It's that time of the year where kids either back in school or getting ready to head back to school. I know our kids just went back this week, Summer. We're Jerry and Summer on WGTS 91.9. We wanna chat about that with the WGTS 91.9 Health Minute.
Yeah. And we actually have doctor doctor Lindsey Prescher. She's a cardiac surgeon with Adventist HealthCare. She's here with us today to share some of those key tips to make sure your kid is staying mentally healthy with that transition from summer to school. So, doctor Prescher, what are some common challenges students face as they transition from summer break back to school?
Oh, boy. My kids would love this one. So, I have three, going anywhere from elementary school into middle school, and I always find that it is a bit of a anxious time for them. So not only are they lamenting that they can't sleep in anymore, but they're always, you know, nervous about new teachers, new routines, new new things on the horizon.
You know? What is this year gonna look like for them? So I think when we go through our mental checklist with the kids and even for us as adults, you know, we're all praying and very thankful that they're back in a school routine. Right?
So it's gonna get back to some kinda order in the house.
I think starting early. Right? So get them back on their sleep cycles early. Right? Staying physically active, eating well.
Start packing those lunches early. I make my kids pack their own lunch, and I actually have a little checklist on the fridge of what needs to be included in there. Source of protein, source of vegetables, source of fruit, and then a little treat.
And, you know, kinda getting back into that routine of packing the lunches and being accountable for that.
I think, again, when we talk about screen times, I know in prior segments, I've talked a lot about screen times, but I'm a big believer in limiting screen time. It's just that overwhelming stimulation for them. When you're going from sitting in front of a TV, having something, you know, talk at you or on a phone and something look at you to a teacher talking at you and no visual stimulation. Kids get bored super easy. So I think, you know, the big thing is to start taking away those screens just a little bit during the day at a time and getting them back to that, creative play and and, communicating with themselves and their teachers.
Tell us doctor Prescher, how can parents and caregivers recognize signs of anxiety or depression in their children during this transition?
Yeah. So I think, you know, this, sabotaging, kids are very good when they're anxious at picking something else to play as their their blame or sabotaging something that they otherwise would not wouldn't necessarily do. So I know my kids in the past, have thrown, fits for, birthday parties. They've been you know, why are you not wanting to go to this birthday party? You love birthday parties. Well, it's overriding anxiety of something else that they're bringing into a new situation that's easier for them to rechannel that energy, that anxious nervous energy. So I think looking for cues, things that they normally wouldn't complain about, things that are out of the routine that, that they typically wouldn't do, behaviors.
They're they're standing off by themselves more. They're not talking a lot. They're not smiling, being active and playful. Those are all signs that they're feeling a little bit overwhelmed and may not be able to communicate their feelings with you.
And as our students head back, I mean, how can families reset healthy digital habits for the school year and bring that screen time down?
That's so funny. So I went, screen free this summer, and it was a very difficult adjustment for the first week. But I gotta say they're sleeping better. They're feeling better.
Their creativity is coming. I mean, it's even hard for me as an adult, right, to give up screens. I think some motivation is you can, we did popsicle sticks, and I put them in little solo cups, indoor activities, outdoor activities. And I had all my kids make popsicle sticks of different things that they would wanna do.
Right? And then if if it was raining, we picked an indoor activity and they drew from the cup. If it was, you know, nice outside, we picked an outdoor activity.
And so kind of that little, fun, starter kit, I would say, would be something nice. You can add in things that they, wouldn't necessarily wanna do, and you'll you'll find that even coloring becomes fun again when they don't have the ability to get on a screen.
That's all good advice. And if you need to hear any of that again from doctor Prescher, check it out and a bunch of other HealthCare minutes. They're on our website at wgts91.9.com.
And as always, a big thanks to Adventist HealthCare for sponsoring today's HealthCare Minute.
