It's Really Only a Purple World

Ten Tips for Ensuring a Healthy, Safe and Successful School Year!

Can you believe it?  Is it possible?  Yes, I am afraid it is time.  Time to start thinking about Back To School and all the things that go with thinking and planning for a successful school year.

Twittermoms recently asked bloggers to come up with a Top 10 List of Back To School safety tips for the upcoming year.  It didn't take me long to come up with the following:

(1) Take care of health screenings now - time for that physical, yearly dental exam, and eye exam.  Bottom line is if medical issues are not taken care of at the beginning, they will only be a problem later on.  As a mater of fact, Airwear’s, an eco-friendly eyewear company and sponsor of this topical post, is hosting an essay contest at http://www.lightersafergreener.com/. Airwear and TwitterMom, Beth Aldrich, are sponsoring an essay contest for consumers, encouraging parents and care-givers to share how they plan to help their kids live a healthy, safe and successful school year. Families can submit their thoughts by visiting LighterSaferGreener.com.  One grand prize winner will be awarded $1,000, while 10 first prize winners will receive vouchers for Airwear lenses valued up to $400

(2) Review school bus safety rules with your children, no matter how old they are - it never fails; at the start of every school year there is always a new story about a child that gets injured because they failed to follow basic school bus safety guidelines.

(3) Make sure that your child gets a good, healthy start to their day and chooses wisely in their school cafeteria.   Encourage fresh fruits and vegetables, and discourage grazing or snacking that interferes with a nutritious meal.

(4) Establish a quiet, safe, comfortable place in your home for your child to do their homework.  TVs or computers in the background just serve as a distraction and can frustrate an already stressed out child.

(5) Make sure your child knows his/her address, phone number, and emergency contact information.  If they are too young to memorize it, write it inside of their backpack or school bag. 

(6) Establish clear ground rules for computer and/or cell phone use, especially in older children.  Install filters on every computer and disable web cams or password protect them in advance.

(7) Make sure your child has a good, sturdy backpack that fits correctly to prevent damage to their back and neck.  If books are too heavy, purchase one that has wheels to make it easier and safer to transport.

(8) Encourage your child to communicate with you openly and develop a plan if your child feels threatened by another child or adult while at school.  Review good touches/bad touches with younger children as well as what is acceptable behavior with their peers.

(9) Make sure your child understands ways to keep themselves from catching whatever illness might be making the rounds of your community.  Review hand washing and make sure they understand to see a nurse immediately if they don't feel good.

(10) Especially for younger children, remove or cut short any drawstrings that are too long, especially around their neck area.

What are some of your tips to ensure a safe and healthy school year for your children?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Airwear blogging program, making me eligible to get a $25 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, visit http://airwear.twittermoms.com/about.