Feature Channels: Back to School

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Poor nutrition habits can have a negative impact on health, body weight, and, behaviors formed during this initial period of independence can last a lifetime, said Anne Mathews, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of food science. While the so-called “Freshmen 15” is a bit of an exaggeration, most college students gain excess weight. On average, college students gain about 7 pounds during the first year, and many continue to gain weight at a slower rate throughout college.

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Despite the wishes of some schoolchildren, there's no such thing as an endless summer, and a Rowan Medicine physician says it's not too soon for kids - and their parents - to start preparing for the big changes that arrive with the first school bells of fall.

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As schools across the nation gear up for the new academic year, there are a variety of education issues students and teachers will face in the coming weeks, including Common Core/Florida Standards, language and reading development, and behavioral issues in the K-12 classroom. Experts from Florida State University are available to comment on these topics.

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The start of the school year is the most dangerous time on neighborhood streets and in school zones for child-pedestrians and bus riders.

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In the dog days of summer it can be easy to let your children sit in front of the television, but as the fall approaches, it is important to get the kids in an active routine. Karin Richards, chair of the Kinesiology Department at University of the Sciences, shares some ways to get your kids exercise without braving the heat.

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Between a new roommate, new bed, new noises, new freedoms and no parents, managing a good sleep schedule can be one of the hardest lessons to learn in college, says a sleep expert at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

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Students soon will leave behind the lazy summer days and go back to school, leaping — or crawling — out of bed when the alarm clock goes off. Baylor University sleep expert Michael Scullin, Ph.D., offers ways to make the transition.

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Today’s students are susceptible to a range of musculoskeletal injuries, such as neck and back pain, as a result of some of the equipment and devices they frequently use: backpacks, smartphones and other mobile devices. As the end of summer approaches, parents can help their children avoid the “aches and pains” of going back to school by providing some practical advice, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).

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The transition from high school to college can be as difficult for parents as it is for the students leaving the house. Becky Scott, M.S.W., lecturer in Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, shares four tips to help parents adjust when their children transition to college.

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Karen Sheehan, MD, general pediatrician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, shares tips on what you need to know about super lice.

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Reports of a super strain of head lice have many parents concerned as kids head back to the classrooms for the new school year. The dreaded “lice letter” that comes home in backpacks when lice is found in a classroom is causing even greater anxiety this year, as the bugs are becoming more resistant to over-the-counter shampoos and medications. A lice infestation is about as common as a cold, but trying to rid your life of them is even more of a head-scratcher than the disgusting bugs themselves.

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Ready or not, throngs of parents will say goodbye to their teenagers this month as their children transition to freshmen in college. Expert E. Christine Moll, PhD, offers advice for parents.

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Loyola University Health System psychologist Michael Hakimi, PsyD, offers ten tips to reduce school stress and ensure the new school year will be a success both in and outside of the classroom.

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It's the time of year when parents are celebrating the return to routine as their children return to school – unless you have a teenager. For parents of teens, getting their children to go to bed on time and get up on time can be a struggle.

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Part of heading back to school is actually getting your kids back to school safely. According to the Centers for Disease Control, on average, there is one pedestrian death every two hours and a pedestrian injury every eight minutes in the United States. Vehicles and kids can be a very scary combination whether the child is walking, biking, riding or driving.

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As the number of days of summer vacation decrease, children and adolescent anxiety levels often increase. In addition to getting school supplies, registration completed and vaccinations up to date, it’s important for parents to talk to their kids and understand how they feel about heading back to school.

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With the start of another school year, a University of Florida expert warns of a head-scratching problem ─ lice.

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Specialists at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles compiled a list of rules to remember on how to keep children safe and healthy as they return to school.

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As summer winds down, and students make their way back to the classroom, Broward College is offering several tips to help overcome the challenges and stress that come with the start of a new school year.

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Dr. Marcy’s focus is on the emotional aspects of the new school year — the stress it causes for kids and parents. She has a model called The Six Rs of Returning to School: Rest, Routine, Responsibility, Reassure, Resist and Role Modeling. She talks about how to help children with the sudden overwhelm of transitioning from summer fun and later nights to resuming long days in the classroom and doing nightly homework. She is also an expert on kids’ socialization issues, like bullying (how parents should manage if their kid is the victim or if their kid is the bully), dealing with new teachers, adjusting to a new school.

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As Americans settle into their new fall routines with sending kids back to school and returning to work after relaxing vacations, they are packing more lunches for both school and work in an effort to save money. In this economy, packing your lunch or your child’s can save your family money, and ensure a safe and healthy meal.

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Thousands of students across Greater Philadelphia will soon start the next chapter of their lives as they begin their college journeys away from home. But with their new freedom comes the exposure to millions of germs while living and studying in close quarters with others.

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Many children return to sports such as soccer, football, cross-country and volleyball when they return to school. Physicians in the Division of Sports Medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center say preparation before the first day of practice is critical in helping to reduce the risk of injury.

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As thousands of college students across America return to school for the fall, a UF/IFAS financial expert has quick, simple advice: Read the apartment lease. To some, reviewing the lease may seem obvious; to others, it may seem onerous. But it’s time well spent, said Michael Gutter, an associate professor of family financial management and associate dean of Extension at UF/IFAS.

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Back-to-school health story features stress, school bus safety, student-athlete situations, vaccinations, back packs, and food allergies.

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According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, from 2004 through 2013, 1,344 people died in school transportation-related crashes—an average of 134 fatalities per year.

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“It is never too early to start talking with and listening to your child about the upcoming school year,” says Dr. Amie Duncan, Ph.D., Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

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Back to school means getting back into a routine that helps students achieve success in the new school year. Start the year off on solid footing by making good nutrition part of your child’s schedule. Multiple studies have shown that good nutrition, improved hydration and proper sleep play a huge role in academic success.

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School is just around the corner, which means backpacks and packed lunches await your children. Kathleen Pace, D.D.S., assistant professor at Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry, offers tips for parents to promote healthy dental habits while away from home.

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Nova Southeastern University Has Back to School Subject Matter Experts

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Getting ready to send your child off to school for the first time or preparing an older child to go back to school can be a daunting task, especially if your child has diabetes.

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Doctors at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center want to remind parents about the importance of immunizing their children when preparing to send their children back to school.

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As the school year approaches and begins, many parents may start to hear their children complain about headaches.

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University of Delaware researcher Joshua Wilson explores the promise and peril of computer-based writing assessment software.

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As students savor the last precious weeks of summer vacation, parents are out making the final run for school supplies. So, parents, take note: When back-to-school shopping this year there is one essential item that requires very special attention: your child’s backpack.

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Parents may have been thinking through their child’s back-to-school allergy plan since school let out in spring. But unless everyone their child deals with at school knows his symptoms and triggers, the plan won’t help keep allergies and asthma under control.