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SCHOOL
DAYS ARE
HERE
AGAIN!
Make sure your child is
off to a healthy start
THERE’S A LOT
to remember when
you’re preparing for kids to go back
to school. Do their clothes and shoes
still fit? Do they need school supplies
or sports gear?
As you’re crossing things off your to-do list, there
are some healthy back-to-school essentials you should
remember.
CHECK OFF A CHECKUP
Back-to-school time is a great
time for your child’s yearly wellness exam.
An annual wellness exam gives your child’s doctor a
chance to check your child’s overall health, look for any
emerging problems, answer questions and offer advice
about staying healthy.
In addition, the doctor can make sure that your child’s
immunizations are up-to-date. These immunizations can
greatly reduce your child’s risk of serious illness, and
schools may require kids to be vaccinated before they
can attend. This is also the perfect time to advise your
provider about any sports your child may be participating
in and have his or her yearly release signed.
Kids should also have regular hearing, vision and den-
tal checkups—and back-to-school time is a convenient
time to get these done.
SMART START
Good health can help kids miss fewer
days of school and do better on schoolwork. In addition
to back-to-school physicals, here are some ways to sup-
port kids’ health and help them succeed in school.
Encourage your kids to:
●
●
Get enough sleep.
Teens need about 9 hours a night,
younger kids need about 10, and preschoolers need
11 hours or more. Lack of sleep can
cause problems with learning, concen-
tration and mood.
●
●
Eat breakfast.
Studies show that
eating breakfast improves students’
physical and mental performance.
●
●
Build a better backpack.
Your kids
should use all of the compartments in
their backpacks and pack heavier items
closest to the center of their back. And
even though it may look cool, a back-
pack should never be slung over just
one shoulder—using both shoulder
straps can help prevent strained muscles.
●
●
Develop good homework and study habits.
Establish
a schedule for doing homework. Designate a space at
home for studying that is quiet and free of distractions.
And make sure the TV and other electronic distractions
stay off while your kids are doing homework.
●
●
Report bullying.
Whether bullying takes place at
school, on the playground, or through a computer or
cellphone, it’s important that the bad behavior is reported
and stopped. Teach your children when and how to ask a
trusted adult for help. And do your part by working with
school officials to find solutions to any bullying.
Sources: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; American Academy of Pediatrics; Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention; National Institutes of Health
5-2-1-0 BUILDS HEALTHY HABITS EVERY DAY
AS PART
of a larger effort to reduce childhood obesity in
the greater Moses Lake area, local physicians have been en-
gaging their young patients and their parents in the 5-2-1-0
program aimed at starting healthy habits at a young age.
The basis of 5-2-1-0 is that, each day, children should eat
five or more fruits and vegetables, spend two hours or less
on screen time, get one or more hours of physical activity,
and drink zero sugary or high-calorie drinks. See your lo-
cal provider for a well-child exam this year, and you may
receive a “prescription to play.” This offers children the op-
portunity to take one designated class through Moses Lake
Parks &Recreation to increase exposure to physical activity.
WHAT IS THE COLUMBIA BASIN COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTH?
In early 2014, a group of
local health care organizations began meeting to discuss
how they could collectively impact the health of the
residents of the Columbia Basin. Out of these meetings,
Samaritan Healthcare, Confluence Health, Moses Lake
Community Health Center and Grant County Health
District created a health partnership organization that
works together to make measurable and sustainable
improvements in the health status of the Columbia Basin
communities.
STARTING WITH HEALTHY BEGINNINGS
The Columbia
Basin Community Partnership for Health is dedicated to
reducing the obesity rate by 10 percent in children ages
2 to 5 by May 2020.
The partnership continues to design and implement
community and clinic interventions toward this goal. As
the group discussed policies, systems and environmental
changes that could support the reduction of childhood
obesity, the Healthy Beginnings initiative was adopted.
W
ould your kids
rather do home-
work than eat
their veggies?
You might try these five
veggie-friendly strategies to
get your kids eating more
vegetables—and liking it.
1
Let them loose in the
produce aisle.
They can
pick out veggies they’d like
to try.
2
Turn them into chefs.
Let kids make their own
salads, tacos or wraps. Fill
small bowls with avocado,
broccoli, tomatoes or other
ingredients, and they can
pick and choose.
3
Have a family con-
test.
See who can reach
their daily vegetable goal.
The winner gets a prize!
4
Fake them out.
Whip
up some pureed cauliflower,
add a little butter and salt,
and you have a mashed
potato fake-out.
5
Let them give ’em a
dip.
Serve veggies with a
favorite dip, such as low-fat
ranch dressing, peanut but-
ter or salsa.
Sources: Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics; Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
IT’s always a great time to make fruits & veggies a habit!
5
OR MORE FRUITS
& VEGETABLES
2
HOURS OR LESS
SCREEN TIME
1
HOUR OR MORE
PHYSICALACTIVITY
0
SUGARY & HIGH
CALORIE DRINKS
PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTH
COLUMB I A BAS I N
Give me 5!
Tasty tips for
making veggies
appealing to kids
Need a doctor for your child? Our
family medicine doctors and pediatricians are
accepting new patients. For an appointment,
call Samaritan Family Medicine at 793-9780 or
Samaritan Parkview Pediatrics at 766-9450.
F A L L 2 0 1 6
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T H E
S A M A R I T A N