Do you find yourself sneaking glances at your kid’s math textbook to try and remember how to do it before they inevitably ask for your help? Panic over packing lunches? Breaking a sweat worrying when your kids will get back into the rhythm of getting up early for school?
The back-to-school season isn’t just hard for kids; it’s stressful for parents as well. If your kids are leaving for university for the first time, that can add to your anxiety too.
So what are the best ways to make this transition time less stressful?
Make packing lunch fun (and easy)
Tanya Choy, PHC Dietitian, has some great, easy, make at home recipes that are perfect for the back to school season.
Check out all of her great suggestions.
Make sure you and your kids get a good night’s sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep can be difficult, but it offers the greatest benefits to your health – particularly your heart. A new study, published in Nature, found that insufficient sleep can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.
PHC’s Dr. Scott Lear, Pfizer/Heart and Stroke Foundation Chair in Cardiovascular Prevention Research at St. Paul’s Hospital, has some top tips for getting the best shut-eye you can.
Nip bad habits in the bud early
Vaping is on the rise with youth across Canada, so it would make sense for parents to worry about the impact of this new trend on their kids.
According to Dr. Chris Carlsten, Principal Investigator at the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation at St. Paul’s Hospital, “The #1 biggest concern with the e-cigarette trend is that a whole new generation of people, and particularly youth, are getting addicted to nicotine.”
The best way you can try to curb vaping in your kids? Have an open and honest conversation with them to share important health information.
Know the difference between a cold and the flu
Heading back to school means more opportunities for catching colds, and the flu season is just a few months away. Take a couple minutes to familiarize yourself with the difference between a regular cold and the flu (and some easy ways you can help prevent the spread of the flu!)
September is a month of transitions, and not just for your child or young adult. So remember – also take time to care for yourself. And have a great year!
