These days, more and more parents are realizing that their children can experience health issues within the school environment. Yet by learning more about these issues, you can contribute to your child’s physical and mental well-being. Below you will find just four of many health concerns that may arise when your child goes to school:
Poor Food Quality
It’s no secret that children all over the nation are attending schools where the food quality is mediocre or poor. In “The Problem Is Gross School Lunch. These High Schoolers Are Fixing It,” Joseph Erbentraut documents the experiences and activities of students who attended a school where they were served questionable meat, spoiled produce, and still-frozen fruit cups. Eating low quality food can have a profoundly negative impact on your child’s health. For example, nutritionally vacuous meals can lead to poor concentration and weight gain. To prevent this from happening, consider packing healthy lunches and snacks for your child rather than allowing him or her to eat the foods served in the cafeteria.
Lice
Many parents are concerned about whether their child will develop lice in school. This is something that can be spread from person to person through head-to-head contact. An example would be when children put their heads together while looking into the same book. Another example would be kids hugging. Sharing clothing items such as scarves, hair ties, caps, and hats can also lead to the spread of lice. Because this type of interaction is likely to transpire in the school context, parents may be wary of their child contracting lice within this setting. If you find that this happens, you can obtain professional help and resolutions from organizations, such as Heartland Healthy Heads, that can actually help you get rid of your child’s lice.
Stress
School can be stressful for numerous reasons. For example, children may become stressed out regarding how to build friendships and fit in while earning their education. Children may also become stressed about how to earn high scores in order to gain approval from parents and teachers. There are many things you can do to decrease your child’s stress levels. One of the things that you can do to help your child keep stress under control is to emphasize the importance of exercising every day, consuming a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep. Doing this will help them to feel some stability in their life, which will also help decrease their stress levels.
If you want your children to lead a productive and powerful life, you need to ensure that attending school does not present them with unwanted health risks. Use the information found in this quick reference guide to ensure that your child can maintain her or his well-being within the educational environment.
