BY DEBORAH SKOLNIK<\/i><\/p>\n
Being prepared involves more than just new backpacks and clothing.<\/p>\n
The days are getting shorter, and before you know it the \u201cDrive Carefully\u201d posters will be popping up on telephone poles around the Valley. It\u2019s soon going to be time to send the kids to school. But are you ready?<\/p>\n
Now is the time to make sure you\u2019ve met your kids\u2019 medical, dental, and even mental health needs. We asked three experts \u2014 a pediatrician, periodontist, and child psychologist \u2014 about what to do now to help ensure a happy and healthy school year.<\/p>\n
Has your child had a check-up this year? Kids must have a physical examination prior to entering pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, along with second, fourth, seventh, and 10th grades. But aim to do more than just obey the letter of the law. \u201cThe American Academy of Pediatrics recommends an annual physical,\u201d points out Jeanne Wilson, a pediatrician with Boston Children\u2019s Health Physicians in Hawthorne, and the physician and medical director for the Mount Pleasant School District. If your child has a medical condition such as asthma, write out an action plan for care with his physician.<\/p>\n
Starting around seventh grade, kids who participate in sports require a pre-participation physical. If your child has a condition (for example, diabetes) that may require special care during practices and games, find out what medical support will be available. And, of course, make sure all your child\u2019s emergency cards are filled out.<\/p>\n
The physical\u2019s scheduled? Great job. Now head to the dentist, too. \u201cYou really want to get a dental checkup before school starts,\u201d says Mario Vilardi,DM, a periodontist, owner of Hudson Valley Dental Implants and Periodontics in Fishkill, and publisher of the patient education magazine Dear Doctor – Dentistry & Oral Health. \u201cYou don\u2019t want your child having difficulty in school due to unexpected mouth pain,\u201d Dr. Vilardi stresses.<\/p>\n
Consider diet, too: \u201cStart modeling good examples regarding nutrition,\u201d Dr. Vilardi says. This includes beverages: sports \u201cades\u201d or vitamin water \u201care acidic and can start to dissolve the surface of teeth over time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last of all, familiarize yourself with protocol for a dental emergency. \u201cThe key is knowing the three main trauma categories \u2014 \u2018immediate,\u2019 requiring immediate dental care, \u2018urgent,\u2019 requiring a dental visit within six hours, or \u2018less urgent,\u2019 meaning that you can wait up to 12 hours to see the dentist,\u201d Dr. Vilardi says.<\/p>\n
The loss of an adult tooth is an immediate-level accident. \u201cGet that tooth and try to put it back in its socket within five minutes,\u201d Dr. Vilardi advises. \u201cIf you can\u2019t, put the tooth in a bag filled with milk or cold water, and get to the dental office and let them do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
A dislodged adult tooth \u2014 knocked loose, but still in its socket \u2014 is urgent, but most broken teeth are not, if they aren\u2019t bleeding.<\/p>\n
The start of a new school year is especially tricky for children who are starting a new school. Dr. Karen Hebert, a child psychologist and cognitive behavioral psychologist at Hudson Valley Center for Cognitive Therapy in Nyack, regularly counsels kids and families facing this situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cArrange to take a tour of the new school,\u201d she advises. Try to meet your child\u2019s teachers in advance. Dr. Hebert is also a fan of buddying up: Ask the school to pair your child with a classmate who can introduce her to people and sit with her at lunch.<\/p>\n
\u201cEncourage her to think about some good things that will happen, the new friendships she\u2019ll make, and the activities she\u2019ll try,\u201d Dr. Hebert explains. And arrange to do something extra-fun after the first day.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also important to talk about bullying, as it\u2019s a big cause of unhappiness at school: \u201cDiscuss whom to talk to at school and also at home about what has happened.\u201d And stay alert to signs of bullying \u2014 anxiety, mood changes, attempts to avoid school, or even headaches and stomachaches. Gently inquire if anything is wrong, and speak to school administrators if necessary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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