Let’s Talk Health: Getting back in ‘shape’ for school

It’s that time of year again – when you race against the clock trying to wake your children, feed them, drop them off at school and hopefully still have time to grab a cup of coffee before work, all usually before 8 a.m.

This means it is also time to reassess bedtimes, eating habits, vaccination records and asthma action plans for your children.

Studies throughout the years have shown that how children feel has a close connection to how they perform in the classroom. If they are sleepy or hungry, chances are they are not as focused as they could be.

Leslie Schleth, head nurse at the Merced City School District, said that when a child is having trouble concentrating, the first thing school staff will inquire about is the student’s sleeping habits.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that adolescents get between 8.5 and 9.5 hours of a sleep per night. Younger children, Schleth said, should get 9 to 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep.

This may be especially difficult during the first few weeks of school when children and teenagers are readjusting from their summer schedules. Teens, who tend to fall asleep at later hours, may be at greater risk of being distracted because of lack of a good night’s rest.

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study that showed that fewer than 1 in 5 middle and high schools in the U.S. began school at the recommended 8:30 a.m. start time or later in the 2011-12 school year.

Starting school too early, the report said, can keep students from getting the sleep they need for health, safety and academic success.

The seemingly obvious answer would be to have teens sleep earlier, but that’s easier said than done. The report explained that biological rhythms during puberty tend to shift, so teenagers become tired later and need to sleep later.

Not receiving enough sleep, according to the CDC, is associated with a number of chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and depression.

In Merced, most high schools start the day around 8 a.m., and if students have a “zero” period, they have to be in class as early as 7 a.m. Most middle schools in the area, however, do start school around 9 a.m.

Schleth explained that a few years back, middle school schedules in the Merced School District were changed so that students in early adolescence could get more sleep and so that classes could be dismissed at a later time, reducing the time that students go unsupervised after school.

Going to class hungry can also be detrimental for students’ health and academic success. Although breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day, many children still show up to school without having eaten.

The Merced City School District offers free breakfast to all students, and many students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, but that doesn’t mean students will choose to eat. Schleth said she has noticed that a number of middle school students will skip lunch.

“And if they didn’t eat breakfast, you can imagine how they’re feeling at the end of a school day,” she said.

Another matter that needs attention before heading back to classes is immunization requirements.

In a statement released last week, Dr. Karen Smith, director of the state’s Public Health Department, urged parents to check with their children’s health care provider to ensure immunizations are current.

“Vaccinations are the best way to ensure that students are protected and to stop the spread of measles and other serious diseases,” Smith said.

As most parents know, children are required to have certain vaccinations in order to attend school or child care facilities.

One that may get overlooked by parents is the Tdap vaccine required before entering seventh grade. The Tdap vaccine is a booster shot that helps protect teens and preteens from diseases such as whooping cough.

“It can be a struggle for the school system,” Schleth said. “We do have families who up to the first day of school have failed to meet immunization requirements. We can’t allow them to start school like that.”

Costs do not have to be a barrier for childhood vaccinations. Children may qualify for free vaccines under the national Vaccines for Children program. A local provider or health department can provide more information on this program.

To learn more about the immunization requirements for school, parents can go to www.shotsforschool.org.

This story was originally published August 14, 2015 at 4:07 PM with the headline "Let’s Talk Health: Getting back in ‘shape’ for school."