get anything that has rolled or fallen beneath it.
• Line up facing the bus, not along side it.
• Wait for a signal from the bus driver before crossing the street and walk at least 10 steps away from the front of the bus so the driver can see you.
• Check to see that no other traffic is coming before crossing, even if the driver has signaled.
• Do not move around on the bus.
• Always wear a seat belt if one is available.
• Make sure to always remain in clear view of the bus driver.
• Move immediately onto the sidewalk and out of traffic after getting off the bus.
Car
All passengers should wear a seat belt and/or an age- and size-appropriate car safety seat or booster seat.
Your child should ride in a car safety seat with a harness as long as possible, and then ride in a belt-positioning booster seat. Your child is ready for a booster seat when he/she has reached the top weight or height allowed for the seat, his/her shoulders are above the top harness slots, or his/her ears have reached the top of the seat.
Your child should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly (usually when the child reaches about 4′ 9″ in height and is between 8 to 12 years of age). This means that the child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with her legs bent at the knees and feet hanging down and the shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat; the lap belt is low and snug across the thighs, and not the stomach.
Use your best and most cautious judgment when assessing whether or not your child has outgrown his/her current seating arrangement.
All children under 13 years of age should ride in the rear seat of vehicles.
Car safety is especially important with adolescent drivers. Remember that many crashes occur while beginner teen drivers are traveling to and from school. When possible, try to limit the number of teen passengers to prevent driver distraction. Do not allow your teen to drive while eating, drinking, or using a cell phone (this includes texting!).
Bike
Bike riding can be very dangerous if your child is unaware of the “rules of the road”, so be sure to educate him/her as completely as possible.
Review these basic rules with your child before he/she rides a bike:
• Always wear a bicycle helmet, no matter how short or long the ride.
• Ride on the right, in the same direction as auto traffic.
• Use appropriate hand signals.
• Respect traffic lights and stop signs.
• Wear bright color clothing to increase visibility.
• Avoid loose fitting clothing that could get caught in spokes or pedals.
Walking to School
Make sure your child’s walk to a school is a safe route with well-trained adult crossing guards at every intersection.
Be realistic about your child’s pedestrian skills. Because small children are impulsive and less cautious around traffic, carefully consider whether or not your child is ready to walk to school without adult supervision.
If your child is young or is walking to a new school, walk with them the first week to make sure they know the route and can do it safely.
Once you decide that your child is allowed to travel without adult supervision, remember that walking with a companion or two is always safer than walking alone and encourage the buddy system with a local friend. And, although it seems safer, avoid allowing your child to walk with a large group as children can get more easily distracted and pay less attention to their surroundings when surrounded by too many peers.
EATING DURING THE SCHOOL DAY
Eating well is extremely important to your child’s health and performance in school. Starting the day with a substantial breakfast is proven to maximize your child’s level of school day engagement and effort. If your child brings lunch to school, prepare a wholesome and nourishing meal and allow him/her to watch you do so and help. His/her direct involvement will foster healthy habits. If lunch is provided, educate your child about nutritious options and encourage healthy choices. Remember, good eating habits start at home!
Try to get your child’s school to stock healthy choices such as fresh fruit, low-fat dairy products, water, and 100 percent fruit juice in the vending machines.
Discourage your child from drinking soda and other sugary beverages. Each 12-ounce soft drink contains approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar and 150 calories. Drinking just one can of soda a day increases a child’s risk of obesity by 60%. Restrict your child’s soft drink consumption.
BULLYING
Bullying occurs when one child picks on another child repeatedly. It can be physical, verbal, or social and can happen at school, on the playground, on the school bus, in the neighborhood, or over the internet.
Help your child learn how to respond appropriately, including:
• Standing tall and staying calm in a difficult situation
• Looking the bully in the eye
• Walking away
• Firmly saying:
o “I don’t like what you are doing.”
o “Please do NOT talk to me like that.”
o “Why would you say that?”
• Asking an adult for help
Encourage your child to make friends with other children and schedule play dates.
Support activities that interest your child.
Alert school officials to the problems and work with them on solutions.
Make sure an adult who knows about the bullying can watch out for your child’s safety and well being when you cannot be there.
Communicate with your child about any bullying he/she experiences and be mindful of his/her moods before and after the school day. Bullying can seriously impede a child’s self-confidence so it is important that you are attentive and encouraging.
CHILD CARE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL
During middle childhood, youngsters need supervision. A responsible adult should be available to get your child ready and off to school in the morning and watch over him/her after school until you return home from work.
Children approaching adolescence (11- and 12-year-olds) should not come home to an empty house in the afternoon unless they show unusual maturity for their age.
If you choose a commercial after-school program, inquire about the training of the staff. There should be a high staff-to-child ratio, and the rooms and the playground should be safe.
DEVELOPING GOOD HOMEWORK AND STUDY HABITS
Create an environment that is conducive to doing homework. Children need a quiet, permanent workspace in their bedroom or another part of the home that offers privacy.
Set aside ample time for homework.
Establish a household rule that the TV set stays off during homework time, and avoid installing one in your child’s bedroom.
Supervise computer use, and educate your child about the dangers of the personal information and the internet.
Be available to answer questions and offer assistance, but never do a child’s homework for her.
Encourage your child to talk with you about his/her day each night. You will establish a supportive and open discussion about his/her experiences at school, and can catch any possible issues early. Remember, if you are excited about education, your child will be too!
This entry was posted
on Thursday, July 30th, 2009 at 4:54 pm and is filed under Dr Geary.
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