Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Offers Back-to-School Tips Doctors recommend ways to keep children healthy as they head into the classroom

When it is time to go back to school, your kids' focus should be to learn important things like reading, writing and arithmetic. Your focus, as a parent, should remain the same–keeping your kids healthy so they can learn and grow.

To help you do that, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta offers some back-to-school tips centered on common school-related issues:

· Backpack Safety - Backpacks are a very handy way for your child to carry his books and other school materials, but they can also put strain on his back muscles and joints and cause back pain if used incorrectly.

· Sleep - During summer vacation, many children and teens get to stay up later and sleep in longer than they would during the school year. This shift often makes returning to an earlier schedule difficult. Getting enough sleep is important to a student's physical health and school performance.

· Germs - Exposure to germs can be a big problem as children go back to school. Germs can be found in all kinds of places and can be spread by any child, adolescent, teen or adult. Addressing the spread of germs in schools is essential to the health of your child. Nearly 22 million school days are lost in the U.S. each year due to the common cold alone.

· Healthy Lunches - Eating a healthy lunch at school is just as essential as having the proper supplies like backpacks, paper and pencils. Whether your child gets their lunch from the school cafeteria or brings a meal from home, it is important to ensure they are eating a well-balanced meal that provides them with the proper daily nutrients.

Thanks to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for the great tips!