Back to school!

How can I help my child transition from the swimming pool to study hall?

It can be hard for kids to leave behind the freedom of summer and trudge back into the classroom. However, the beginning of school is an important and exciting time for parents and children. Whether it’s the first day of kindergarten or the first year of high school, a few simple back-to-school preparations can help make the start of a new school year smoother for your children.

First, it is important for your child to be caught up on immunization shots. In fact, most states require children to be immunized before they can attend school. Even if your child has all of the required vaccines, call to make sure that the school has them on file — many children will not be allowed into their classrooms unless their health records are up-to-date.

Some of the necessary immunization shots include the hepatitis B vaccine; the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), which prevents pneumonia and meningitis; the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine (DTaP); the polio vaccine (IPV); and the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR). Children entering middle school should receive second diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, and measles, mumps and rubella vaccines. Check with your child’s doctor to make sure her immunizations are current.

Regular physical exams are important as well. The end of summer/beginning of fall is a good time to schedule eye and dental exams, and allergy checkups. If your children have medications that need to be taken during the day, it is a good idea to talk with the school nurse about amount and time. Also, children who participate in sports will benefit from an athletic physical. This pre-season exam can help identify any conditions that may limit ability or lead to injury.

Ensuring a healthy lifestyle for your children outside the doctor’s office is important as well — especially when it comes to nutrition — and you can make sure that they start off the school year with good eating habits. Studies have shown that children who eat breakfast are more attentive in class, earn higher math grades and have fewer behavioral problems. If your children are running short on time in the mornings, you can prepare simple, nutritious breakfasts that they can eat while waiting for the bus or riding to school.

Some easy meals include sliced fruit with whole wheat bagels and cream cheese, whole grain banana muffins, multigrain toast with peanut butter or shredded cheese, and yogurt with granola as a topping.

Your children’s emotional needs are important as well; starting a new grade or a new school can be unsettling for some children. They may be nervous about raising their hands in class or making new friends. However, parents can do a few simple things to help their children adjust to these changes, including addressing any concerns with teachers, and encouraging participation in after-school activities, such as drama, dance or sports teams. All of these extracurricular activities make it easier for children to make new friends with similar interests.

Heart-healthy activities can help build a stronger immune system, reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, and strengthen the entire cardiovascular system, including the heart and lungs.

For more information about making the transition back to school easier for your children, contact the nurse or guidance counselor at your children’s school or your family physician. Your children will forget the end-of-summer blues as soon as they realize that the school year can offer as much fun and excitement as their summer vacation!

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Enabling Devices

<p><strong>Enabling Devices is a family-run business that designs, manufactures and sells adapted toys and accessible devices that make life more joyful and fulfilling for children and adults living with disabilities.</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>It started with a train set, a mercury switch, and a young boy whose therapist thought he couldn’t play with toys. In 1975 our founder, Dr. Steven Kanor, walked into a room at United Cerebral Palsy/Long Island and saw a boy sitting in a wheelchair, his head resting on his shoulder. When he asked where the toys were, the OT said, “He doesn’t have the motor skills to play with toys, and he can’t lift his head.” But Dr. Kanor was not interested in what the boy couldn’t do. He was interested in the boy's potential. The next morning, he was back. He’d brought a train set, which he’d connected to a mercury switch. The switch, the first capability switch he’d designed, was attached to the boy’s ear. When the boy raised his head, the switch made contact and the train ran around the tracks. After several weeks of playing with this toy, the boy was holding his head up straight, even when the train was not running. Dr. Kanor was elated.</p> <p>Since that day, he never stopped innovating, never stopped trying to make our products better, never stopped designing new devices. Today, our design team is just as passionate, just as creative, and just as committed to innovation as the man who founded this company. Enabling Devices is the place to find toys, devices and tools that help build more joyful, fulfilling lives. We have an extensive selection of adapted toys, capability switches, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices, adapted electronics, mounts, iPad products, sensory items and products for the visually impaired.</p> <p>Over the years, the important constants remain. We’re still the same small, family-run company Steven Kanor founded in 1978, with the same values of personal connection and deep product knowledge. We’re still committed to providing caring, individualized service to each customer. And we’re still grateful for the privilege of sharing in your journey.</p>

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