3 Uncommon Back-to-School Safety Tips

Parents everywhere are rejoicing. It's time for these kids to head Back-to-School! Or, in some cases, their first day of school ever.

No matter how seasoned your little one is for back-to-school time, we think information on safety is of the utmost importance. Because of that we want to share with both parents and kids three uncommon safety tips that will help out before, during and after the days ahead.

Beyond the usual "look both ways/wait for the crossing guard" and always keep your me4kidz First Aid Kit for Kids on hand we also want to make sure both parents and kiddos are paying attention to the things that might not always be front and center as a top priority, but that absolutely matter in helping to keep kids safe all year long.

1. Map your route & plan accordingly. Whether your kids are being taken to school by car, bus, bike or feet you should be doing at least one test run before school begins. This not only helps ease some first day jitters for your child but gives you piece of mind also. 

If traveling by car or bus hop in your car and head toward the school using the same route you or the bus driver would take. If it's by bus remember it's a longer route with several stops. If you're not sure what the route is you can call your school district's bussing provider. If you're unsure who to get ahold of your school district should have a transportation office that can help point you in the right direction. 

If walking/riding a bike head out to show your child the safest route to take, where the crossing guards will be located and also go over what to do in case of an emergency. 

2. Keep the strain off of their backs. Many parents don't think about the strain that a backpack/book bag might cause on their child's back. Over-time muscles can fatigue causing poor posture as well as an increased risk for injury.

To help lessen the burden of the book bag Mary Roth, Massage Therapist and Ergoeconomics Expert for RaveReviews.org, tells us to "keep an eye out for products that feature adjustable straps or extra shoulder and hip support. Once you have a backpack that is properly sized for your child's body, the next best thing you can do is know how to pack it correctly. Weight distribution is key. For young children, a backpack should only weigh about 10% of their body weight. Additionally, by distributing the bulk of the weight closer to their core, you’ll prevent the backpack from pulling excessively on their shoulder muscles."

3.  Pay attention to oral health even when you're not around. Parents can't be everywhere to police what their kids are eating during lunch or snack time and teachers can't be expected to do it either. Sending your child off for the day with the right nutrition is the best step you can take in making sure they're eating right (or as right as they're going to when you're not looking, anyway).

Jared Schmitt, DMD at Seaglass Dental Care in Palm Beach County, Florida says that you can still cater to your child's sweet tooth, but be realistic about it. "Instead of sugary or hard candies that are tough on teeth, choose a small snack sized piece of chocolate or throw some chocolate chips in to a yogurt." Schmitt also tells us that a good thing to remember is that, "the faster a snack item is consumed, the less time it spends on your teeth and gums and the less impact it will have."

We could go on about smart ideas and tips for keeping kids safe all year, but we would be here for much longer than the 180 school days. Overall, the best advice we can give is to think ahead and always be proactive in your child's health, safety and education.

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