JLove’s Interview: Back to School...Healthy Style!!

JLove’s Interview: Back to School...Healthy Style!!

Do you struggle to figure out how to create a healthy and positive back-to-school experience for your kids? You are not alone.

I went straight to the source and discussed these issues with a highly respected teacher and educator. Jessica Hinsch Raba, formerly a middle school teacher in Bronxville, NY and most recently in Washington Heights, has been in education for 10 years. What Jessica enjoys most about being a teacher is that every day is totally new. Never a dull moment she admits. Here is my interview with Jessica.

JLove: What do you see as the biggest challenges for parents in getting their kids a healthy start to going back to school?  

Jessica: Getting back into a routine after summer, with its relaxed schedule, can be a major challenge.  Summer often means late nights.

JLove: So true. With all of this change, what follows is often a great deal of stress. What are some things parents can help kids do to battle stress and fatigue?  

Jessica: Make sure they get enough sleep!  Make sure they eat a healthy breakfast!  Have them keep a water bottle with them to take from class to class.  

JLove: Oh, I like the water bottle suggestion. We often forget how important hydration is in balancing the body's natural rhythms. Not to mention, proper hydration reduces impulse eating. In fact improper snacking can lead to bad habits, such as overeating and snacking on junk food. What are some healthy alternatives?

Jessica: Try to pack a lunch daily and pack snacks to get your kids through the different slumps of the school day.  Simple snacks, such as apple slices and some peanut butter are easy to pack!

JLove: Maybe even a daily dose of dark chocolate. Organic of course! :) We've all grown up with the old adage: 'Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.' What are your thoughts on this?  

Jessica: I couldn't agree more!  Students, in particular, adolescents, need all the help they can get in order to avoid that mid-afternoon slump!

JLove: Speaking of slumps, the flu season is coming up! What are things parents and students can do to avoid getting sick?  

Jessica: Eat well, sleep, get moving, and drink water!  Repeat, repeat, repeat that cycle!

JLove: This seems so easy. Yet many parents and kids struggle with it. So, how important is sleep for a student?  

Jessica: Oh my gosh, I would say that this is one of the key factors in alertness and resulting achievement, if that makes sense.  I regularly had students who struggled to get to school on time because they slept in, and once in the classroom, struggled to focus.  When I would chat with them individually, they would tell me they had been up late playing video games.  Parents, please consider not having TVs and gaming systems in your child's room!!

JLove: Yes!! Great suggestion Jessica. I'm also curious what your thoughts are on the role that exercise plays in students health?

Jessica: Unfortunately, many schools have to limit the amount of recreational time students have during the school day, and children often do not even have daily recess.  Even on those cold days, get your children outside, if just for a brisk walk around the neighborhood, to pick up some fruits and veggies, or just to walk and talk.  It will be good for you too!

JLove: So, it sounds like parents and kids need to take daily exercise into their own hands. What are the top 5 things kids and parents can do to help create a successful and healthy start to going back to school?  

 Jessica:

1.     Do something fun towards the end of the summer!  Just because school is starting doesn't mean the fun has to be over!

2.   Talk about the upcoming school year, including your child's excitements, fears, etc.

3.   Make eating healthily fun!  Involve your kids in the process of planning, shopping, and making breakfasts and lunches. 

4.   Take the TVs out of your child's room and try to limit viewing time in favor of active play and conversation.  There's a place for video games and I believe they can promote learning, but not to the point that sleep and relationship-building are sacrificed!  My friends make fun of me, but when I was a kid, my mom and dad (both teachers, too!) would give us a set number of plastic links each week, with each link representing a half-hour of television.  We had to turn in our links as we chose to watch shows, and this not only limited our screen time, but it also provided powerful lessons in decision-making and planning ahead.  This approach doesn't have to be limited to TV, however. Consider it for all manner of screen time! 

5.Before the year starts, consider and implement a routine for homework and studying. Do what works for your family, and if you are able, try to read with your kids, either together, or independently in the same space.  Modeling the type of behavior you want is key!

JLove: Thank you so much Jessica. You have provided some very insightful suggestions for parents and their kids as they head into the school year.

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