Back-to-School Tips from Henry Ford Health System Pediatrics

DETROIT – As it does every year, summer has flown by and it’s now back-to-school season. If you are a parent looking for guidance to help you transition your child into school mode, you are not alone. Dr. Charles Barone, chair of Henry Ford Health System pediatrics, offers tips parents should keep in mind as their children head back to school.

A Better Bedtime
“As you get closer to the time of year when school’s getting ready to start, parents should be sure that their children are getting to bed earlier,” Dr. Barone said. “They should get on that schedule at least a week before school starts, if not a little earlier, so the kids are rested and ready to go on that first day back.”

Dr. Barone also recommends parents limit their children to two hours or less of screen time per day, including watching TV, playing with computers or tablets, or using phones. Parents should avoid allowing their children to use any of the devices at least an hour before bedtime. Avoiding these activities will decrease the amount of stimulation children are exposed to, which helps with falling asleep, Dr. Barone adds.

Immunizations
“Parents should also be sure that their children are up-to-date on their immunizations before heading back. There are several immunizations that are currently required for school,” Dr. Barone said.

To help parents remember when certain immunizations are recommended for their children, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers printable schedules:
Recommended immunizations for children who are 0-6 years old
Recommended immunizations for children who are 7-18 years old

Dr. Barone explains the recommended immunizations by age group in the video below.

To help make sure all children have access to the recommended immunizations, Henry Ford Health System, Wayne State University, and the Detroit Health Department have teamed up to offer free immunization fairs in Detroit as part of the Vaccines for Children program. Children who are younger than 19 years old, and uninsured, underinsured, Medicaid eligible, American Indian or Alaskan Native are eligible to receive the recommended immunizations at no cost.

Upcoming immunization fairs:

4 – 7 p.m. Aug. 24, 2018
Detroit Diaper Bank - Bridging Communities Office
6900 McGraw Detroit, MI 48210

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Aug. 26, 2018
Tabernacle Missionary Church
2080 West Grand Blvd. Detroit, MI 48208

Noon - 7 p.m. Oct. 14, 2018
Messiah Baptist Church
8100 W. 7 Mile Rd.  Detroit, MI 48221

To find out more about vaccines and to request an appointment with a Henry Ford pediatrician, visit HenryFord.com/Vaccines or call 800-HENRYFORD (436-7936).

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jeff Adkins
586-307-2027
jadkins6@hfhs.org